Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 112 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Ford F-250, most frequently naming the fuel system, brakes and electrical categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 5 NHTSA investigations name it; and 30 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1996 | 2 | 29 |
| Aug 1996 | 3 | 32 |
| Sep 1996 | 4 | 36 |
| Oct 1996 | 1 | 37 |
| Nov 1996 | 2 | 39 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 40 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 41 |
| Jun 1997 | 1 | 42 |
| Aug 1997 | 3 | 45 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 46 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 47 |
| Feb 1998 | 3 | 50 |
| Mar 1998 | 2 | 52 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 53 |
| Jun 1998 | 2 | 55 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 56 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 57 |
| Nov 1998 | 1 | 58 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 59 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 60 |
| Mar 1999 | 2 | 62 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 63 |
| Jul 1999 | 1 | 64 |
| Sep 1999 | 3 | 67 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 68 |
| Mar 2000 | 2 | 70 |
| May 2000 | 2 | 72 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 73 |
| Sep 2000 | 5 | 78 |
| Apr 2001 | 2 | 80 |
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 81 |
| Jul 2001 | 1 | 82 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 83 |
| Dec 2001 | 1 | 84 |
| Mar 2002 | 2 | 86 |
| May 2002 | 2 | 88 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 89 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 90 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 91 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 92 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 93 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 94 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 95 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 96 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 97 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 98 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 99 |
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 100 |
| Jan 2010 | 1 | 101 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 102 |
| Jul 2012 | 1 | 103 |
| Sep 2012 | 1 | 104 |
| Nov 2012 | 1 | 105 |
| Mar 2013 | 1 | 106 |
| Jun 2013 | 1 | 107 |
| Dec 2014 | 1 | 108 |
| Jan 2015 | 1 | 109 |
| Feb 2016 | 1 | 110 |
| Apr 2018 | 1 | 111 |
| Dec 2018 | 1 | 112 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
6 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.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
ALTERNATOR BELT FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
===
FUEL EXPULSION
There is no summary currently available
SPARE TIRE FIRES
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS OVERFLOWED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE FILLED TUBE. THE CONTACT CALLED SHULTS FORD LINCOLN AT 724-934-2388 (LOCATED AT 10401 PERRY HWY, WEXFORD, PA 15090) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
THE INTENT OF REPORTING THIS ISSUE IS TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF OLDER VEHICLES (PAST THE 15 YEAR MARK) HAVING RECORD AND STATUS OF SAFETY RECALLS. IT IS JUST AS VITAL FOR OLDER VEHICLES TO HAVE RECORD AS IT IS FOR NEWER VEHICLES. EVERYONE WANTS SAFE VEHICLES OUT ON THE ROAD. AS MY VIN INDICATES, I PURCHASED A 1989 FORD F250 6 MONTHS AGO AND AM FIXING PROBLEMS THAT I FOUND ARE ON A RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS I CANNOT FIND OUT THE STATUS OF THOSE RECALLS. THIS SYSTEM IS FLAWED. PLEASE RESPOND IF THERE IS ANYWAY I CAN FIND THE INFORMATION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MYSELF AND MY FAMILY ARE IN A SAFE VEHICLE. THANK YOU.
MY PRIMARY FUEL TANK OVERFLOWS AFTER FILLING SECONDARY TANK. I HAVE READ THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF ISSUE FOR THIS TRUCK.
DRIVING ALONG NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM AND ENGINE STOPPED. TRIED STARTING SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTICED IGNITION SWITCH SEEMED VERY STIFF AND WOULD NOT FIRE OFF STARTER, LIGHTS WORKED, DOOR BELL WORKED, NO IGNITION. INSPECTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL, BATTERY CABLES WERE TIGHT, CHECKED RADIATOR AND FOUND IT WORKING JUST FINE. AFTER A WHILE TRIED IGNITION AGAIN AND STARTED, DROVE A COUPLE MORE MILES TO HOME SAFELY. NEXT AM COULD NOT GET THE IGNITION TO WORK AT ALL, IGNITION SWITCH FELT LIKE IT WAS BROKEN WHEN KEY TURNED TO THE MAXIMUM POSITION... RECONFIRMED BATTERY TESTED GOOD BUT BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY ANY WAY, INSTALLED AND STILL NO RESPONSE FROM IGNITION. *TR
SEVERAL YEARS AGO AFTER FILLING THE REAR TANK OF MY DUAL TANK 1989 FORD F250, I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND SOON NOTICED FUEL POURING OVER THE LEFT REAR TIRE. I FIGURED IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE FUEL FILLER NECK AND STOPPED USING THE REAR TANK FOR THE NEXT 5 OR 6 YEARS ONCE BURNING OUT ALL THE FUEL. A FEW MONTHS AGO I DECIDED TO GET A FEW THINGS FIXED ON THE TRUCK AND ASKED THE MECHANIC TO SEE IF HE COULD ISOLATE THE LEAK IN THE REAR TANK. SURPRISINGLY AFTER DOING A PRESSURE AND SMOKE CHECK, HE FOUND NO LEAK AND RECOMMENDED I PUT A FEW GALLONS IN AND SEE HOW THE TRUCK RAN. THE TRUCK RAN FINE FOR A FEW WEEKS BUT, WHILE RUNNING ON THE FRONT TANK, I HAD SOME HESITATION PROBLEMS AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP. THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE FUEL INJECTORS AND CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP IN THE REAR TANK (BASED ON A LOW PRESSURE READING) IN ORDER TO TRY TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM POSSIBLY TO ONE OF THE TANKS. HE ALSO CHANGED THE FUEL QUANTITY SENSOR SINCE IS HAD FAILED YEARS AGO. I FILLED THE REAR TANK (18 GALLONS TOTAL) AND AFTER DRIVING A 30-MILE ROUND TRIP FOR SOME CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, NOTICED THE REAR FUEL GAUGE ONLY SHOWED 3/8 OF A TANK. I FIGURED I HAD RECEIVED A BAD FUEL SENSOR AND DECIDED TO FILL THE TANK TO MAKE SURE. THE TRUCK TOOK A TOTAL OF 7.5 GALLONS OF FUEL. SINCE AT NO TIME DID I NOTE ANY FUEL LEAKAGE, I FIGURED THE FUEL HAS FLOWED TO THE FRONT TANK. DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB I FOUND NHTSA RECALL 91V146 (FORD #91S39) WHICH DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO A TEE. THE RECALL INCLUDES 1989 F250 PICKUPS BUT ONLY THOSE SOLD AFTER FEBRUARY 28, 1989. I PURCHASED MINE IN NOVEMBER 1989; HOWEVER, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE EXACT SYMPTOMS AND SAFETY ISSUES. I RECOMMEND THE NHTSA BROADEN ITS RECALL 91V146 TO INCLUDE 1989 F-250S PURCHASED PRIOR TO THE FEBRUARY 1989 START DATE TO PREVENT A POSSIBLE SAFETY INCIDENT OR WORSE. THANK YOU. *TR
FUEL PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF. THIS CAUSES EVENTUALLY THE BATTERY TO GO DEAD. I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUE AFTER IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND PUMP CHANGES PITCH IN SOUND WHEN SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH FROM FRONT FUEL TANK TO REAR. *TR
WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR SO I COULD PULL ON TO THE HIGHWAY, I SMELLED GAS. I LOOKED IN MY SIDE MIRROR AND SAW GASOLINE GUSHING OUT OF MY FRONT FUEL TANK. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY UNDER PRESSURE BUT THE FUEL DOOR FORTUNATELY KEPT IT FROM SPRAYING ACROSS THE ROAD. I APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THE OTHER TWO COMPLAINT FILERS HAVE HAD AND REFERENCED THE SAME FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN OF 91V146000. IF I AM EVER ABLE TO GET THROUGH TO THE NUMBER FOR THE FORD RECALL (313) 446-4654 I AM SUPPOSED TO REFERENCE RECALL NUMBER 91S39. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS TRUCK AND HAVE ONLY 22000 TOTAL MILES ON IT SO THE FAILURE CANNOT BE DUE TO MILEAGE. THIS RECALL APPLIED TO QUITE A FEW MODELS OF FORD FOR 1989. THE TWO PRIOR COMPLAINTS HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN IGNORED-------PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH 1989'S AROUND TO REALLY WORRY ABOUT UNLESS SOMEBODY GETS KILLED AT WHICH TIME I HOPE SOMEBODY REMEMBERS THIS WEBSITE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NHTSA 91V146000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILIARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 448,021.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END SHIMMY MAY OCCUR AT VARIOUS DRIVING SPEEDS AND IS USUALLY INDUCED WHEN HITTING BUMPS, SUCH AS LARGE POTHOLES OR ROUGH RAILROAD CROSSINGS. SHIMMY IS NOT ALWAYS VERIFIED DURING ROAD TEST. *AK
TIRES
INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
INFORMATION ON A BUZZING OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
FRONT CALIPER PISTON BOOTS DAMAGED. *YC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, IRREGULAR FRONT LINING WEAR, AND BRAKE PULL. *YC
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES
RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR TOWING BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES. *TT
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2014 | 142 | 0 | 1 | 41.3 |
| 2013 | 95 | 0 | 1 | 42.7 |
| 2012 | 266 | 1 | 1 | 44.1 |
| 2011 | 248 | 2 | 1 | 49.2 |
| 2010 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 37.4 |
| 2009 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 35.9 |
| 2008 | 195 | 8 | 1 | 57.1 |
| 2007 | 60 | 7 | 2 | 53.9 |
| 2006 | 221 | 7 | 2 | 56.5 |
| 2005 | 144 | 5 | 2 | 54.1 |
| 2004 | 153 | 7 | 2 | 57.0 |
| 2003 | 116 | 7 | 2 | 61.8 |
| 2002 | 156 | 7 | 2 | 60.8 |
| 2001 | 220 | 9 | 4 | 65.4 |
| 2000 | 326 | 10 | 3 | 65.6 |
| 1999 | 581 | 19 | 4 | 63.9 |
| 1998 | 56 | 9 | 2 | 54.4 |
| 1997 | 304 | 14 | 3 | 63.2 |
| 1996 | 176 | 5 | 2 | 62.9 |
| 1995 | 184 | 4 | 2 | 60.9 |
| 1994 | 123 | 10 | 5 | 66.9 |
| 1993 | 130 | 9 | 3 | 59.0 |
| 1992 | 119 | 7 | 9 | 62.4 |
| 1991 | 107 | 7 | 11 | 65.4 |
| 1990 | 111 | 7 | 11 | 67.5 |
| 1989Viewing | 112 | 6 | 5 | 65.3 |
| 1988 | 62 | 3 | 6 | 65.0 |
| 1987 | 38 | 2 | 5 | 69.2 |
| 1986 | 38 | 2 | 4 | 70.8 |
| 1985 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 69.7 |
| 1984 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 71.8 |
| 1983 | 1 | 6 | 3 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 2 | 9 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 2 | 10 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
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.