FORD F150 · model year

1989 FORD F150

241 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989FORDF150 carries 241 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 45 fires, 5 injuries, and 2 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 F150 is fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank:selector devices with 39 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (22) and electrical system:ignition:switch (20). 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 2 investigation files overlapping the 1989 F150. 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.

241
Complaints
5
Crashes
45
Fires
5
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

241 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES39
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH20
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK15
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE4
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS4
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY3

Recent Complaints

20100922FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F- 150. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WAS COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE, SECONDS LATER THE CONTACT OPEN THE FILLER TUBE AND NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WAS ALSO SPILLING OUT OF THE FILLER TUBE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL FUNCTION RESERVOIR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 209000.

Mileage: 209,000

20070725FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MALFUNCTION. RETURNS GAS TO UNUSED TANK CAUSING OVERFLOW AT FUEL TANK FILLER CAP. *JB

20070601SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F150. ON MAY 29, 2007, THE CONTACT'S WIFE HEARD A LOUD BANG WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS LATER DIAGNOSED AS A ROTTED OUT REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNTING BRACKET. THE SPRING DROPPED APPROXIMATELY THREE INCHES AND WAS HANGING FROM THE BOLT THAT WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE FRAME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 137,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB

Mileage: 137,000

20070406TIRES:BEAD

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F150. ON JUNE 5, 1998 A SET OF 4 NEW GOODYEAR EAGLE GT2 TIRES , SIZE M+S P255/70R15 108S WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 75,808 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TWO YEARS ALL FOUR TIRES BEGAN TO SHOW VISIBLE CRACKS ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES FROM THE RIM AROUND THE BEAD AREA OF THE TIRE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO GOODYEAR, AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS ONLY DRIVEN IN TOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,5733. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST GOODYEAR SINCE THESE TIRES HAVE BEEN ONLY USED ABOUT 29,000 MILES AND BEGAN TO SHOW VISIBLE CRACKS TWO YEARS AFTER THEY WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WANTED TO MAKE REFERENCE TO ODI 8008687 AND 10037981. IN ADDITION, DOT# WAS T277225-GCW-71MW, FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE; DO# T277223-GCW-71MW, REAR DRIVER'S SIDE; AND DOT# T277227-CGW-71MW, FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. *A

Mileage: 75,808

20070312FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES

DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE APPEARS TO BE FORCING EXTRA FUEL INTO FRONT TANK WHILE REAR TANK IS SELECTED CAUSING IT TO OVERFLOW AND LEAK OUT OF THE FILLER CAP. CALLED DEALER AND THEY STATE NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE VIN. IT IS A 1989 F-150 REGULAR CAB, LONG BOX WITH 5.8L EFI ENGINE, DUAL TANKS, MILEAGE IS ONLY 43000. *JB

Mileage: 72,700

20070207FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES REGARDING THE TANK GASOLINE STORAGE SELECTOR DEVICE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 91V146000). 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. THE DRIVER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL, BECAUSE IT IS MORE THEN 10 YEARS OLD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

20060522FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES

RE: RECALL 91V146000, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, 1989-1991 F150 TRUCKS... NOT EXACTLY A COMPLAINT... MORE OF A "CORRECTION"... FORD SAYS THIS RECALL HAS A BEGINNING DATE OF MANUFACTURE OF MARCH 1, 1989, NOT FEBRUARY 28, 1989... (PER FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE)... *JB

20050830FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK

1989 F150 4 WD, RECALL 91S39, THIS VEHICLE IS DOING JUST WHAT THE RECALL SAYS, BUT FORD SAYS VEHICLE NOT BUILT WITHIN SPECIFIC TIME. CAN NOT USE BOTH TANKS BECAUSE VEHICLE SPURTS GASOLINE BACK AT YOU. THIS IS AND CONTINUES TO BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT WE KEEP AN EYE ON, BUT FORD SEEMS TO IGNORE. PLEASE HELP GET IT FIXED UNDER THE RECALL. *JB

20050510FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES

DT: 1989, FORD F150 WITH TWO GAS TANKS, CONTACT STATES THAT WHEN HE DRIVES THE VEHICLE ONE GASOLINE TANK OVERFLOWS INTO THE OTHER TANK. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS MODEL OF TRUCK, BUT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

20050303FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL IS PUMPING TO THE FRONT/REAR OF VEHICLE. THIS IS CAUSING A LEAKAGE, AND FOR CONSUMER TO SMELL GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC GAS SPILLED NEAR THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE. TWO FUEL PUMPS WERE INSTALLED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND. *SC *JB

Mileage: 60,000

20050127FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK

20040910FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK

THE FUEL TANK ON DRIVER'S SIDE WAS GUSHING FUEL FROM THE REAR TANK TO THE FRONT TANK WHICH SPILLED OUT.*AK

Mileage: 128,000

20040210SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DRIVERS SEAT BACK FOLDED BACK INTO THE CLUB CAB THE LOCKING MECHINISM GAVE WAY THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET MY COAT OUT FROM UNDER MY BACK THE TRUCK WAS NOT MOVING . *AK

Mileage: 209,000

20031202FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

REAR FUEL TANK OVERFLOWED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

Mileage: 102,000

20030820FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

91V146000 FUEL TANK SELECTOR MALFUNCTIONED. I BOUGHT A 1989 F-150 TRUCK AND HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME TROUBLE W/ THE FUEL TRANSFERING FROM THE BACK TANK TO THE FRONT. I SAW THE RECALL AND TALKED TO THE DEALER & THEY SAID MY VIN # WASN'T ON THE SHEET. WHAT DO I DO WITH A KNOWN PROBLEM & THEY WON'T FIX IT?*AK

20030603FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

WHILE FILLING UP THE GAS TANK GAS WOULD SPILL OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK

20030515FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF NHTSA RECALL 91V-146000 RELATED TO THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM

20030414ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE FUSE BOX MELTED OVER THE BATTERY CABLE, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. *JB

20030407FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK DID NOT RETAIN FUEL. *NLM

Mileage: 150,000

20030311FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 89V114000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

Compare 1989FORDF150 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 FORD F150 have?
The 1989 FORD F150 has 241 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 45 fires, 5 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 FORD F150?
The most-complained component for the 1989 FORD F150 is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES with 39 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Is the 1989 FORD F150 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.