IllustrationMANUFACTURER'S RECALL REPAIRS DONE ON IGNITION SWITCH ON 27 JUL 97 AND 10 OCT 98, VEHICLE HAD UNDER HOOD FIRE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS WAS CAUSED BY MFR. RECALL FAILURE. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK *YC
1989 Ford F150
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F150 years →Counts vary with age, sales 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: 11 of 210 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 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports40 fire reports3 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
49 reportsA SHORT CIRCUIT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUSED THE HORN TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WORE THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS AND SHORTED OUT THE HORN/SPEED CONTROL/CIGARETTE LIGHTER CIRCUIT. SHORT LOCATED AND REPAIRED BY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. *AK *ML
WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTING IT UP, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND THE FIRE KEPT STARTING BACK UP UNTIL THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED TO KEEP WIRING HARNESS FROM REIGNITING. THIS FIRE WAS A RESULT OF A VERY POORLY DESIGNE…
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WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTING IT UP, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND THE FIRE KEPT STARTING BACK UP UNTIL THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED TO KEEP WIRING HARNESS FROM REIGNITING. THIS FIRE WAS A RESULT OF A VERY POORLY DESIGNED QUICK DISCONNECT TYPE CONNECTION BETWEEN HARNESS AND ALTERNATOR. *AK
RECALL 96V071000; FORD MANUFACTURER DID NOT SENT RECALL NOTICE TO OWNER AND HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO THE VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE BECAUSE OF RECALL. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED AND CREATED A FIRE THAT BURNED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING AT TIME.
TFI MODULE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE STALLING.
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH PRIOR TO RECALL.
IGNITION WIRING CAUGHT FIRE.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
Official recalls
496V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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.
89V114000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank
Jul 14, 1989
SHIELDS ON THE FRONTS OF THE MIDSHIP MOUNTED FUEL TANKS WERE OMITTED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: TRUCKS WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH 30 MPH IMPACT TEST OFFMVSS NO. 301, FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY.
Remedy: INSTALL FUEL TANK SHIELDS.
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
5EA91044 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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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
PE91077 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened May 23, 1991 · Closed Oct 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE91017 · Ford Truck Inconsistent Vehicle Control.
Opened Nov 27, 1990 · Closed Apr 17, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SEE CLOSE RESUME
PE90056 · Trnsmssion Park Gear Fail
Opened Mar 12, 1990 · Closed Jun 12, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
There is no summary currently available