RoadVitals

1989 Ford F-150 Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
14
Latest Mar 19, 2019
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.
6%
of 224 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.
3
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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 engine

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

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Mar 19, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-150. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF A USED CAR LOT, IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT SUSPECTED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OREGON, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT, WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF OREGON ALSO TOOK A COMPLAINT FROM THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT ONLY RECEIVED A REFUND FOR HALF OF WHAT HE PAID FOR THE VEHICLE. THE USED VEHICLE DEALER CHARGED THE CONTACT FOR THE NUMEROUS REPAIRS WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11189890
Incident
Feb 5, 2019
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 20, 2012

I AM WONDERING IF THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED OR IF IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ONE ON THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10481258
Incident
Jun 14, 2011
Engine
Filed Aug 19, 2002

VEHICLE BURNED UP WHILE IT WAS SITTING PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016586
Driver assistanceEngineTransmission
Filed Mar 25, 2002

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS AT 40-50 MPH, NUMEROUS REPAIRS, REPLACING EGR VALVE, CLEANING FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACING IGNITION MODULE, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CLUTCH IS NOISY. DEALER REPLACED THROW-OUT BEARING. CONSUMER STATES SERPENTINE BELT IS NOISY. DEALER REPLACED BELT. *TT

NHTSA ID
8006338
Incident
May 2, 1991
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 23, 2000

WE REPLACED ENGINE ON 5/13/98 ,IGN.CYL1/04STEERING COL1/04/00FUELTANK&SENG UNIT1/10/00 WE DID NOT KNOW THESE ITEMS WERE ONRECALL WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET OUR MONEY BACK? SAFTY WAS OUR CONCERN WITH OUR KIDS CAN YOU HELP US PEP BOYS DID ALL THE WORK FOR US. I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL WORK DONE. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
719113
Incident
Jan 4, 2000
Engine
Filed Aug 4, 1998
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
538789
Incident
Sep 22, 1997
Engine
Filed Mar 3, 1998

MUFFLER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
531755
Incident
Jan 4, 1996
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 11, 1997

THROTTLE IDLES TO HIGH, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID
514634
Incident
Dec 2, 1996
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 25, 1996

EGR SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

NHTSA ID
511891
Engine
Filed Sep 25, 1996

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED, LETTING EXHAUST GAS INTO PASENGER CAB, CAUSING IRRITATING NOISE/AFFECT EXHAUST EMISSIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID
509067
Incident
Aug 1, 1996
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 20, 1996

PURCHASED TRUCK USED, THE FUEL TANK CORRODED AND LEAKED AND THE EXHAUST MANFOLD CRACKED . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ID
802711
Engine
Filed Jun 14, 1996
Fire reported

DRIVING CAR W/TRAILER, JUST HAD CAR LOOKED AT, FELT SOMETHING WRONG, JUMPED OUT OF CAR, THEN CAR BLEW UP SUDDENLY, CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES, LOST THE TRAILER. *AK

NHTSA ID
985657
Incident
Jun 5, 1996
Engine
Filed May 2, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. SOURCE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983963
Engine
Filed Mar 8, 1995

WHILE PULLING 5TH WHEEL FAN BELT BROKE, CAUSING BRAKES/WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO FAIL. TT

NHTSA ID
961468
Incident
May 13, 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Fuel system95Electrical47Brakes16Driver assistance13Body & structure8Steering8Tires & wheels8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .