IllustrationCONSUMER SMELLED GASOLINE. STARTED TO OPEN GAS CAP, AND GASOLINE STARTED GUSHING OUT. SINCE THEN GASOLINE MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN. *AK *SLC
1989 Ford Econoline
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →32Owner complaints
Model-year median: 1
2Recall campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1989 Ford Econoline
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 32 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 7 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 5 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5 reports
- Electrical System: 4 reports
- Equipment: 3 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
- 91V146000 — Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank:selector Devices
- 90V101000 — Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Econoline years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
7 reportsWHEN CONSUMER FILLS UP GAS TANK GASOLINE COMES OUT THROUGH THE FILLER CAP AND FALLS ONTO THE GROUND. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED A PORTION OF UNUSED FUEL WAS RETURNING TO THE FRONT TANK WHEN THE FRONT TANK WAS FULL. ALSO, THERE WAS A A FUEL SPILLAGE WHICH WAS CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT RECALL 93V125000/ FUEL TANK AUXILLARY SELECTED AND SWITCH DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEH…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER NOTICED A PORTION OF UNUSED FUEL WAS RETURNING TO THE FRONT TANK WHEN THE FRONT TANK WAS FULL. ALSO, THERE WAS A A FUEL SPILLAGE WHICH WAS CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT RECALL 93V125000/ FUEL TANK AUXILLARY SELECTED AND SWITCH DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
PROBLEM REPORTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 91V14600, HOWEVER, FORD INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RESULTANT RECALL.
WHILE DRIVING TANK SWITCH OVER VALVE CAUSES OVERFLOW OF FUEL THROUGH NOZZLE WHERE GAS IS POURED IN. CONSUMER NOTES OF RECALL FOR PROBLEM, BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
THE DUEL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING AN OVEFLOW CONDITION IN THE FRONT FUEL TANK, AND RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. OWNER 'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK
AUXILIARY TANK LEAKED FUEL AND EMMITED FUMES DUE TO INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF FUEL TANK. THE FUMES MADE DRIVER /PASSENGER NAUSEATED. *AK
Recall campaigns
291V146000 · 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 ↗
Defect investigations
1EA91031 · 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
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.