IllustrationFUEL TANK LEAKING. NLM
1989 Ford F150
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F150 years →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 reportsIF RUNNING WITH BOTH TANKS FULL, AND WOULD SWITCH TO THE REAR TANK, FUEL OVERFLOWS IN FRONT TANK. A MALFUNCTION CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAPACITY OF THE SECOND TANK CAN BE EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE.…
Read full complaint
IF RUNNING WITH BOTH TANKS FULL, AND WOULD SWITCH TO THE REAR TANK, FUEL OVERFLOWS IN FRONT TANK. A MALFUNCTION CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAPACITY OF THE SECOND TANK CAN BE EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE. *AK
I OWN A 1989 FORD F-150 PICKUP WITH DUAL GAS TANKS. IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR I NOTICED FUEL COMING FROM MY FRONT FUEL CAP WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED OVER AND RELEASED PRESSURE ON THE CAP AND FUEL CONTINUED TO SPILL OUT. AFTER THE PRESSURE WAS RELEASED I FIGURED THAT IT WAS EXPANSION DUE TO THE HEAT THAT DAY. THEN LAST SUNDAY I NO…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 1989 FORD F-150 PICKUP WITH DUAL GAS TANKS. IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR I NOTICED FUEL COMING FROM MY FRONT FUEL CAP WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED OVER AND RELEASED PRESSURE ON THE CAP AND FUEL CONTINUED TO SPILL OUT. AFTER THE PRESSURE WAS RELEASED I FIGURED THAT IT WAS EXPANSION DUE TO THE HEAT THAT DAY. THEN LAST SUNDAY I NOTICED IT AGAIN. THE DAY WAS MUCH COOLER AND I SUSPECTED I HAD A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR PLACE TO BE INSPECTED. THE REPAIR CENTER INFORMED ME THAT FORD HAD A RECALL IN 1991 FOR FORD F -150S PRODUCED FROM 3-1-89 TO 1-31-91. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 91S39. THE PROBLEM NOTED IN THE RECALL IS AS FOLLOWS: " ON SOME OF THESE TRUCKS, INTERNAL FUEL LEAKAGE AT THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE/DUAL FUNCTION RERVOIR MAY RESULT IN THE RETURNING OF FUEL TO THE TANK NOT IN USE. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, FUEL MAY OVERFLOW FROM THE FULE TANK FILLER CAP. FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, PRESENTS THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE." THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPINING WITH MY TRUCK. YET WHEN I CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HONOR THE RECALL, THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THE PRODUCTION DATE OF MY TRUCK. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHER TRUCK OWNERS ARE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL DANGER.
DUAL FUEL TANK OVERFLOWED, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *ML
INTERNAL FUEL LEAKAGE AT THE TANK SELECTOR VALVE/DUAL FUNCTION RESERVIOR RESULTED IN FUEL OVERFLOW, RECALL SERVICES DENIED DUE TO VIN.
DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO VIN.
FUEL LEAKS FROM TANK CAUSING EXPLOSION AND FIRE.
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY EXPERIENCED POWER LOSS AFTER SWITCHING TO FRONT FUEL TANK. STOPPED ON SHOULDER AND NOTICED LOSS OF GASOLINE BY SMELL.
DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PRIOR TO RECALL. RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO DATE OF MANUFACTURING.
OWNER HAS DUAL FUEL TANKS. FUEL OVERFLOWS FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER, CAUSING FUEL TO OVERFLOW AND SPILL OUT OF VEHICLE.O WNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *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
===
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