Complaints
141
Crashes
4
Fires
17
Injuries
1
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1989 Ford F-250 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#113 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
Avg mileage:99,500 mi
#211 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Crash-related:1
#36 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1989 Ford F-250.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices | 13 | — | — | 99,500 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 6 | — | 2 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 6 | — | — | 95,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 | — | 1 | 140,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 5 | — | 5 | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 5 | — | 1 | 79,183 mi | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | — | 2 | — | |
| Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Shoes/Linings | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
99,500
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
95,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
140,000
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
79,183
Tires:Tread/Belt
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Shoes/Linings
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1989 Ford F-250. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford F-250 Years
1989 Ford F-250 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1989 Ford F-250 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1989 Ford F-250 has 141 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices with 13 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1989 Ford F-250?
Top reported problems: Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices (13 complaints, avg 99,500 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (11 complaints); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (6 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-250?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 102,049 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-250?
NHTSA complaints for the 1989 Ford F-250 include 4 crash-related reports, 17 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 0 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-250 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1989 Ford F-250 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-250?
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-250 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1989 Ford F-250
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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