RecallMyCar

1989 Ford F250 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1989 Ford F250, and owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
101
owner complaints to NHTSA
4 / 13
complaints citing a crash / fire
11–15
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 1989 Ford F250

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Ignition (electrical system)

    NHTSA 96V071000 Reported 7,900,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.

  2. Shoes/linings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 92V026000 Reported 467,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

    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.

  3. Selector devices (fuel system)

    NHTSA 91V146000 Reported 350,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

    Remedy: Replace the dual fuel tank selector valve.

  4. Gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 90V101000 Reported 111,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Under certain conditions, the snap ring that locates the park gear on the output shaft of the transmission may fracture.

    Remedy: Install improved snap ring and revised transmission extension housing.

  5. Auxillary tank (fuel system)

    NHTSA 89V114000 Reported 3,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Shields on the fronts of the midship mounted fuel tanks were omitted during assembly.

    Remedy: Install fuel tank shields.

  6. Mounting (fuel system)

    NHTSA 88V182000 Reported 300 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Fuel reservoir shields, that protect the reservoir from contact by the transfer case in certain frontal impacts, were not installed.

    Remedy: Install fuel reservoir protective shields.

101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1989 Ford F250 have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 13 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 124,571 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 21 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl*the contact owns a 1989 ford f250 pickup truck. He noticed fuel leaking from the vehicle; although, there were several recalls related to the fuel system, his VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 11, 2010 · Fuel system, gasoline

“Tl*the contact owns a 1989 ford f250. While driving approximately 25 MPH on normal road conditions, the contact smelled a strong odor of fuel coming from outside of the vehicle. The driver pulled over”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 25, 2009 · Fuel system, gasoline

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1989 Ford F250 (F250 Pickup 2WD, F250 Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined11–15 mpg
City / Highway10–14 / 12–17
FuelRegular
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks
Engine6/8 cyl, 4.9/5/5.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd; Manual 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Ford F250 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford F250 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1967 Ford F25030
1968 Ford F25011
1969 Ford F25010
1970 Ford F25001
1972 Ford F25030
1973 Ford F25050
1974 Ford F25022
1975 Ford F25050
1976 Ford F25020
1977 Ford F25052
1978 Ford F25092
1979 Ford F25081
1980 Ford F25030
1981 Ford F25051
1982 Ford F25030
1983 Ford F25061
1984 Ford F250310
1985 Ford F250221
1986 Ford F250238
1987 Ford F250238
1988 Ford F250362
1989 Ford F2506101
1990 Ford F2506107
2005 Ford F25030
2006 Ford F25030
2007 Ford F25020
2008 Ford F25020

Checking a specific 1989 Ford F250

How do I know if my 1989 Ford F250 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 1989 Ford F250; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 88V182000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.