1989 Ford E-150 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Ford E-150, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical925.7%
- Fuel system822.9%
- Engine617.1%
- Interior & seats25.7%
- Tires & wheels25.7%
- Steering12.9%
- Suspension12.9%
- Body & structure12.9%
- Transmission12.9%
- Brakes12.9%
- Heating & air conditioning12.9%
- Powertrain (other)12.9%
- Seat belts12.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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!
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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!
ENGINE STALLS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
FIRE STARTED ON DRIVERS SIDE NEAR STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD.NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND DAMAGED THE FRONT FENDER. *AK THE VALVE STEM WAS ALSO REPLACED. *PH *JB
ALL FOUR TIRES BLISTERED BETWEEN THE TREADS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING; THE TIE ROD BALL JOINT WEARS OUT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TOOK ALL THE GREASE FITTING, RESULTING IN CONSTANT ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED 65MPH, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, SMELL OF WIRING BURNING, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRONT BRAKE STILL MAKES HEAT,THE REAR END AXLE WAS REPLACED . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
MANUFACTURER USES IMPROPER 'O' RING IN AIR CONDITIONER, CAUSING AIR CONDITIONER TO LEAK. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRONT BRAKE STILL MAKES HEAT,THE REAR END AXLE WAS REPLACED . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURING A PANIC STOP REAR SEAT BELTS LOOSENED, THROWING CHILD STRAPPED IN CAR SEAT ON THE FLOOR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .