1989 Ford F250: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
68 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 68 complaints (13.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 22.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 13.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.4% |
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 System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Tires:Tread/Belt: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 61 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 18 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 18; 1996: 16; 2000: 11; 2001: 6; 2002: 6; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10000097 · 2002-12-13 (December 13, 2002)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000959 · 2003-01-11 (January 11, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032101 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD DUE TO WIRE HARNESS DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042836 · 2003-10-14 (October 14, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047939 · 2004-01-08 (January 8, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10047939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097009 · 2004-12-08 (December 8, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125657 · 2005-06-17 (June 17, 2005)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 239,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125657 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145270 · 2005-12-15 (December 15, 2005)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145270 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
88V182000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting
Reported: 1988-11-18 (November 18, 1988)
FUEL RESERVOIR SHIELDS, THAT PROTECT THE RESERVOIR FROM CONTACT BY THE TRANSFER CASE IN CERTAIN FRONTAL IMPACTS, WERE NOT INSTALLED.
Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE IN EXCESS OF THAT PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: INSTALL FUEL RESERVOIR PROTECTIVE SHIELDS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V114000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank
Reported: 1989-07-14 (July 14, 1989)
SHIELDS ON THE FRONTS OF THE MIDSHIP MOUNTED FUEL TANKS WERE OMITTED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: TRUCKS WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH 30 MPH IMPACT TEST OFFMVSS NO. 301, FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY.
Remedy: INSTALL FUEL TANK SHIELDS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V101000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Reported: 1990-06-01 (June 1, 1990)
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.
Consequence: WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V146000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
Reported: 1991-09-04 (September 4, 1991)
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.
Consequence: THE OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUELLEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗92V026000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Shoes/Linings
Reported: 1992-03-03 (March 3, 1992)
A REVISED BRAKE LINING NOISE INSULATOR RESULTED IN A DECREASE IN THE THERMAL INSULATION BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINING AND THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTON. THIS CAUSED GREATER HEAT TRANSFER TO THE CALIPER PISTONS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OVERHEAT THE BRAKE FLUID AND DIMINISH BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS DURING SEVERE BRAKING CONDITIONS.
Consequence: INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND INABLILITY TO HOLDVEHICLES ON A STEEP GRADE RESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF ACCIDENT IN THE EVENT OFA SUDDEN STOP OR WHEN CONSTANT BRAKING IS NEEDED TO MANEUVER THROUGH AREAS WITHSTEEP GRADES.
Remedy: ADD SNAP-IN INSULATORS THAT ATTACH TO EACH OF THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTONS. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WITH 7.5 L ENGINES WILL HAVE INSULATION ADDED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BRAKE LINES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗