FordEconoline1992Overview/ford/econoline/1992/base/

1992 Ford Econoline

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Econoline.

Body VAN

Defined as a VAN requiring 6.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, the 1992 Ford Econoline occupies an intermediate position within the model's documented history spanning 1990-2026. This model year accumulated 270 total owner complaints and 8 recalls, with Vehicle Speed Control identified as the top complaint area, placing it below the peak 385 complaints recorded in 1994 but significantly above the lowest count of 1 in 2010. Researchers should view this reliability data as a moderate baseline in the model history, where the 1992 specifications and defect volume sit between the extremes of the vehicle's long-term record.

Model year199519941993199219911990198919881986

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length211.8 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height81.1 in
Wheelbase137.8 in
Curb weight4469 lb

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity6.5 Pints ( rear)
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity7.4 Pints, Dana 70 HD
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityFront A/C only, 3.25; front and rear A/C, 4.00. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type68
Oil CapacityFront A/C only, 9.00; front and rear A/C, 10.00. oz

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miThrottle Plate (inspect) · Throttle Return Spring (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 miClutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter Water Separator (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate) · Parking Brake System (inspect fluid level) · Throttle Plate (inspect) · Throttle Return Spring (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Idle Air Bypass Solenoid (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
Every 100,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1992 Ford Econoline marks a sharp inflection point in the model's federal record, with complaints surging from just 26 in 1991 to 270 in 1992 — roughly a tenfold jump — alongside a rise in recalls (3 to 8), investigations (2 to 6), and technical service bulletins (45 to 95). The target year sits at the leading edge of a sustained high-complaint arc that runs through 1997, when TSBs peak at 458 and annual complaints reach 385 in 1994, before the record tapers off after 1998. The 1992 complaint profile is concentrated across four areas: vehicle speed control (30), hydraulic service brakes (29), engine and engine cooling (26), and gasoline fuel system (26), with 27 fire-related and 15 crash-related complaints flagged that year — a meaningful safety signal rather than isolated nuisance issues. The data does not specify the root causes behind the 1992 spike, but the breadth of affected subsystems and the elevated fire and crash counts argue against dismissing it as a reporting artifact. Relative to the comparatively clean 1990–1991 baseline and the much quieter post-2004 tail, 1992 is one of the less favorable years in this generation to buy; a prospective buyer should confirm that all eight recalls were performed and budget for likely attention to the brakes, fuel delivery, engine cooling, and speed control systems.

8
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
95
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
6
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
270
Owner complaints
15 involved a crash · 27 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 270 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control30
Service Brakes, Hydraulic29
Engine & Engine Cooling26
Fuel System, Gasoline26
Suspension26
Electrical System21
Power Train16
Tires14

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 95 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DOR-X8B9R-112018-04-06SteeringThis SKU is a front upper ball joint. The Customer communication requested return of…
0321242003-10-30Engine And Engine CoolingA HARD START OR NO START CONDITION IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER. *TT
172542003-10-01SteeringCLICKING/POPPING NOISE FROM UPPER STEERING COLUMN AREA WHEN TURNING. 2004 E SERIES AND…
031812003-09-15Electrical SystemREMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
031482003-07-21Power TrainNEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Econoline. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Econoline take?

6.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Econoline have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.