IllustrationTHE FUEL TANK SELECTOR SWITCH WAS BURNING. PH
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
What owners actually said
210 reportsTIRES ARE 60,000 MILE TIRES,THEY HAVE 40,000 MILES AND ARE SEPERATING FROM THE CASING. DT
CONSUMER STATES THE DUAL FUEL TANKS ARE MALFUCNTIONING. GAS SQUIRTS FROM THE SIDE AHD THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION WISH HAS THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES INTERMITTENTLY WNEN THE GAS CAP IS RELEASED FUEL GUSHES OUT ENOUGH TO SOAK THE HAND OR CLOTHING. THE GAS GUAGE IS ALSO ERRACTIC. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUD…
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CONSUMER STATES THE DUAL FUEL TANKS ARE MALFUCNTIONING. GAS SQUIRTS FROM THE SIDE AHD THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION WISH HAS THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES INTERMITTENTLY WNEN THE GAS CAP IS RELEASED FUEL GUSHES OUT ENOUGH TO SOAK THE HAND OR CLOTHING. THE GAS GUAGE IS ALSO ERRACTIC. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (NHTSA RECALL ID 91V146000 MANUFACTURE ID 91S37). DEALER WAS INFORMED OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE.INFORMATION.
I AM AFRAID TO FIX THE TRUCK THIS TIME BECAUSE IT COULD BURN DOWN MY HOUSE OR CAUSE A ACCIDENT. MR
CONSUMER STATES AFTER FILLING BOTH TANKS WITH FUEL. QUARTER OF FUEL HAD SPILLED IN DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER NOTICED IT WHEN HE SMELLED GAS, AND SAW GAS DRIPPING ONTO THE PAVEMENT. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO THE 4TH OF JULY WAS THE DAY BEFORE. FORD STATES VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BASED ON THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE A…
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CONSUMER STATES AFTER FILLING BOTH TANKS WITH FUEL. QUARTER OF FUEL HAD SPILLED IN DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER NOTICED IT WHEN HE SMELLED GAS, AND SAW GAS DRIPPING ONTO THE PAVEMENT. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO THE 4TH OF JULY WAS THE DAY BEFORE. FORD STATES VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BASED ON THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER. NLM
VEHICLE BURNED UP WHILE IT WAS SITTING PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS A DUEL FUEL TANK , ONE TANK IS PUMPING FUEL INTO THE OTHER, CAUSING FUEL TO OVERFLOW PAST THE FILLER CAP.DEALER CONTACTED. THIS IS A RECAL L BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED BY VIN #.
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING RESULTING IN A SHORTAGE IN FUEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE IS A RECALL ; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE NOT COVERED BY RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
91 V 146 000/FUEL TANK:AUXILLARY SELECTOR AND SWITCH: FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH WOULD NOT SWITCH OVER TO SECOND TANK, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGES. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA RECALL91 V 146 000/MANUFACTURERS RECALL 91S39 CONCERNING FUEL TANK:AUXILLARY SELECTOR AND SWITCH: PORTION OF UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO SECOND TANK, WHEN OCCURRED, SECOND TANK EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGES. SPILLAGES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *YH
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