1996 Ford Econoline Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 25%of 81 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the brakes of the 1996 Ford Econoline, 25% of the 81 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On june 25th I changed the battery on my 1996 Ford e150 because the battery was dead. About a half an hour later I heard the alarm going off. When I went outside there was white smoke coming out from under the hood. I raised the hood and the sending unit on the master cylinder for the cruise control was smoking and the white smoke was increasing by the second. I pulled the wires that were leading to it and the smoked started to disapate. The vehicle was not running and the ignition was turned off. On june 29, I was watching the jane pauly show on cnn. …”
NHTSA complaint #10127123, filed 2005-06, 100,000 miles“The ABS will not engage when braking during a emergency situation or a sudden stop. The vehicle has been to a repair shop on two separate occasions. The mechanic replaced the front pads and both front rotors and the problem continued.”
NHTSA complaint #10096557, filed 2004-10, 90,000 miles“Consumer states of having problems wit the ABS system. Dealer was contacted, the consumer also stated that the hcv/hyd control unit for the ABS failed and was replaced. The vehicle did not stop under hard bearing, the ABS warning light would come on/off. The consumer was told by Ford that there was a recall #96vz14000. The consumer stated he owned another vehicle like this before and it also had problems-should have been recalled.”
NHTSA complaint #8021166, filed 2002-10, 137,000 miles“I bought the van when it was 2 yrs. Old in dec. 1998, by that summer I had to replace both front rotors because of cracks, and I have had to do this every year since. The van is not used on a daily basis so I am wondering about a possible defect for this to be happening every 2-3,000 miles. Ford shows no recalls on this model, but the garage that has changed the rotars every time says it is not normal with so few miles between each time it happens.”
NHTSA complaint #750518, filed 2001-08“This makes the 2nd time I have reported this, please respond to this!..... I have had many occasions when traveling the california freeways, when wet, and the rear drums/shoes get wet and become innoperative. I have been a repair tech on all systems of brakes, technical and simple, and find there to be a design flaw in the backing plate/relationship to the rear drums which allow water mist to enter and wet the rear shoes. I am not talking about deep puddles or gully-washers, just a light drizzle will produce this problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #761519, filed 2002-05Related recalls
- 96V214000Oct 28, 1996The parking brake systems may not hold the vehicles on a 20% grade with foot pedal efforts of 125 pounds or less. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss…Covers: Ford Econoline 1996, Club Wagon 1996
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 | 14% |
| 2002 | 2 | 9% |
| 2000 | 3 | 8% |
| 1999 | 17 | 20% |
| 1998 | 7 | 15% |
| 1997 | 20 | 25% |
| 1996 | 20 | 25% |
| 1995 | 28 | 38% |
| 1994 | 29 | 23% |
| 1993 | 7 | 11% |
| 1992 | 10 | 12% |
| 1991 | 6 | 25% |
| 1990 | 14 | 47% |
| 1989 | 5 | 16% |
| 1988 | 2 | 9% |
| 1987 | 5 | 33% |
| 1986 | 1 | 14% |
| 1985 | 2 | 20% |
| 1984 | 1 | 14% |
Other parts of the 1996 Ford Econoline
13 complaintsEngine cooling
12 complaintsVehicle speed control
12 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsSeats
4 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Ford Econoline
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology