Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 42 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Ford F-350, most frequently naming the brakes, tires & wheels and electrical categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 7 NHTSA investigations name it; and 45 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| Apr 1996 | 4 | 7 |
| May 1996 | 1 | 8 |
| Jun 1996 | 2 | 10 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 11 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 12 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 13 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 14 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 15 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 16 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 17 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 18 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 19 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 20 |
| Jun 1998 | 1 | 21 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 22 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 23 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 24 |
| Jul 1999 | 2 | 26 |
| Dec 1999 | 1 | 27 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 28 |
| Aug 2000 | 2 | 30 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 31 |
| Oct 2000 | 2 | 33 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 34 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 35 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 36 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 37 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 38 |
| Feb 2002 | 1 | 39 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 40 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 41 |
| Mar 2014 | 1 | 42 |
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.
5 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.
HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE CRACKS/LEAKS
There is no summary currently available
ALTERNATOR BELT FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
===
FUEL EXPULSION
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
SINCE NOVEMBER 19, 2014 I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A STRONG FUEL VAPOR SMELL FROM MY TRUCK. I REALLY DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL I GOT INTO MY TRUCK AND TURNED THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION. ALL OF A SUDDEN I NOTICED THAT MY REAR GAS TANK WAS EMPTY. I FLIPPED THE SWITCH TO THE FRONT TANK AND IT WAS OVER FULL. AFTER QUITE A PERIOD OF RESEARCHING ONLINE WHEN I HAD TIME TO, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE. THE 91S39 RECALL LIST 1989 F350 ON IT BUT MY TRUCK DOESN'T APPARENTLY FALL UNDER THE RECALL CAUSE THE BUILD DATE IS 11/88 (NOVEMBER 1988) AND VIN AS A 1989. BUT MY RESEARCH ONLINE GAVE ME THE PART NUMBER THAT WAS RECALLED. PART# E7TA-9B263-AB. WHICH MY VALVE HAS THAT EXACT NUMBER ON IT. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND EVERYTHING IS ORIGINAL ON IT. YES THIS IS THE ORIGINAL MILEAGE. UNFORTUNATELY NO MAINTENANCE EXCEPT FOR OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UP WERE DONE. UNFORTUNATELY HE ALSO NEVER DID ANY RECALLS. MY TRUCK GOES INTO BELL FORD (602-866-1776) HERE IN PHOENIX, AZ FOR A BRAKE RECALL AND IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. THEY SAID THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR MY TRUCK. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND ALL YEARS WITH THIS PART NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS VALVE COST ALMOST $200. IF FORD IS NOT GOING TO FIX ALL THERE TRUCKS WITH THIS VALVE ISSUE THEY SHOULD AT LEAST SEND OUT A HALF OFF COUPON SO THOSE OF US THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF CAN PURCHASE THE NEW UPDATED VALVE AND HAVE IT REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY I CAN NOT POST THE PICTURE I HAVE OF MY VALVE WITH PART NUMBER IN THIS SECTION. BESIDES MY PERSONAL EMAIL LISTED I CAN BE EMAILED AT MY PLACE OF WORK AT THE CITY OF PHOENIX AT : [XXX]. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH AN AFTER MARKET FLEX A LITE AUXILIARY COOLING FAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE OPENED THE HOOD, HIS FINGERS BECAME CAUGHT IN THE BLADES DUE TO AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF GUARDS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE, DEEP LACERATIONS TO HIS FINGERS AND AS A RESULT, HE NO LONGER HAD ANY FEELING LEFT IN HIS FINGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM PHOENIX. I WAS TRANSITIONING FROM THE 101 FREEWAY,TO THE 60 EASTBOUND. ALMOST WHERE THE CONCRETE BARRIERS COME TO A POINT AND END, MY LEFT FRONT TIRE CUT LOOSE OF IT'S TREAD. I BRIEFLY SAW THAT IT WENT TOWARDS, AND IN BETWEEN THE CONCRETE BARRIERS. THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT. WHEN THE TREAD LEFT, IT TORE UP THE INNER FENDER PLASTIC, BENT THE QUARTER PANEL RIGHT BEHIND THE WHEEL WELL, DESTROYED THE FOOTSTEP BOLTED ON UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE VEHICLE IS A 1989 F350 4-DOOR LONGBED 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. THIS EPISODE IS NOT THE FIRST. THE FIRST HAPPENED IN 2003. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED TO MY 20 YR OLD SON WHILE ON HIS WAY TO SCHOOL. THAT ONE WAS THE LEFT REAR. IT RIPPED OUT BOTH SUPPORTS THAT THE BED HAS IN FRONT AND IN THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. IT SMASHED THE REAR FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE, PULLED IN THE OUTSIDE DOOR TO THE "GAS" CAP,MANGLED THE PORTION OF THE BED THAT IS BEHIND THE WHEEL WELL, INSIDE AND OUT. I WAS IN IRAQ WHEN THAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID THAT I HAD THE WRONG TIRE PRESSURE ON BOTH ACCOUNTS, 1ST AND 2ND TREAD SEPARATIONS. WITH A TRUCK THAT BIG,I DON'T LET MY TIRES GET NEGLECTED FROM HAVING THE PRESSURE CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS,AND ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY. I HAD MY WIFE TELL THEM THAT WAS A BUNCH OF BULL!#*^,AND I WANTED SOMETHING DONE. THEY TOLD MY WIFE THAT I HAD PEPBOYS PUT THE WRONG KIND OF TIRE ON MY TRUCK. THAT IS WHEN I FIRST STARTED TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING OUT ALONG THE LINES OF A LAWSUIT. THEY HAD PLENTY OF LAWSUITS GOING ON CONCERNING TIRES, BUT NONE WERE OF THE TIRE I HAD. I AM NOW LOOKING INTO BUYING ANOTHER BED FOR MY TRUCK BECAUSE OF WHAT COOPERS TIRES HAVE DONE TO IT. I ALSO HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW STEP TO MOUNT UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE TIRES I HAD ON MY TRUCK WERE DAKOTA FUTURA RVT,33X12.50R16.5LT. I HAVE WENT AND PURSUED ESTIMATES ON GETTING MY TRUCK FIXED. I AM LOOKING AT ABOUT 3500.00. I NOW HAVE A DIFFERENT BRAND (MANUFACTURER) MADE TIRE S NOW. *NM
ALMOST DAILY FRONT LEFT WHEEL SHIMMY AT 35-55 MPH. FIRST STARTED ABOUT 1991 AND OCCASIONALLY FIXED BY ALIGNMENT, WHEEL BALANCING, TIRE ROTATION, DUAL FRONT STEERING STABILIZERS, BUT RECENTLY THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED FOR FEAR OF THE WHEEL SHIMMY OCCURING AT THE 35-55 MPH RANGE. WHEN SHIMMY STARTS I CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT SLIGHTLY AND THE SHIMMY WILL GO AWAY TEMPORARILY. SHIMMY ONLY OCCURS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, OR WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT. AS A SIDE NOTE THE TRUCK DOES PULL TO THE RIGHT, MAKING ME COUNTER STEER TO THE LEFT, WHICH IS TEMPTING FATE WITH THE SHIMMY.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THE CHOKE PLATE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GETS SO HOT, IT MELTS THE FUEL LINE AND IGNITES FUEL, BURNING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. AFTER 30-45 MINUTES, IT WILL START AGAIN. MODUL RELAY SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 9 TIMES.*AK
CONSUMER NOTICED A 2 FEET SPLIT IN TREAD, WHICH EXPOSED THE TIRE CONSTRUCTION,NO AIR WAS LOST ,TIRE REPLACED BY FIRESTONE,COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ROLL OVER, ACCORDING TO THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE GOODYEAR IS CONDUCTING A SILENT RECALL ON THIS TIRE. LOCAL DEALER SAYS AT IS A WORSE PROBLEM FOR TREAD SPLITS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: MDORNJHV TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION- E40D/4R100-1989-99-MAIN CONTROLS, SEPARATOR PLATES AND SEPARATOR PLATE GASKETS USAGE CHART. YD
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SOLID PARTICLE CONTAMINANTS FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR, MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT PROPERLY FLUSHED, FLUID IN-LINE FILTER KIT. *MJS
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
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 | 91 | 0 | 1 | 40.2 |
| 2013 | 76 | 1 | 1 | 49.8 |
| 2012 | 149 | 4 | 1 | 53.0 |
| 2011 | 136 | 4 | 1 | 54.0 |
| 2010 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 48.8 |
| 2008 | 131 | 9 | 1 | 61.1 |
| 2007 | 36 | 5 | 2 | 52.3 |
| 2006 | 145 | 6 | 2 | 60.4 |
| 2005 | 114 | 5 | 2 | 53.1 |
| 2004 | 159 | 3 | 2 | 58.5 |
| 2003 | 90 | 3 | 2 | 65.0 |
| 2002 | 116 | 3 | 2 | 61.1 |
| 2001 | 160 | 6 | 5 | 65.8 |
| 2000 | 304 | 5 | 4 | 65.1 |
| 1999 | 413 | 13 | 4 | 64.4 |
| 1998 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 49.9 |
| 1997 | 155 | 4 | 2 | 60.9 |
| 1996 | 130 | 4 | 1 | 59.9 |
| 1995 | 134 | 3 | 1 | 59.1 |
| 1994 | 95 | 7 | 4 | 62.8 |
| 1993 | 101 | 9 | 3 | 60.6 |
| 1992 | 52 | 7 | 9 | 63.9 |
| 1991 | 31 | 7 | 11 | 66.8 |
| 1990 | 39 | 7 | 11 | 62.8 |
| 1989Viewing | 42 | 5 | 7 | 66.4 |
| 1988 | 29 | 4 | 8 | 73.5 |
| 1987 | 8 | 2 | 7 | — |
| 1986 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 56.4 |
| 1985 | 4 | 1 | 4 | — |
| 1984 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 7 | 3 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1975 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | 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.