IllustrationALTERNATOR SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.
1989 Ford F150
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
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Owner complaints by model year
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What owners reported most
All reported categories
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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 11 of 210 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports40 fire reports3 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
49 reportsTHE WIRE CONNECTED TO THE ALTERNATOR HAD MELTED. SMOKE WAS NOTICED, COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FOUR ALTERNATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
MADE AN APPOINTMENT TEN DAYS BEFORE, ON THAT DAY CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER COULDN'T FIX TRUCK BEACUSE OTHER PEOPLE CAME IN, RECALL # 96V071000, THE ELETRICAL IGNITION SWITCH . *AK *SLC
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
WHILE DRIVING, THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS PLUG OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK CONSUMER STATES AS HE WAS DRIVI8NG HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, HE PULLED OVER AND RAISED THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THA ALTERNATOR, CONSUMER PUT OUT THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE, THE HARNESS PLUG WAS MELT…
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WHILE DRIVING, THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS PLUG OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK CONSUMER STATES AS HE WAS DRIVI8NG HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, HE PULLED OVER AND RAISED THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THA ALTERNATOR, CONSUMER PUT OUT THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE, THE HARNESS PLUG WAS MELTED, CONSUMER ALSO HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND ALSO PURCHASED A HARNESS PLUG.*JB
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT, FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
DROVE VEHICLE TO SISTER'S, GOT BACK INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND STARTED IT, SMELLED SMOKE, PULLED OFF ROAD, SMOKE CAME FROM DASH AND BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK
DRIVING THE VEHICLE, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT . *AK
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE TRUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Official recalls
496V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
91V146000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank:selector Devices
Sep 4, 1991
THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUELLEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE.
90V101000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Jun 1, 1990
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.
89V114000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank
Jul 14, 1989
SHIELDS ON THE FRONTS OF THE MIDSHIP MOUNTED FUEL TANKS WERE OMITTED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: TRUCKS WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH 30 MPH IMPACT TEST OFFMVSS NO. 301, FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY.
Remedy: INSTALL FUEL TANK SHIELDS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5EA91044 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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EA91031 · Fuel Expulsion
Opened Jun 26, 1991 · Closed Nov 1, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE91077 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened May 23, 1991 · Closed Oct 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE91017 · Ford Truck Inconsistent Vehicle Control.
Opened Nov 27, 1990 · Closed Apr 17, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SEE CLOSE RESUME
PE90056 · Trnsmssion Park Gear Fail
Opened Mar 12, 1990 · Closed Jun 12, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
There is no summary currently available