Total Complaints
16 filings
FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) · model year
1989 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT)
16 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989FORDF SERIES (LIGHT) carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 F SERIES (LIGHT) is fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system with 2 filings, followed by visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system (1) and steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1989 F SERIES (LIGHT), and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
16
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
2
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 |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050207FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK
DUAL GAS TANKS, SMELL OF GAS, OVERFLOWING AND PRESSURE IN ONE TANK. COMPLAINED BEFORE BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. *JB
19950427SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SHOULDER BELTS FAILED TO HOLD SECURELY DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *SKD
19950323FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
AUXILIARY TANK SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING FRONT TANK TO SIPHON FUEL OUT OF REAR TANK PRIOR TO RECALL, REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO MONTH VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *AK
19950302STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
LOOSE SPINDLE, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF, ALSO MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. *AW
19950302ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
PROBLEM W/WIRING HARNESS CAUSES LIGHT FUSES TO CONTINOUSLY BLOW OUT, ALSO CHARGING SYSTEM FAILS TO PROPERLY CHARGE BATTERIES/CONTINOUS GLOW PLUG REPLACEMENTS.
19950302POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER HEAD REPLACED.
19950302STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
RIGHT DOOR DROPS WHEN OPENED, CAUSING CLOSING DIFFICULTY.
19950302SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES OVERHEATED PRIOR TO RECALL, ALSO BRAKE BOOSTER LEAKS, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE/BRAKE FADE. (92V-026)
19950302FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED. *AW
19950302POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TRANSFER CASE LEAKS OIL, ALSO NOISY LEFT/REAR AXLE/UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILURE.
19950302ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THERMOSTAT FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT.
19950302EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS MILSALIGNED/BEAMS TOO LOW.
19950302VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED.
19950302ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN CRANKCASE IS FILLED W/OIL, SMOKE GETS INTO ENGINE, CAUSING SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION/RUNAWAY ENGINE, ALSO EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE/STARTING DIFFICULTY.
19950223FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK. *AK
19950209VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
ENGINE STALLS/REVVS AT FULL THROTTLE WHEN A/C OR DEFROSTER IS TURNED ON. *AK
Compare 1989FORDF SERIES (LIGHT) to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) have?▼
The 1989 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) has 16 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT)?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM and STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM.
Is the 1989 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) 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 as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.