Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
31
Latest Sep 10, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
6
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 18, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 31 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Ford E-150. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 31 · page 1 of 2
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 10, 2023
Ignition control module fails due to excessive heat buildup, due to where the control module is located. The ignition control module needs to be relocated to a cooler area under the hood, and mounted on a large heat sink, and this new location should be where cooling airflow from front of van flows over the ignition control module and its connected heat sink. The ignition control module will fail without any warnings, no warning lamps, or any other symptoms. This problem leaves your vehicle and your passengers stranded until it cools down which can take an hour or more! Then will happen again, and again when it heats up. it has failed when I had just pulled into an intersection, when I was traveling down a city street and on the expressway! and when stopped at a stop sign or traffic light! Ford knows this problem exists in this model van and Ford's pickup truck lines, and other model Ford cars. has only addressed the problem happening to mustang models!
NHTSA ID
11543672
Incident
Sep 9, 2020
Fuel system
Filed Jul 1, 2008
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 91V146000 REFERS TO A SAFETY RECALL FOR A FAULTY DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE IN FORD ECONOLINE VANS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FUEL TANKS BUILT BETWEEN 1989 AND 1991 AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS . I HAVE CONTACTED FORD TO INVESTIGATE , BUT THERE ARE NO RECORDS THAT CONFIRM OR DISAFFIRM MY VEHICLE'S INCLUSION IN THIS RECALL. BASICALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF MY VAN WAS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND IF ANY RECALL SERVICES WERE PERFORMED. I AM EXPERIENCING A FAULT IN THE DUAL FUEL TANK SYSTEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WILL NOT SWITCH TO THE MAIN TANK, AND WHEN FILLED, THE MAIN TANK WILL FLOW PAST THE FILLER CAP AND CAUSES A FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO ADVISED ME THAT NO RECALL SERVICE CAN BE PERFORMED TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY VIN# DOES NOT REGISTER IN THE FORD RECALL DATABASE. AGAIN, FORD CANNOT CONFIRM OR DISAFFIRM ANY RECALL SERVICES PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SO I DO NOT HAVE ANY SERVICE RECORDS PRIOR TO 2005. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THIS CONCERN, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE SECONDARY FUEL PUMP, AS ADVISED BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC. I HAVE ALSO OVERHAULED BOTH FUEL TANKS TO CHECK FOR CLOGGING, OR ANY FOREIGN MATERIALS, AND I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL SEALS AND MISC. HARDWARE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS CONCERN HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2005. I AM ONLY ABLE TO OPERATE MY VEHICLE ON THE AUXILLARY (REAR) FUEL TANK WITH A 13 GALLON CAPACITY. WHEN THE SELECTOR SWITCH IS ON THE FRONT TANK, THE VEHICLE WILL EVENTUALLY STALL AS IF IT IS OUT OF FUEL. WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH IS SET TO THE REAR TANK, I AM ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LIMITED RANGE DUE TO THE SMALL AUXILLARY FUEL TANK. *TR
NHTSA ID
10232970
Incident
Jun 1, 2005
Mileage
94,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 25, 2008
VAN DIED,TOWED TO MECHANICS SHOP,WAS TOLD SWITCH VALVE BETWEEN TANKS WAS PROBLEM, LOOKED ON NHTSA WEBSITE ABOUT RECALLS. FORD VAN 89 E-150 WITH DUEL GAS TANKS. FORD SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS 91S39 WENT TO FORD WEB SITE,CALLED THEM ON PHONE, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND LOCAL DEALERSHIP. BOTH SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VAN. *TR
NHTSA ID
10225733
Incident
Apr 25, 2008
Mileage
138,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 10, 2003
WHILE DRIVING, THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND DAMAGED THE FRONT FENDER. *AK THE VALVE STEM WAS ALSO REPLACED. *PH *JB
NHTSA ID
10024474
Incident
Jun 18, 2003
Mileage
61,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 27, 2000
IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN GIVING US PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASED-1993- ONE TIME THE MODULE FAILED AND ANOTHER TIME IT WAS REPLACED, STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
735288
Incident
Sep 14, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 18, 2000
BEGAN HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH STALLING APPROX. 2 MOS AGO , STALLED WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHILE CROSSING INTERSECTIONS , ENDANGERING THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY , WHICH CONSISTS OF MYSELF ,MY WIFE , AND OUR FOUR SMALL CHILDREN. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED 7 TIMES. I HAVE REPAIRED IT TWICE. RECENTLY I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. AND AT FIRST THEY DENIED AND PROBLEM AND THE RECENT RECALL IN CALIFORNIA. IHAVE DONE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH REGARDING THIS PROBLEM INCLUDING MEETING WITH A REGIONAL FORD DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER. PLEASE , PLEASE HELP ME...
NHTSA ID
734638
Incident
Oct 10, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 27, 2000
THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH WAS MELTED I REPLACED IT AND IT MELTED AFTER 4000 MILES. I WENT TO A SALVAGE YARD AND THEY WERE ALL MELTED IN THE HI POSITION. WHEN ON HI THE WIRING GET SO HOT YOU CANNOT HOLD THE WIRES
NHTSA ID
729257
Incident
Mar 3, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jun 11, 1999
Fire reported
ALTENATEOR HARNESS PLUG CONNECTOR SUDDENLY SHORT CIRCUTED, AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCHON FIRE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
839489
Interior & seats
Filed May 6, 1999
Fire reported1 injury reported
FIRE STARTED ON DRIVERS SIDE NEAR STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD.NM
NHTSA ID
545870
Fuel system
Filed Jul 7, 1998
VEHICLE HAS AUXILIARY FUEL TANK. WHEN FIRST TANK IS FILLED WITH GAS IT CAUSES SPILLAGE OF SECOND TANK. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
NHTSA ID
825116
Engine
Filed Jan 21, 1998
ENGINE STALLS.
NHTSA ID
528527
Incident
May 1, 1997
Fuel system
Filed Oct 29, 1997
WHEN ONE FUEL TANK ON A DUAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY FILLS UP IT OVERFLOWS, LEAKING GAS. *AK
NHTSA ID
817969
Engine
Filed Sep 30, 1997
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS AND CUTS OFF COMPLETLY. OWNER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ID
816757
Incident
Sep 16, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Sep 22, 1997
BUMPER ASSEMBLY MISSING PARTS THAT ARE ON ASSEMBLY DRAWING, POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE STEP BUMPER OF THE VAN TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FRAME WHILE TOWING.
NHTSA ID
522278
Fuel system
Filed Mar 4, 1997
THE VEHICLE'S DUAL GAS TANK IS INOPERATIVE, CAUSING FRONT GAS TANK TO OVERFILL/SPILL WHEN REAR IS SWITCHED. *AK
NHTSA ID
809635
Incident
Jul 1, 1994
Fuel system
Filed Jul 16, 1996
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANK OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
986943
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Engine
Filed Jul 12, 1996
Fire reported
CLIMATE CONTROL FAN SWITCH MELTED/BURNED. *SD
NHTSA ID
506365
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 24, 1996
Fire reported
ALTENATOR HEATED UP THE WIRING HARNESS, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK *JB
NHTSA ID
986064
Incident
Jun 15, 1996
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Jun 12, 1996
Fire reported
DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED 65MPH, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, SMELL OF WIRING BURNING, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
NHTSA ID
985561
Incident
Feb 11, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 28, 1996
IGNITION SWITCH SHORT DUE TO LOOSENESS. *DH
NHTSA ID
504981
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
Electrical
Filed May 24, 1996
IGNITION SHORTED OUT/FAILED. *DH
NHTSA ID
504914
Incident
Apr 5, 1996
Seat belts
Filed May 20, 1996
DURING A PANIC STOP REAR SEAT BELTS LOOSENED, THROWING CHILD STRAPPED IN CAR SEAT ON THE FLOOR. *AK
NHTSA ID
984687
Incident
Apr 29, 1996
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Mar 20, 1996
MANUFACTURER USES IMPROPER 'O' RING IN AIR CONDITIONER, CAUSING AIR CONDITIONER TO LEAK. *DSH
NHTSA ID
502967
Incident
Jun 26, 1989
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 22, 1995
THE FRONT BRAKE STILL MAKES HEAT,THE REAR END AXLE WAS REPLACED . TT
NHTSA ID
972323
Fuel system
Filed Jul 28, 1995
HE FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL. SEE RECALL MFG RECALL N0.91S39. NHTSA 91V146. *AK
NHTSA ID
969509
Incident
Aug 14, 1994
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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