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1989 Ford F150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

82 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

RECALL NUMBER 91V146000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 91S39; CHECK VALUE HAS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING PORTION OF FUEL TO PASS TO THE SECOND TANK WHICH CAUSES A OVERFLOW OF THE SECOND TANK, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #872648

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

91 V 146 000/FUEL TANK:AUXILLARY SELECTOR SWITCH: VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH FUEL OVERFLOWING PAST THE FILLER CAP AND COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE IF EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMEDCONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #871338

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

STOPPED BY DAM NECK ANNEX NAVAL BASE GATE GUARD ON WAY TO WORK (APX 26 MILES). WAS INFORMED I COULD NOT ENTER BASE DUE TO GAS POURING OUT OF FRONT GAS TANK. I PARKED VEHICLE AND CALLED AAA TO TOW. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH AND BOTH FUEL PUMPS. VEHICLE STILL NOT FIXED. UPON SWITCHING TO THE REAR GAS TANK, VEHICL…

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STOPPED BY DAM NECK ANNEX NAVAL BASE GATE GUARD ON WAY TO WORK (APX 26 MILES). WAS INFORMED I COULD NOT ENTER BASE DUE TO GAS POURING OUT OF FRONT GAS TANK. I PARKED VEHICLE AND CALLED AAA TO TOW. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH AND BOTH FUEL PUMPS. VEHICLE STILL NOT FIXED. UPON SWITCHING TO THE REAR GAS TANK, VEHICLE RUNS A SHORT TIME THEN CUTS OFF AS IF OUT OF GAS. HAVE TO RETURN TO FRONT TANK. SUSPECT PROBLEM WAS ONGOING FOR ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO BEFORE I WAS AWARE OF IT. I THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS STEALING THE GAS BUT NOW SUSPECT IT WAS POURING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM LUCKY TO BE HERE. THIS IS DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS VEHICLE, NOR WOULD I BE SELLING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #731849

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE WAS GOING THROUGH MORE GAS THAN USUAL. CONSUMER FIILLED UP REAR TANK THAT MORNING, AND BY THE TIME CONSUMER GOT TO WORK, BACK TANK WAS FILLING UP THE FRONT TANK , AND CAUSING FRONT TANK TO OVERFILL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #870768

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK LEAKS DUE TO CORROSION AT TANK SUPPORT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722804

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK UP WITH FUEL CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL LEAK AT SEAMS OF THE TANKS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED BOTH TANKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #860877

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS TANK LEAKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721704

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL RETURNS TO THE FRONT TANK IF BOTH FRONT & REAR ARE FILLED WITH GAS. THE FUEL JUST RETURNS TO THE FRONT TANK AND OVERFLOWS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. IT QUIT YEARS AGO. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF FIRES CAUSED FROM THIS PROBLEM BUT NO ONE WANTS TO FIX IT. GUESS A…

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THE FUEL RETURNS TO THE FRONT TANK IF BOTH FRONT & REAR ARE FILLED WITH GAS. THE FUEL JUST RETURNS TO THE FRONT TANK AND OVERFLOWS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. IT QUIT YEARS AGO. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF FIRES CAUSED FROM THIS PROBLEM BUT NO ONE WANTS TO FIX IT. GUESS AFTER WE BURN UP IN A FIRE SOMEONE MAY DECIDE THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN WRITTEN A LETTER TO THE US DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION, TO A MR. JONATHAN WHITE, BUT HE DIDN'T EVEN SEE FIT TO ANSWER THE LETTER. THERE WAS A RECALL #91S39 ON THIS PROBLEM, THE MANUFACTURER SAYS OUR TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED. IF NOT INCLUDED, WHY IS IT DOING THE SAME THING AS RECALL #91S39 SAYS IT DOES. SOMEONE WITH ALOT MORE PULL THAN I HAVE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE ALOT OF PEOPLE GET HURT OR DIE. THIS IS SERIOUS, PLEASE TREAT IT AS SUCH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721223

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL CAP IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN FILLING UP VEHICLE, FUEL CAP DOESN'T SECURE THE GASOLINE. IT SPILLS OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856199

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL SPILL WHEN BOTH TANKS ARE FULL.MUST USE THE FRONT TANK UNTIL ALL THE FUEL IS USED,THEN USE THE BACK UNTIL IT`S HALF-FULL THEN SWITCH TO FRONT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717972

Official recalls

4

96V071000 · 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

5

EA91044 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes

Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

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