NHTSA Complaint #10220213 — 1994 FORD ECONOLINE

1994 FORD ECONOLINE VAN; MY OIL PAN RUSTED OUT. THIS WAS FOUND WHEN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED,AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED FOR SERVICE, AND TOLD THEM I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF OIL AFTER THE TOW TRUCK REMOVED IT. THEY FOUND THE OIL PAN HAD RUSTED OUT. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AS THE ENGINE HAD TO BE PULLED FORWARD TO CHANGE THE PAN. WHILE IT WAS BEING SERVICED THREE OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW TOLD ME THEY HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON THEIR FORDS; ONE PERSON USED JB WELD ON HIS VAN, THEN SOLD IT. AS I AM ON SS/DISABILITY, I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE, AND I DO LIKE THIS ONE. I DO THINK THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD AS OIL COULD START FIRE ON A HOT ENGINE, AND IF THE ENGINE FROZE UP ON THE INTERSTATE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY TO FIND THE PROBLEM BEFORE MY ENGINE FROZE UP. HOWEVER, HAVING TO PULL THE ENGINE FORWARD TO CHANGE THE OIL PAN IS SOMEWHAT POOR DESIGN AND VERY COSTLY. *TR