Total Complaints
141 filings
Ford F-250 · model year
141 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports. 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 verdict
The 1989 Ford F-250 posts below-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
The 1989FordF-250 carries 141 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 17 fires, 1 injury, 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 F-250 is fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank:selector devices with 13 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (11) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (6). 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 F-250, 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.
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
Total Complaints
141 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES | 13 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 11 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 6 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 5 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 4 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS OVERFLOWED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE FILLED TUBE. THE CONTACT CALLED SHULTS FORD LINCOLN AT 724-934-2388 (LOCATED AT 10401 PERRY HWY, WEXFORD, PA 15090) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
Mileage: 120,000
THE INTENT OF REPORTING THIS ISSUE IS TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF OLDER VEHICLES (PAST THE 15 YEAR MARK) HAVING RECORD AND STATUS OF SAFETY RECALLS. IT IS JUST AS VITAL FOR OLDER VEHICLES TO HAVE RECORD AS IT IS FOR NEWER VEHICLES. EVERYONE WANTS SAFE VEHICLES OUT ON THE ROAD. AS MY VIN INDICATES, I PURCHASED A 1989 FORD F250 6 MONTHS AGO AND AM FIXING PROBLEMS THAT I FOUND ARE ON A RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS I CANNOT FIND OUT THE STATUS OF THOSE RECALLS. THIS SYSTEM IS FLAWED. PLEASE RESPOND IF THERE IS ANYWAY I CAN FIND THE INFORMATION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MYSELF AND MY FAMILY ARE IN A SAFE VEHICLE. THANK YOU.
MY PRIMARY FUEL TANK OVERFLOWS AFTER FILLING SECONDARY TANK. I HAVE READ THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF ISSUE FOR THIS TRUCK.
DRIVING ALONG NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM AND ENGINE STOPPED. TRIED STARTING SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTICED IGNITION SWITCH SEEMED VERY STIFF AND WOULD NOT FIRE OFF STARTER, LIGHTS WORKED, DOOR BELL WORKED, NO IGNITION. INSPECTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL, BATTERY CABLES WERE TIGHT, CHECKED RADIATOR AND FOUND IT WORKING JUST FINE. AFTER A WHILE TRIED IGNITION AGAIN AND STARTED, DROVE A COUPLE MORE MILES TO HOME SAFELY. NEXT AM COULD NOT GET THE IGNITION TO WORK AT ALL, IGNITION SWITCH FELT LIKE IT WAS BROKEN WHEN KEY TURNED TO THE MAXIMUM POSITION... RECONFIRMED BATTERY TESTED GOOD BUT BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY ANY WAY, INSTALLED AND STILL NO RESPONSE FROM IGNITION. *TR
Mileage: 69,880
DRIVING ALONG NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM AND ENGINE STOPPED. TRIED STARTING SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTICED IGNITION SWITCH SEEMED VERY STIFF AND WOULD NOT FIRE OFF STARTER, LIGHTS WORKED, DOOR BELL WORKED, NO IGNITION. INSPECTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL, BATTERY CABLES WERE TIGHT, CHECKED RADIATOR AND FOUND IT WORKING JUST FINE. AFTER A WHILE TRIED IGNITION AGAIN AND STARTED, DROVE A COUPLE MORE MILES TO HOME SAFELY. NEXT AM COULD NOT GET THE IGNITION TO WORK AT ALL, IGNITION SWITCH FELT LIKE IT WAS BROKEN WHEN KEY TURNED TO THE MAXIMUM POSITION... RECONFIRMED BATTERY TESTED GOOD BUT BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY ANY WAY, INSTALLED AND STILL NO RESPONSE FROM IGNITION. *TR
Mileage: 69,880
SEVERAL YEARS AGO AFTER FILLING THE REAR TANK OF MY DUAL TANK 1989 FORD F250, I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND SOON NOTICED FUEL POURING OVER THE LEFT REAR TIRE. I FIGURED IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE FUEL FILLER NECK AND STOPPED USING THE REAR TANK FOR THE NEXT 5 OR 6 YEARS ONCE BURNING OUT ALL THE FUEL. A FEW MONTHS AGO I DECIDED TO GET A FEW THINGS FIXED ON THE TRUCK AND ASKED THE MECHANIC TO SEE IF HE COULD ISOLATE THE LEAK IN THE REAR TANK. SURPRISINGLY AFTER DOING A PRESSURE AND SMOKE CHECK, HE FOUND NO LEAK AND RECOMMENDED I PUT A FEW GALLONS IN AND SEE HOW THE TRUCK RAN. THE TRUCK RAN FINE FOR A FEW WEEKS BUT, WHILE RUNNING ON THE FRONT TANK, I HAD SOME HESITATION PROBLEMS AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP. THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE FUEL INJECTORS AND CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP IN THE REAR TANK (BASED ON A LOW PRESSURE READING) IN ORDER TO TRY TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM POSSIBLY TO ONE OF THE TANKS. HE ALSO CHANGED THE FUEL QUANTITY SENSOR SINCE IS HAD FAILED YEARS AGO. I FILLED THE
Mileage: 85,000
FUEL PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF. THIS CAUSES EVENTUALLY THE BATTERY TO GO DEAD. I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUE AFTER IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND PUMP CHANGES PITCH IN SOUND WHEN SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH FROM FRONT FUEL TANK TO REAR. *TR
Mileage: 93,807
FUEL PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF. THIS CAUSES EVENTUALLY THE BATTERY TO GO DEAD. I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUE AFTER IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND PUMP CHANGES PITCH IN SOUND WHEN SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH FROM FRONT FUEL TANK TO REAR. *TR
Mileage: 93,807
WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR SO I COULD PULL ON TO THE HIGHWAY, I SMELLED GAS. I LOOKED IN MY SIDE MIRROR AND SAW GASOLINE GUSHING OUT OF MY FRONT FUEL TANK. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY UNDER PRESSURE BUT THE FUEL DOOR FORTUNATELY KEPT IT FROM SPRAYING ACROSS THE ROAD. I APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THE OTHER TWO COMPLAINT FILERS HAVE HAD AND REFERENCED THE SAME FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN OF 91V146000. IF I AM EVER ABLE TO GET THROUGH TO THE NUMBER FOR THE FORD RECALL (313) 446-4654 I AM SUPPOSED TO REFERENCE RECALL NUMBER 91S39. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS TRUCK AND HAVE ONLY 22000 TOTAL MILES ON IT SO THE FAILURE CANNOT BE DUE TO MILEAGE. THIS RECALL APPLIED TO QUITE A FEW MODELS OF FORD FOR 1989. THE TWO PRIOR COMPLAINTS HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN IGNORED-------PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH 1989'S AROUND TO REALLY WORRY ABOUT UNLESS SOMEBODY GETS KILLED AT WHICH TIME I HOPE SOMEBODY REMEMBERS THIS WEBSITE. *TR
Mileage: 22,000
WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR SO I COULD PULL ON TO THE HIGHWAY, I SMELLED GAS. I LOOKED IN MY SIDE MIRROR AND SAW GASOLINE GUSHING OUT OF MY FRONT FUEL TANK. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY UNDER PRESSURE BUT THE FUEL DOOR FORTUNATELY KEPT IT FROM SPRAYING ACROSS THE ROAD. I APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THE OTHER TWO COMPLAINT FILERS HAVE HAD AND REFERENCED THE SAME FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN OF 91V146000. IF I AM EVER ABLE TO GET THROUGH TO THE NUMBER FOR THE FORD RECALL (313) 446-4654 I AM SUPPOSED TO REFERENCE RECALL NUMBER 91S39. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS TRUCK AND HAVE ONLY 22000 TOTAL MILES ON IT SO THE FAILURE CANNOT BE DUE TO MILEAGE. THIS RECALL APPLIED TO QUITE A FEW MODELS OF FORD FOR 1989. THE TWO PRIOR COMPLAINTS HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN IGNORED-------PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH 1989'S AROUND TO REALLY WORRY ABOUT UNLESS SOMEBODY GETS KILLED AT WHICH TIME I HOPE SOMEBODY REMEMBERS THIS WEBSITE. *TR
Mileage: 22,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NHTSA 91V146000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILIARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 448,021.
Mileage: 448,021
1989 FORD F250. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING FUEL RESERVOIR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO HONOR A SAFETY RECALL. FORD INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY COULD NOT FIND HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IN THEIR RECORDS AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER STATED EARLIER THIS YEAR. WHILE STOPPED AND IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNAL, GAS FLOWED PROFUSELY FROM THE FRONT TANK FILLER CAP ONTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE GROUND BENEATH THE BED THAT SURROUNDED THE REAR WHEELS. HE SWITCHED THE TANK SELECTOR FROM THE FRONT TANK TO THE REAR TANK AND RETURNED HOME. HE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED IT WAS NOT UNIQUE TO HIS VEHICLE, IN WHICH FORD HAD ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL. RECALL # 91V146000
1989 FORD F250. CONSUMER STATES RUBBER PEELED OFF TIRE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TREAD PEELED OFF THREE OF THE FOUR NEW TIRES HE PURCHASED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 29, 2011, WHILE TRAVELING APPR 65-70 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD BEGAN TO PEEL AWAY FROM THE TIRE AND DAMAGED HIS VEHICLE IN THE PROCESS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT. JP
I WAS DRIVING MY 1989 FORD F250 THAT I RECENTLY PURCHASED ON NOVEMBER 14TH 2011 AND WHEN I GOT HOME I SMELLED GASOLINE, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I SAW FUEL RUNNING OUT OF THE FRONT FUEL TANK FILLER NECK PAST THE GAS CAP. I WAS USING THE REAR TANK AT THE TIME. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS TRUCK. I LOOKED UP THE VIN ON FORDS' WEBSITE AND IT SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH MY TRUCK, MY THOUGHT WAS THAT IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE IT WAS SO OLD IT WAS NO LONGER IN THEIR DATABASE. I CALLED MACE FORD IN TERRE HAUTE AND SPOKE WITH LANDIS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 21 NOVEMBER 2011 HE CHECKED AND SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO AND REFERRED MY TO THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER WHICH I CALLED AND SPOKE TO [XXX] ALSO ON 21 NOVEMBER 2011, HE ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS NOT LISTED AND CHECKED WITH HIS SUPERVISOR'S AND THEY SAID IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY TRUCK. WHAT I DON
Mileage: 115,924
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F250 PICKUP TRUCK. HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE; ALTHOUGH, THERE WERE SEVERAL RECALLS RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 89V114000, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE AUXILIARY TANK, 91V146000, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE, AUXILIARY TANK SELECTOR DEVICES AND 88V182000, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE, TANK ASSEMBLY MOUNTING . NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER ASSUMED NO LIABILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER UNDER 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED IN THE SYSTEM.
Mileage: 95,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE AUXILIARY TANK. IMMEDIATELY, THE FUEL TANK CAP WAS REMOVED AND FUEL SPRAYED OUT OF THE TANK ONTO HIS CLOTHING. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES SUSTAINED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE MAIN FUEL TANK FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V146000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,STORAGE;AUXILIARY TANK;SELECTOR DEVICES). THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 105,000. UPDATED 03/18/09. *JB
Mileage: 98,000
FUEL IS BEING PUMPED OUT OF FRONT TANK ON TO GROUND, SEE 91V146000 FORD CAN NOT TELL ME IF THE RECALL HAS OR HAS NOT BEEN DONE ON THIS TRUCK. SEEMS IF THE TRUCK IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD THEY DON'T KEEP TRACK OR SOMETHING... *TR
Mileage: 145,000
FUEL IS BEING PUMPED OUT OF FRONT TANK ON TO GROUND, SEE 91V146000 FORD CAN NOT TELL ME IF THE RECALL HAS OR HAS NOT BEEN DONE ON THIS TRUCK. SEEMS IF THE TRUCK IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD THEY DON'T KEEP TRACK OR SOMETHING... *TR
Mileage: 145,000
WE (UNKNOWINGLY) BOUGHT $200 EACH, 10 PLY COOPER TIRES FROM DISCOUNT TIRE LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO. THESE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE WEIGHT OF OUR TRUCK AND CAMPER. IN OCTOBER OF 2005, THE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF OF ONE OF THE REAR TIRES AND DAMAGED ONE SIDE OF THE TRUCK AND PART OF THE CAB OVER CAMPER. THEN THIS PAST WEEKEND, THE SAME THING HAPPENED, THE TREAD COMPLETELY CAME OFF, REALLY DAMAGED THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRUCK AND ALSO PARTIALLY DAMAGED THE BOAT WE WERE TOWING. THE TIRES BOTH TIMES WERE STILL HOLDING AIR, JUST THREW THE TREAD. MY HUSBAND ACTUALLY WENT AND RETRIEVED THE TREAD FROM THE HIGHWAY THIS LATEST TIME. DISCOUNT TIRE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRE, BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY, BUT THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE DANGER OR THE DAMAGES THESE TIRES ARE CAUSING. THE SAME NIGHT AS THIS HAPPENED, ABC 15 NEWS SHOWED A STORY THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER WITH COOPER TIRES, AND SHOWED US HOW TO IDENTIFY THAT WE HAD SOME OF THESE TIRES THAT ARE THROWING THEIR TREAD. OU
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 91V146000 CONCERNING THE AUXILIARY TANK DEVICES. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 02/28/06.
Mileage: 100,000
Timing Belt Failure
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Timing Belt Failure
Underbody shields detachment
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 F-250; 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.