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#BS-1989-FORF15-76F2

1989 Ford F-150Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 260 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
260
Crashes
5
Fires
45
Recalls
4
TSBs
35
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 260 complaints, 5 crashes, 45 fires, and 4 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

no brake system pressure

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

gas leaking into my oil pan

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

gas pumping out the gas cap

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank:selector DevicesHIGH

39 owners reported fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank:selector devices issues — failures commonly reported around 110K miles.

!Inspect the Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank AssemblyMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

2
0–30K
30–60K
3
60–90K
6
90–120K
4
120–150K
5
150K+

Peak failure range: 90–120K miles (6 reports) • Median: 110K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank:selector Devices (39 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank:selector Devices39 (15%)
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly23 (9%)
Electrical System:ignition:switch20 (8%)
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank15 (6%)
Fuel System13 (5%)
Speed Control11 (4%)
Electrical System:ignition10 (4%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip9 (3%)

1989 Ford F-150: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank:selector Devices Issues

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank:selector Devices complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford F-150, with 39 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 110,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 110K-mile mark.

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly Issues

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford F-150, with 23 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical System:ignition:switch Issues

Electrical System:ignition:switch complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford F-150, with 20 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system:ignition:switch-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank Issues

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford F-150, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

24
00
14
01
18
02
8
03
2
04
4
05
1
06
5
07
1
10
5
12
2
14
1
15
2
16
1
17
5
19
1
20
2
23

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1989 Ford F-150. Recent trend: increasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

89V114000Aug 1989

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK

SHIELDS ON THE FRONTS OF THE MIDSHIP MOUNTED FUEL TANKS WERE OMITTED DURING ASSEMBLY.

90V101000Jul 1990

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.

91V146000Dec 1991

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES

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.

96V071000Jun 1996

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (5)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

EA91031ClosedOpened Jun 1991 · closed Nov 1991

FUEL EXPULSION

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

EA91044ClosedOpened Oct 1991 · closed Oct 1992

LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

PE90056ClosedOpened Mar 1990 · closed Jun 1990

TRNSMSSION PARK GEAR FAIL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

PE91017ClosedOpened Nov 1990 · closed Apr 1991

FORD TRUCK INCONSISTENT VEHICLE CONTROL.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

PE91077ClosedOpened May 1991 · closed Oct 1991

LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The worst model year for the Ford F-150 is the 2018 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 260 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026.

Other Ford F-150 Model Years

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View all Ford F-150 years →

1989 Ford F-150: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1989 Ford F-150?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1989 Ford F-150 is related to the fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank:selector devices, with 39 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1989 Ford F-150 reliable?
The 1989 Ford F-150 has 260 complaints, 5 crash reports, and 45 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1989 Ford F-150 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1989 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes, the 1989 Ford F-150 has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford F-150 problems start?
Based on 20 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 110,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 90–120K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 1989 Ford F-150 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 260 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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