RoadVitals

1989 Ford F-250 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.
17
Latest Jan 22, 2015
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.
15%
of 112 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.
5
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 F-250 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 Jan 22, 2015

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

NHTSA ID
10678275
Incident
Jan 21, 2015
Mileage
69,880 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 26, 2013

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

NHTSA ID
10521965
Incident
Jun 3, 2013
Mileage
93,807 mi
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Jan 8, 2004

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF A TIRE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO MOLE INFESTATION.*AK WHEN THE BRAKE FUSE BLEW, THE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK. AS A RESULT, WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE RACED FORCING THE CONSUMER TO GO OFF ROAD TO AVOID A ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS CANCELLED BY HITTING THE OFF BUTTON. *PH *NM

NHTSA ID
10047939
Incident
Nov 13, 2003
Electrical
Filed Aug 5, 2003
Fire reported

CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD DUE TO WIRE HARNESS DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10032101
Electrical
Filed Dec 13, 2002

FAULTY IGNITION COMPONENT PRIMARILY USED IN ALL MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD FROM 1986-2000+. CAN CAUSE FIRE, HAS BEEN LISTED AS A RECALL BUT ONLY FOR SPECIFIC VIN NUMBERS. SAME COMPONENT, SAME MANUFACTURER, SAME INSTALLATION, SAME PROBLEMS FOR ALL VEHICLES MAY, HAVE OR CAN ARISE IT IS NOT VEHICLE SPECIFIC BUT COMPONENT SPECIFIC. IF SAME COMPONENTS WERE USED ON ALL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME, THEN ALL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED ARE AT RISK OF HAVING THE SAME MALFUNCTION. THE COMPONENT CAN NOT DETERMINE WHICH VEHICLE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAVE FIRE OR SAFETY ISSUES. IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE THIS OUT. NOR SHOULD IT TAKE EVEN ONE TRAGEDY TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OPERATING A VEHICLE THAT HAS THE POSIBILITY OF BECOMING A FIRE HAZARD. FAULTY COMPONENT NOT FAULTY VEHICLE. OH AND FAULTY MANUFACTURER AS THEY CAN'T SEE THE OBVIOUS BUT CAN ONLY SEE THE TYPES OF VEHICLES REPORTED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS THE ONLY ONES TO RECALL. YES THAT IS HOW THEY DETERMINE THE VEHICLES TO RECALL, THE ONES THAT WERE REPORTED. OH AND LETS NOT LEAVE OUT SHALL WE THE ONES THAT WEREN'T REPORTED BECAUSE NO ONE WAS THE WISER OR NOT WELL VERSED IN THE REPORTING/OR FILING OF COMPLAINTS A NUMBER IM SURE WE ALL KNOW WOULD BE ASTRONOMICAL. FORD F250'S MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME ALL HAD SAME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENT INSTALLED AND SAME MANUFACTURER. OTHER VEHICLES BY FORD USED THIS SAME COMPONENT, LOTS OF DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE REGARDING THIS ITEM AND THE DEVESTATION AND TRAGEDY CAUSED BY ITS MALFUNCTION. I REFUSE TO BE ONE OF THESE TRAGEDIES IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. OTHER RECALLS FOUND FOR FORD F250'S MANUFACTURED IN 1989: FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENTS FUEL TANK AUXILLARY POWER TRAIN: TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:INDICATOR:LEVER:GEAR FUEL TANK: AUXILLARY SELECTOR AND SWITCH BRAKES: HYDRAULIC: SHOE AND DRUM SYSTEM: LININGS

NHTSA ID
10000097
Incident
Nov 19, 2002
Mileage
140,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 11, 2000

WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON IT WILL NOT TURN OVER, KEY GETS STUCK INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE WILL GO DEAD, NO CONNECTION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TWICE. DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE FOR A SWITCH . *AK

NHTSA ID
867591
Incident
Sep 3, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 6, 2000
Fire reported

MY 1989 FORD F250 4X4 CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY TODAY. THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. ITEMS IN THE TRUCK INCLUDED A CELL PHONE, APPROX. $1,500 WORTH OF TOOLS, A RIFLE, AN ELECTRONIC ORGANIZER, AN AIR COMPRESSOR IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK, CD-PLAYER, CB RADIO, AND NO TELLING WHAT ELSE THAT I CANNOT THINK OF. THE TRUCK WAS WORTH APPROX. $6,000. MY FATHER-IN-LAW TOLD ME HE HEARD ABOUT A RECALL RELATING TO THE ELECTRICAL/IGNITION SWITCH AFTER TELLING A FRIEND ABOUT THE FIRE. ONE OF THE FIREMAN WHO ANSWERED THE CALL SAID THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED AROUND THE DASH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THAT SEEMED TO BE WHERE THE HOTTEST PART OF THE FIRE WAS. THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THAT IT MELTED PART OF THE ALUMINUM RIM ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. PLEASE GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN ON CONTACTING FORD ABOUT THIS RECALL. I WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS TRUCK & THEREFORE RECEIVED NO INFORMATION ON RECALLS. THANK YOU, VERNON T. "TEDDY" PETERSON, JR. *AK

NHTSA ID
722354
Incident
May 6, 2000
ElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 9, 1999

STEERING COLUMN OVERHEATS TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVER CANNOT KEEP HIS HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER SAYS IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
847302
BrakesElectrical
Filed Feb 9, 1998

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND FADING, CAUSING LACK OF STOPPING CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
530152
Electrical
Filed Oct 30, 1997

REOCCURRING FAILURE OF ALTERNATOR BELT. CONSEQUENTIAL BREAKAGE OF OTHER IN LINE BELTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
818014
Incident
Oct 30, 1989
Electrical
Filed Jan 7, 1997

NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THE RECALL WAS PREFORMED AND NOW THE IGNITION SWITCH JAMS AND HAS HARD TIME WITH TAKING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE CAR WILL NOT START NOW. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
807236
Electrical
Filed Sep 10, 1996

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE IGINITION LOCKED WHILE MAKING A TURN , CONSUMER ALSO REPORTS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE.CONSUMER CAN'T GET ANY HELP FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE PART THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID
802156
Electrical
Filed Aug 30, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE PULLING TRAILER ON HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH, DRIVER BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. HE LOOKED AT INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SEE IF ANY WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATING. TRUCK BEGAN TO SMOKE INSIDE CAB. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND IN MINUTES TRUCK BURNED.*AK

NHTSA ID
800682
Incident
Jun 16, 1995
BrakesElectrical
Filed Aug 23, 1996

BRAKES OVERHEAT.

NHTSA ID
506049
Incident
Jun 10, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 3, 1996

PLASTIC DICAST ALLUMINUM PIECE BREAKS, PREVENTING STARTING ACTUATION WHEN IGNITION SWITCH IF STUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
985137
Electrical
Filed Apr 29, 1996
Fire reported

STARTED TRUCK, WHILE IDLING, NOTICED SMOKE ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER DASH WITH FLAMES; IGNITION AND ALL WIRES BURNT TO CRISP. *AK

NHTSA ID
983748
Incident
Apr 27, 1996
Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE STARTED UP INVOLUNTARILY, NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION, THEN NOTICED FIRE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, DAMAGING THE INSIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID
980995
Incident
Mar 18, 1996

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .