1989 Ford E-350 Problems
- Complaints
- 26filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 64,000miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Ford E-350 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 1989 Ford E-350. The part named most often is brakes, with 12 complaints (46% of the total), followed by body and structure (5) and engine cooling (4). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 64,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes12 46%
- Body and structure5 19%
- Engine cooling4 15%
- Fuel system3 12%
- Electrical system1 3.9%
- Other or unknown1 3.9%
- Steering1 3.9%
- Tires1 3.9%
Example complaints
Brakes: “Intermittently vehicle loses brake power when the brake pedal is depressed, brake pedal goes to the floor and fails to stop the truck. The emergency brakes had to be engaged to stop the vehicle. Master brake cylinder was replaced, but the failure occurred with in 400 miles. Dealership replaced the master cylinder again, and bleed the brakes. However, failure recurred within 1500 miles. Then, dealership indicated that this failure occurred because the brake line was routed behind the engine , which get hot and boiled the fluid.”
NHTSA complaint #10079553, filed 2004-06, 25,000 milesEngine cooling: “While climbing hills on very warm days, the vehicle has experienced stalling, on one occasion, the vehicle stalled and there was a loss of power steering and brakes, the problem was with the tfi ignition module and distributor.”
NHTSA complaint #558383, filed 2000-12Fuel system: “The contact owns a 1989 Ford E-350. The contact stated that while exiting from the wheel chair ramp that was attached to the vehicle in a wheel chair, the vehicle independently rolled away and crashed into a gate. The contact was not injured. Additionally, the contact was driving 70 MPH and smelled an abnormal and persistent gasoline odor. The contact was able to see gasoline spewing from the vehicle in the rear-view mirror. The vehicle was not repaired. …”
NHTSA complaint #10577404, filed 2014-04, 103,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
50% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 25,000 and 103,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
- 91V146000Sep 4, 1991Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Auxillary tank › Selector devicesCovers: Ford E-350 1989–1991, E-150 1989–1991, Econoline 1989–1991 +4 more
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.
- 90V101000Jun 1, 1990Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)Covers: Ford E-350 1989–1990, F-150 1989–1990, F-250 1989–1990 +4 more
Under certain conditions, the snap ring that locates the park gear on the output shaft of the transmission may fracture.
- 89V062000Apr 17, 1989Electrical system › WiringCovers: Ford E-350 1984–1989
Nylon ties that support the main wiring harness to the chassis could wear and break due to excessive vibration. Thus, wiring harness could fall on engine components and short circuit.
Recall details for the 1989 Ford E-350 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 Ford E-350.
Other model years of the Ford E-350
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14 | 11,000 | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2021 | 22 | 12,234 | 6 | — | — | — | Rising |
| 2017 | 13 | 20,556 | 4 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2016 | 5 | 4,000 | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2015 | 7 | 20,978 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2014 | 17 | 16,500 | 11 | — | 13 | — | Rising |
| 2013 | 13 | 6,000 | 9 | — | 13 | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 16 | 69,750 | 12 | — | 13 | — | Stable |
| 2011 | 19 | 76,000 | 18 | — | 13 | — | Falling |
| 2010 | 17 | 69,900 | 16 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2009 | 10 | 20,000 | 25 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 39 | 51,000 | 30 | — | — | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Rising |
| 2007 | 18 | 51,051 | 35 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2006 | 53 | 73,000 | 38 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2005 | 55 | 67,294 | 16 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 46 | 50,000 | 10 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 46 | 85,509 | 7 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2002 | 53 | 80,000 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 52 | 89,000 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 59 | 99,783 | 8 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 72 | 87,000 | 9 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 63 | 113,614 | 8 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 79 | 70,000 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 50 | 38,934 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 69 | 80,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 51 | 137,000 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 43 | 85,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 41 | 45,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 19 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1990 | 23 | 89,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 26 | 64,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 11 | 72,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 14 | — | 8 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 11 | 60,000 | 11 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1983 | 5 | 73,000 | 8 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Ford E-350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Ford E-350 have?
NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 1989 Ford E-350 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Ford E-350 is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 12 complaints (46% of the total), followed by body and structure with 5.
Has the 1989 Ford E-350 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1989 Ford E-350 reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 64,000 miles and the middle half falls between 25,000 and 103,000 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.