1989 Ford F-150: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
101,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 14 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 42.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2012: 4; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10455758 · 2012-04-19 (April 19, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE DUAL FULL TANKS TO CAPACITY, FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK CONTINUOUSLY OUT OF THE FILLER CAP WHEN THE FILLER CAP WAS TIGHTLY SECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE DUAL FUEL TANK VALVE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 89V114000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: AUXILLARY TANK); HOWEVER THE RECALL EXPIRED ON JULY 10, 1999. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463440 · 2012-06-28 (June 28, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED AND AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ONLY WORK WHEN ENGAGED ON HIGH SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM SINCE THE PARTS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,200. UPDATED 08/07/12*LJ UPDATED 08/16/2012…
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10468773 · 2012-08-01 (August 1, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE MAIN FUEL TANK WAS FILLED TO CAPACITY, THE FUEL WOULD NOT FLOW INTO THE AUXILIARY TANK AND INSTEAD, WOULD SPILL OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONTAC T REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 91V146000 (FUEL SYSTEM: GASOLINE: STOTAGE: AUXILLIARY TANK: SELCETOR DEVICES), BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,245.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10468773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10481258 · 2012-10-20 (October 20, 2012)
I AM WONDERING IF THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED OR IF IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ONE ON THE TRUCK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10481258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609362 · 2014-07-09 (July 9, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TWO STARTERS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 188,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10639156 · 2014-09-25 (September 25, 2014)
FUEL STARTED PUMPING OUT OF THE GAS CAP AT A RELATIVELY HIGH RATE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. WHEN I STOPPED, FUEL CONTINUED TO PUMP OUT ONTO THE GROUND UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I WENT TO LOOSEN THE GAS CAP TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND GAS BLEW OUT ONTO ME AND ON THE GROUND (I WOULD ESTIMATE 1-2 CUPS OF FUEL AT LEAST). THIS IS AN OLDER VEHICLE- BUT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I BELIEVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I FOUND OUT FROM A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT FORD ISSUED A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE (RECALL NUMBER 91S39 / CASE #91V146000). HOWEVER, FORD…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10639156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10693181 · 2015-03-10 (March 10, 2015)
DROVE HOME AFTER FILLING FUEL TANKS. PARKED TRUCK IN GARAGE AND SMELLED GAS. CHECKED 1989 FORD F150 FUEL TANK AND IT WAS LEAKING ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. REMOVED 1989 FORD F150 FROM GARAGE TO DRIVEWAY TO CHECK THE PROBLEM OUT MORE. REMOVED REAR FUEL TANK GAS CAP AND GAS STARED RUNNING OUT OF THE TANK ON TO THE DRIVEWAY. GAS STOPPED RUNNING OUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES. COULD THIS CAUSE MY FORD F150 TO CATCH ON FIRE AND BURN MY HOUSE DOWN AS THE GARAGE IS UNDER THE HOUSE. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH 1989 FORD F150. CAN I GET…
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10874752 · 2016-06-17 (June 17, 2016)
SMALL DOOR BEHIND DRERIVEER SEAT WILLNOT OPEN
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874752 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.