1989 Ford F Series (light) Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Ford F Series (light), grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system426.7%
- Brakes16.7%
- Driver assistance16.7%
- Electrical16.7%
- Engine16.7%
- Exterior lighting16.7%
- Powertrain (other)16.7%
- Seat belts16.7%
- Steering16.7%
- Transmission16.7%
- Body & structure16.7%
- Visibility16.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
DUAL GAS TANKS, SMELL OF GAS, OVERFLOWING AND PRESSURE IN ONE TANK. COMPLAINED BEFORE BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. *JB
AUXILIARY TANK SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING FRONT TANK TO SIPHON FUEL OUT OF REAR TANK PRIOR TO RECALL, REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO MONTH VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE SPINDLE, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF, ALSO MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE SPINDLE, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF, ALSO MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE SPINDLE, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF, ALSO MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE SPINDLE, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF, ALSO MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE SPINDLE, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF, ALSO MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE SPINDLE, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF, ALSO MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SHOULDER BELTS FAILED TO HOLD SECURELY DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE SPINDLE, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF, ALSO MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE SPINDLE, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF, ALSO MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE SPINDLE, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF, ALSO MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE STALLS/REVVS AT FULL THROTTLE WHEN A/C OR DEFROSTER IS TURNED ON. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .