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1989 Ford Econoline

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
32Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
198615
198722
198832
198930
199024
199183
1992
Compare all Econoline years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
7Engine And Engine Cooling
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Electrical System
4Equipment
3
All reported categories
Power Train
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Seats
2Tires
2Exterior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 32 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports4 fire reports0 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1998
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting

WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE DEFECT WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR WILL NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. AIR CONDITONER FAILED. POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. BRAKE LIGHT INOPERABLE. CRUISE C…

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WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE DEFECT WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR WILL NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. AIR CONDITONER FAILED. POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. BRAKE LIGHT INOPERABLE. CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

NHTSA ODI #824617

Official recalls

2

91V146000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank:selector Devices

Sep 4, 1991

THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUELLEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy: REPLACE THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE.

90V101000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Jun 1, 1990

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA91031 · Fuel Expulsion

Opened Jun 26, 1991 · Closed Nov 1, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available