RoadVitals

1989 Ford E-150 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Sep 10, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
29%
of 31 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Ford E-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
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
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
Electrical
Filed Feb 24, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. TT

NHTSA ID
960587
Incident
Feb 23, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Fuel system8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .