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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 · Feb 20, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK,AUXILLARY RECALL #91V146, DUAL TANKS : WHEN FILLING REAR FUEL GOES TO FRONT AND FLOWS TO THE GROUND. CALLED MANUFACTURER AND HIS SAID THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL, BUT IS CURRENTLY HAVING THE SAME GAS OVERFLOW PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809171

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1997
Electrical System

NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THE RECALL WAS PREFORMED AND NOW THE IGNITION SWITCH JAMS AND HAS HARD TIME WITH TAKING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE CAR WILL NOT START NOW. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807236

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1996
Power Train

THE REAR AXLE SEALS LEAK, CAUSING BRAKE CONTAMINATION. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED 3X. *AK

NHTSA ODI #805505

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT GRAKES FAILED AND NEW PISTON INSULATORS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #511379

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1996
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #509392

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1996
Power Train

THE MANUAL LEVER BROKE WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #802826

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1996
Electrical System

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE IGINITION LOCKED WHILE MAKING A TURN , CONSUMER ALSO REPORTS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE.CONSUMER CAN'T GET ANY HELP FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE PART THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #802156

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1996
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE REAR TANK IS LEAKING DIESEL FUEL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #801828

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO TRAVEL TO FLOOR.

NHTSA ODI #508330

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE PULLING TRAILER ON HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH, DRIVER BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. HE LOOKED AT INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SEE IF ANY WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATING. TRUCK BEGAN TO SMOKE INSIDE CAB. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND IN MINUTES TRUCK BURNED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #800682

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