Total Complaints
127 filings
FORD F250 · model year
127 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989FORDF250 carries 127 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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 F250 is fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank:selector devices with 12 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (11) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (6). 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 F250, 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.
Total Complaints
127 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 | 12 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS | 3 |
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
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. BY THE TIME IT COULD BE SAFELY PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IT WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
Mileage: 239,000
FUEL LEAKED OUT PAST THE FILLER CAP WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE FUEL TANK AUXILIARY SELECTOR AND SWITCH RECALL 91V146000 BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTION VALVE FAILED CAUSING AN OVERFLOW CONDITION IN ONE TANK WITH OVERFLOW OF FUEL. *SC
Mileage: 55,000
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF A TIRE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO MOLE INFESTATION.*AK WHEN THE BRAKE FUSE BLEW, THE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK. AS A RESULT, WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE RACED FORCING THE CONSUMER TO GO OFF ROAD TO AVOID A ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS CANCELLED BY HITTING THE OFF BUTTON. *PH *NM
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF A TIRE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO MOLE INFESTATION.*AK WHEN THE BRAKE FUSE BLEW, THE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK. AS A RESULT, WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE RACED FORCING THE CONSUMER TO GO OFF ROAD TO AVOID A ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS CANCELLED BY HITTING THE OFF BUTTON. *PH *NM
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF A TIRE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO MOLE INFESTATION.*AK WHEN THE BRAKE FUSE BLEW, THE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK. AS A RESULT, WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE RACED FORCING THE CONSUMER TO GO OFF ROAD TO AVOID A ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS CANCELLED BY HITTING THE OFF BUTTON. *PH *NM
FUEL TANK SELECTOR AND SWITCH EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 91V146000; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD DUE TO WIRE HARNESS DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
FUEL TANK AUXILIARY SELECTOR SWITCH PROBLEM, OVERFLOW FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER, RESULTING OF OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP. SAME AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 91V146000. HOWEVER MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED SLIGHTLY BEFORE THE EARLIEST CUTOFF DATE OF 2/1989. TS
FAULTY IGNITION COMPONENT PRIMARILY USED IN ALL MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD FROM 1986-2000+. CAN CAUSE FIRE, HAS BEEN LISTED AS A RECALL BUT ONLY FOR SPECIFIC VIN NUMBERS. SAME COMPONENT, SAME MANUFACTURER, SAME INSTALLATION, SAME PROBLEMS FOR ALL VEHICLES MAY, HAVE OR CAN ARISE IT IS NOT VEHICLE SPECIFIC BUT COMPONENT SPECIFIC. IF SAME COMPONENTS WERE USED ON ALL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME, THEN ALL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED ARE AT RISK OF HAVING THE SAME MALFUNCTION. THE COMPONENT CAN NOT DETERMINE WHICH VEHICLE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAVE FIRE OR SAFETY ISSUES. IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE THIS OUT. NOR SHOULD IT TAKE EVEN ONE TRAGEDY TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OPERATING A VEHICLE THAT HAS THE POSIBILITY OF BECOMING A FIRE HAZARD. FAULTY COMPONENT NOT FAULTY VEHICLE. OH AND FAULTY MANUFACTURER AS THEY CAN'T SEE THE OBVIOUS BUT CAN ONLY SEE THE TYPES OF VEHICLES REPORT
Mileage: 140,000
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON THE HIGHWAY CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER , THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. GOODYEAR PATHFINDER NT TIRE 16 INCH (DOT UNKNOWN). *JB THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. *TT
WHEN IN LOW GEAR BRAKE FLUID WILL BOIL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE BRAKES.*AK
RECALL 91 V 146 000/AUXILLARY SELECTOR AND SWITCH:PORTION OF UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, SECOND TANK EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGES. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. LEVER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN PARK. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Timing Belt Failure
Underbody shields detachment
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
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.