RoadVitals

1989 Ford E350

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
26
Latest Apr 4, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Sep 4, 1991
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
6
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 26 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Ford E350, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and engine categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 6 NHTSA investigations name it; and 7 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes1240.0%
  • Body & structure516.7%
  • Engine413.3%
  • Fuel system310.0%
  • Steering13.3%
  • Tires & wheels13.3%
  • Transmission13.3%
  • Electrical13.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
91V146000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES

Sep 4, 1991
350,000 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: THE OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUELLEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: REPLACE THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
90V101000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Jun 1, 1990
111,000 units potentially affected
The defect: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.
The risk: 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.
The remedy: INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
89V062000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Apr 17, 1989
228 units potentially affected
The defect: NYLON TIES THAT SUPPORT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO THE CHASSIS COULD WEAR AND BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THUS, WIRING HARNESS COULD FALL ON ENGINE COMPONENTS AND SHORT CIRCUIT.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH COULDRESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: INSTALL RETROFIT RIT OF PLASTIC-COATED METAL CLAMPS, LOOM FOR POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES AND RE-ROUTE WIRING.
SENTINEL VEHICLES LIMITEDView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

SQ99005ClosedInvestigation

FRONT BRAKE FADE

Opened Feb 10, 1999
Closed Sep 21, 2001

FRONT BRAKES CAN FADE

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EA93014ClosedEngineering Analysis

ALTERNATOR BELT FAILURE

Opened Jun 4, 1993
Closed Jul 29, 1994

There is no summary currently available

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EA91044ClosedEngineering Analysis

LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES

Opened Oct 30, 1991
Closed Oct 30, 1992

===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICLed to recall 92V026000
EA91031ClosedEngineering Analysis

FUEL EXPULSION

Opened Jun 26, 1991
Closed Nov 1, 1991

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGESLed to recall 91V146000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 26
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 4, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING FROM THE WHEEL CHAIR RAMP THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE IN A WHEEL CHAIR, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A GATE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH AND SMELLED AN ABNORMAL AND PERSISTENT GASOLINE ODOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SEE GASOLINE SPEWING FROM THE VEHICLE IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 90V101000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 91V146000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DECLINED TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED BOTH FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10577404
Incident
Jul 4, 2013
Mileage
103,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 21, 2004

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE LOSES BRAKE POWER WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND FAILS TO STOP THE TRUCK. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES HAD TO BE ENGAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH IN 400 MILES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AGAIN, AND BLEED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 1500 MILES. THEN, DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINE WAS ROUTED BEHIND THE ENGINE , WHICH GET HOT AND BOILED THE FLUID.*AK

NHTSA ID
10079553
Incident
May 21, 2004
Mileage
25,000 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Jan 26, 2002

BRAKE CALIPER FAILED TO RELEASE, BOILING THE BRAKE FLUID (UNBEKNOWNST TO ME UNTIL IT CAME TIME TO APPLY THE BRAKES). THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I LET IT UP COMPLETELY AND WHEN DEPRESSED, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR ONCE AGAIN. I USED THE TRANSMISSION (GEARING DOWN) AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. WHEN REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE PRIMARY FAULT WAS IDENTIFIED AS EXTREMELY RUSTY FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. ONE DID NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY AFTER A BRAKE APPLICATION, CAUSING SUFFICIENT HEAT BUILDUP TO BOIL THE BRAKE FLUID. MECHANIC SAID THE REAR BRAKES WERE BADLY OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, GIVING THE OPINION THAT WAS THE REASON THE MASTER CYLINDER INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. UNTIL THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED, I DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS INCUMBENT ON THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO OCCASIONALLY MAKE REVERSE MOVES WITH AGGRESSIVE BRAKE APPLICATIONS (DONE SEVERAL TIMES) TO CINCH UP THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTMENT. THUS, OVER TIME, THE FRONT BRAKES WERE BASICALLY DOING ALMOST ALL THE BRAKING EFFORT. IF I HAD HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL REPEATEDLY, I PERHAPS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE REAR BRAKES TO ENGAGE, AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP WITHOUT DOWNGEARING AND USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.*AK

NHTSA ID
757383
Incident
Jun 24, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Mar 12, 2001

WHILE DRIVING FUEL WILL SPILL OUT FROM TANK ONTO GROUND, RECALL #93S68. *AK THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVENTHOUGH THE PROBLELM IS IDENTICAL TO THAT STATED IN RECALL # 93S68. *YH

NHTSA ID
882770
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Feb 12, 2001

THE ORIGIONAL FUEL SPILL OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN LAS VEGAS BLVD S. I NOTICED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING ONLY HALF FULL ON THE REAR TANK WHEN I HAD JUST FILLED THE VAN. I THEN NOTICED I WAS TRAILING FUEL DOWN THE STREET. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED IT WAS POURING FUEL FROM THE FILL CAP FOR THE FRONT TANK. I SWITCHED TO THE FRONT TANK AND THE FUEL SPILL STOPPED. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE SAID IT WOULD COST OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE PART TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO GET THE PART. I WENT BACK TO SAN DIEGO AND WENT TO PEARSON FORD AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO SPEND UPWARDS OF $1000.00 AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE AAQUIRED THE "91S39 SAFETY RECALL" AND CALLED FORD FACTORY. THEY SAID MY VAN WASN'T RECALLED. I THEN AQUIRED YOUR NHTSA CAMPAICN ID NUMBER: 91V146000 AND CALLED THE FORD NUMBER --IT IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE. I CALLED FORD WITH THE INFORMATION AGAIN AND AGAIN WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON BY VAN. I HAVE HAD SIX INSTANCES OF FUEL SPILLING FROM THE VAN AND FEEL FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK SELECTOR . PLEAQS HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID
740788
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 28, 2000

WHILE CLIMBING HILLS ON VERY WARM DAYS, THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED STALLING, ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TFI IGNITION MODULE AND DISTRIBUTOR. *SLC

NHTSA ID
558383
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jul 28, 2000

WROTE AN EXPLANATION OF WHOLE PROBLEM BUT WON'T FIT HERE. PLANNING TRIP TO MOUNTAINS, BUT SCARED TO GO WITHOUT RESOLUTION TO PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
726170
Incident
Oct 6, 1995
Filed May 2, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
706165
Incident
Aug 18, 1990

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

985A29

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, IRREGULAR FRONT LINING WEAR, AND BRAKE PULL. *YC

985A12

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES

RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR TOWING BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES. *TT

985A38

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

FRONT CALIPER PISTON BOOTS DAMAGED. *YC

97215

DIAGNOSTIC GUIDES FOR OUT-OF-WARRANTY VEHICLES TO BE USED AS A MASTER COPY - DIAGNOSTIC GUIDES NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM ADISTRA. *TW

951113

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DELAYED FORWARD ENGAGEMENT AND/OR HEAT STAINED FORWARD CLUTCH PLATES AFTER INSTALLING CENTER SUPPORT SERVICE. *TW

BC2893950401

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

UNKNOWN

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford E350 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2026010—
2025110—
2024210—
2023220—
2022143155.3
2021206155.5
2020200—
2019300—
2018340—
2017134057.6
2016530—
2015721—
20141711052.9
2013139048.3
20121612047.2
20111920053.7
20101718047.2
20091027054.5
20083932259.3
20071835259.8
20065339261.5
20055516256.3
20044611358.2
2003468361.7
2002535355.4
2001524457.0
2000598461.9
1999729563.5
1998638457.4
1997795463.4
1996503150.3
1995693052.9
1994515158.7
1993433158.2
1992413359.5
1991191654.3
1990232754.9
1989Viewing263659.2
1988111461.7
19871485369.3
198611115774.6
198521056—
198441256—
19835854—
1982032—
1981022—
1980012—
1979032—
1978052—
1977011—
1976011—
1975041—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.