Total Complaints
3 filings
FORD EXP · model year
1989 FORD EXP
3 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989FORDEXP carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1989 EXP is vehicle speed control:cruise control with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (1) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 1989 EXP, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080406FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1998 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 BLEW OUT SPARK PLUG #2 ON WIFE'S CAR. RAW FUEL WAS PUMPED OUT ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WITH TOWING AND REPAIR $5,000.00 FOR THIS VERY COMMON KNOWN FORD DEFECT. DOCUMENTATION THIS ON YOU-TUBE BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT RECALL THESE ENGINE TYPES FOR THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. SPARK PLUGS HAVE NEVER BEEN REPLACED TO MY KNOWLEDGE THEREFORE RULING OUT IMPROPER TORQUE. *TR
Mileage: 115,000
20080406FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1998 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 BLEW OUT SPARK PLUG #2 ON WIFE'S CAR. RAW FUEL WAS PUMPED OUT ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WITH TOWING AND REPAIR $5,000.00 FOR THIS VERY COMMON KNOWN FORD DEFECT. DOCUMENTATION THIS ON YOU-TUBE BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT RECALL THESE ENGINE TYPES FOR THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. SPARK PLUGS HAVE NEVER BEEN REPLACED TO MY KNOWLEDGE THEREFORE RULING OUT IMPROPER TORQUE. *TR
Mileage: 115,000
20051130VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V0170000 CONCERNING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HE SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
Compare 1989FORDEXP to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 6 Open
EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP26004Defect PetitionOpen
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionClosed
Underbody shields detachment
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 FORD EXP have?▼
The 1989 FORD EXP has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 FORD EXP?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 FORD EXP is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE.
Is the 1989 FORD EXP safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1989 FORD EXP; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.