Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1985 Ford Econoline. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗FUEL:FUEL EMISSION CONTROL:LINES:VAPOR VENT
- Summary
- VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES IN SEVERE DUTY APPLICATIONS.
- Consequence
- THIS CREATES POTENTIAL FOR FUEL EXPULSION FROM THE FUELFILLER PIPE WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN AFIRE.
- Remedy
- INSTALL MODIFICATION KITS TO MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL EXPULSION AND TO SHIELD UNDERBODY COMPONENTS FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT.
FUEL:FUEL EMISSION CONTROL:LINES:VAPOR VENT
- Summary
- EXPULSION OF FUEL DUE TO OVERPRESSURIZATION.
- Consequence
- FUEL OR FUEL VAPORS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITIONSOURCE CAN CAUSE A FIRE.
- Remedy
- MODIFICATION OF THE BASE FUEL VENTING AND EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM TO REDUCE OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES.
FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:ATTACHMENTS
- Summary
- FUEL LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FRONT FUEL TANK IN THE AREA OF THE VAPOR VALVE GROMMET. GROMMET MAY SPLIT DUE TO COMPRESSIVE LOAD WHEN INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK.
- Consequence
- FUEL MAY LEAK FROM VAPOR VALVE AND BECOME THE SOURCE OFFUEL FOR A FIRE.
- Remedy
- INSTALLATION OF A NEWLY DESIGNED VAPOR VALVE GROMMET.
STEERING:LINKAGES:LINK:DRAG:CONNECTION
- Summary
- THE RUBBER THAT ENCASES BALL STUD AND SOCKET JOINT (CONNECTS STEERING DRAG LINK AND PITMAN ARM) MAY DETERIORATE, CAUSING METAL TO METAL CONTACT, AND MAY EVENTUALLY RESULT IN COMPLETE SEPARATION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE DRAG LINK TO PITMAN ARM CONNECTION RESULTS IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- INSTALL NEW DRAG LINK ASSEMBLIES WITH STEEL BALL AND SOCKET JOINTS AT THE PITMAN ARM CONNECTIONS.
FUEL:FUEL SYSTEM:WATER / FUEL DETECTION SYSTEM (DI
- Summary
- WHEN FRONTALLY IMPACTED INTO A FIXED BARRIER AT 30 MPH, AS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 301, THE LEFT FRAME RAILS OF SUCH VEHICLES MAY DISPLACE INBOARD, PINCHING THE FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR CANISTER BETWEEN THE FRAME RAIL AND ENGINE SUFFICIENTLY TO DISPLACE THE FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR DRAIN ROD, ALLOWING THE CONTENTS OF THE CANISTER TO DRAIN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LEAK DURING OR AFTER A CRASH INCREASES THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE.
- Remedy
- INSTALL A CANISTER SHIELD, A REVISED DESIGN DRAIN ROD SHIELD, AND MODIFY FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR MOUNTING BRACKET.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (10)
10 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 40% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 20% |
| Tires | 2 | 20% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 10% |
| Power train | 1 | 10% |
| Steering | 1 | 10% |
How 1985 compares with other Econoline years
Best and worst Econoline years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 1 | 2 |
| 1983 | 2 | 5 |
| 1984 | 7 | 6 |
| 1985 | 10 | 5 |
| 1986 | 7 | 5 |
| 1987 | 15 | 4 |
| 1988 | 22 | 0 |
| 1989 | 32 | 2 |
| 1990 | 30 | 4 |
| 1991 | 24 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1985 Econoline for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1985 Ford Econoline FAQ
How many recalls does the 1985 Ford Econoline have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 87V144000 (engine), 87V113000 (engine), 87V111000 (fuel system), 86V094000 (steering), 85V061000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1985 Ford Econoline problems?
Owners filed 10 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (4), Service brakes (2), Tires (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1985 Econoline compare with other years?
Among the 1982–1991 Ford Econoline model years at least five years old, the 1982 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1989 the most (32). The 1985 drew 10. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.