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#BS-1989-FORF25-5427

1989 Ford F-250Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 141 owners and 6 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
141
Crashes
4
Fires
17
Recalls
6
TSBs
30
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 141 complaints, 4 crashes, 17 fires, and 6 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

engine wont start

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

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

13 owners reported fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank:selector devices issues — failures commonly reported around 98K miles.

!Inspect the Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited SlipMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

2
0–30K
1
30–60K
3
60–90K
6
90–120K
4
120–150K
2
150K+

Peak failure range: 90–120K miles (6 reports) • Median: 98K 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 (13 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 Devices13 (9%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip11 (8%)
Fuel System10 (7%)
Electrical System:ignition:switch6 (4%)
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly6 (4%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components6 (4%)
Electrical System:ignition5 (4%)
Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash5 (4%)

1989 Ford F-250: Known Issues & Problem Areas

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

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank:selector Devices complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford F-250, with 13 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 98,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 98K-mile mark.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip Issues

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford F-250, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford F-250, with 10 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical System:ignition:switch Issues

Electrical System:ignition:switch complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford F-250, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system:ignition:switch-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

14
00
6
01
6
02
3
03
4
04
2
05
1
06
2
08
1
09
1
10
1
11
3
12
4
13
1
14
2
15
1
16
2
18

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1989 Ford F-250. Recent trend: increasing.

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

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Recall History (6 recalls)

88V182000Dec 1988

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

FUEL RESERVOIR SHIELDS, THAT PROTECT THE RESERVOIR FROM CONTACT BY THE TRANSFER CASE IN CERTAIN FRONTAL IMPACTS, WERE NOT INSTALLED.

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.

92V026000Jun 1992

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS

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.

+ 1 more recall in the full report

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

EA93014ClosedOpened Jun 1993 · closed Jul 1994

ALTERNATOR BELT FAILURE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PE91077ClosedOpened May 1991 · closed Oct 1991

LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

PE91090ClosedOpened Jun 1991 · closed Oct 1991

SPARE TIRE FIRES

EQUIPMENT

The worst model year for the Ford F-250 is the 2006 — 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. 141 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 6 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

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

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Ford F-250 Model Years

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View all Ford F-250 years →

1989 Ford F-250: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1989 Ford F-250?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1989 Ford F-250 is related to the fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank:selector devices, with 13 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1989 Ford F-250 reliable?
The 1989 Ford F-250 has 141 complaints, 4 crash reports, and 17 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-250 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-250 have any recalls?
Yes, the 1989 Ford F-250 has 6 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford F-250 problems start?
Based on 18 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 98,000 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-250 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 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?
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 141 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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