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1989 Ford F150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

82 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE IS CAUSING OVER PRESSURE OF ONE TANK. IT PUMPS FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER, CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL OUT. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, AND OWNER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816928

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS IN THE FIRST TANK, THE GAS SWITCH FAILED AND THE GAS WAS FLOODING OUT OF THE GAS FILLER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #815486

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

HOT EXHAUST FROM MUFFLER BURNED HOLES IN FUEL LINES.

NHTSA ODI #518539

Mileage unknown · May 21, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL ASSEMBLY EXPERIENCES LOSS OF FUEL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #812427

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

BOTH FUEL

NHTSA ODI #513667

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL SYSTEM, THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE ASSEMBLY, CAUSES THE LOSS OF FUEL, THE REAR TANK WILL PUMP INTO THE FRONT AND CAUSE AND OVERFLOW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807155

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1996
Fuel System, Gasoline

#91V146000, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ONE YEAR AGO, DEALER CHECKED IT AND SAID THAT VEHICLE DOESN'T NEED TO BE FIXED, CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM NOW . GAS RUNS FROM BACK TANK TO FRONT TANK, TOOK IT TO DEALER AND WA STOLD VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804591

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1996
Fuel System, Gasoline

HAD FUEL TANK AUXILIARY SELECTOR AND SWITCH REPAIRED UNDER RECALL; PROBLEM RETURNED; FUEL TANK STILL LEAKS. 96V146000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804261

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1996
Fuel System, Gasoline

RECALL NO- 89V114000 WAS FIXED ON 10-23-96. AS A RESULT A BACK SIDE GAS TANK LEAK HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804658

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

PURCHASED TRUCK USED, THE FUEL TANK CORRODED AND LEAKED AND THE EXHAUST MANFOLD CRACKED . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ODI #802711

Official recalls

4

96V071000 · 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

5

EA91044 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes

Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

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