Total Complaints
5 filings
FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN · model year
1989 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN
5 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 1989FORDFORD TRUCK AND VAN carries 5 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, 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 FORD TRUCK AND VAN is electrical system:starter assembly with 1 filings, followed by electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery (1) and electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator (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 FORD TRUCK AND VAN, 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.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070827STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WHERE THE GEAR BOX RESTS IS WEAK AND THROWS OFF THE STEERING. THE FRAME IS NOT SOLID, THEREFORE THE PRESSURE FROM MAKING A TURN CAUSES THE FRAME TO FAIL. WHEN HE TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL, HE LOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO IMPROPER ALIGNMENT. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 149,540.
Mileage: 149,540
20010828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
BOUGHT USED, REPLACED ENGINE, REPLACED STARTER,BATTERY,ALTERNATOR, & WIRING ON THIS VEHICLE 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP!
20010828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BOUGHT USED, REPLACED ENGINE, REPLACED STARTER,BATTERY,ALTERNATOR, & WIRING ON THIS VEHICLE 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP!
20010828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
BOUGHT USED, REPLACED ENGINE, REPLACED STARTER,BATTERY,ALTERNATOR, & WIRING ON THIS VEHICLE 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP!
20010828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
BOUGHT USED, REPLACED ENGINE, REPLACED STARTER,BATTERY,ALTERNATOR, & WIRING ON THIS VEHICLE 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP!
Compare 1989FORDFORD TRUCK AND VAN 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 FORD TRUCK AND VAN have?▼
The 1989 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR.
Is the 1989 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN 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 FORD TRUCK AND VAN; 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.