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1989 Ford F250

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: 7 of 101 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports13 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

101 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

RECALL NUMBER 91V146000 MFR # 91S39; GAS OVERFLOWS FROM REAR TANK TO FRONT TANK WHEN TANK SELECTOR SWITCH IN CAB IS ON REAR. GAS FUMES CAN BE STRONG. ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHEN SWITCHING TANKS FROM REAR TO FRONT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821034

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAIL PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL WORK DONE HOWEVER REMEDY FAILURE; OVERHEATING OF BRAKES STILL OCCURRING. RECALL 92S44 DONE

NHTSA ODI #531200

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1998
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, MODEL E4OD, FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #530922

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1998
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND FADING, CAUSING LACK OF STOPPING CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #530152

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 1997
Seats

LEFT SEAT FLOOR BRACKET BROKE, LEAVING A VERY UNSTABLE DRIVER'S SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #525452

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 1997
Electrical System

REOCCURRING FAILURE OF ALTERNATOR BELT. CONSEQUENTIAL BREAKAGE OF OTHER IN LINE BELTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818014

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN AT 1500-25000 RPM WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL, MAKING BRAKING DIFFICULT.

NHTSA ODI #523048

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL, THE CONSUMER HAD RECALL WORK DONE TO NO SATISFACTION, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. (RECALL #93S69)

NHTSA ODI #520762

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1997
Power Train

POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR, WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR AT TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #815020

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

LOST FRONT BRAKES COMPLETELY, PARTIAL REAR BRAKES DURING HEAVY DUTY APLICATION, BRAKE FLUID OVERHEATS/BLOWS OUT, CAUSING HOLES IN CALIPERS, MECHANIC REPLACED CALIPERS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #812842

Official recalls

6

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.

92V026000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:drum:shoes/linings

Mar 3, 1992

A REVISED BRAKE LINING NOISE INSULATOR RESULTED IN A DECREASE IN THE THERMAL INSULATION BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINING AND THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTON. THIS CAUSED GREATER HEAT TRANSFER TO THE CALIPER PISTONS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OVERHEAT THE BRAKE FLUID AND DIMINISH BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS DURING SEVERE BRAKING CONDITIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND INABLILITY TO HOLDVEHICLES ON A STEEP GRADE RESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF ACCIDENT IN THE EVENT OFA SUDDEN STOP OR WHEN CONSTANT BRAKING IS NEEDED TO MANEUVER THROUGH AREAS WITHSTEEP GRADES.

Remedy: ADD SNAP-IN INSULATORS THAT ATTACH TO EACH OF THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTONS. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WITH 7.5 L ENGINES WILL HAVE INSULATION ADDED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BRAKE LINES.

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.

88V182000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Nov 18, 1988

FUEL RESERVOIR SHIELDS, THAT PROTECT THE RESERVOIR FROM CONTACT BY THE TRANSFER CASE IN CERTAIN FRONTAL IMPACTS, WERE NOT INSTALLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE IN EXCESS OF THAT PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: INSTALL FUEL RESERVOIR PROTECTIVE 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

EA93014 · Alternator Belt Failure

Opened Jun 4, 1993 · Closed Jul 29, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

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

PE91090 · Spare Tire Fires

Opened Jun 20, 1991 · Closed Oct 25, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment

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