Complaints
260
Crashes
5
Fires
45
Injuries
5
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0
Worst 1989 Ford F-150 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#139 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
Avg mileage:41,350 mi
Fires:1
#223 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Avg mileage:88,809 mi
Fires:1
#320 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:15
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1989 Ford F-150.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices | 39 | — | 1 | 41,350 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 23 | — | 1 | 88,809 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 20 | — | 15 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank | 15 | — | — | 128,000 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 11 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 10 | — | 2 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 7 | — | 6 | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 7 | 1 | 1 | 139,667 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 6 | — | 6 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | 4 | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 5 | — | 4 | — | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | — | 148,150 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint | 2 | — | — | — |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
39
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
41,350
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
23
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
88,809
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
15
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
128,000
Unintended Acceleration
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
6
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
139,667
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
6
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
148,150
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1989 Ford F-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford F-150 Years
1989 Ford F-150 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1989 Ford F-150 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1989 Ford F-150 has 260 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices with 39 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1989 Ford F-150?
Top reported problems: Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices (39 complaints, avg 41,350 mi); Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly (23 complaints, avg 88,809 mi); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (20 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1989 Ford F-150?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 81,951 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1989 Ford F-150?
NHTSA complaints for the 1989 Ford F-150 include 5 crash-related reports, 45 fire reports, 5 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1989 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1989 Ford F-150 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1989 Ford F-150?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford F-150 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1989 Ford F-150
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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