1989 Ford F-350 Problems
- Complaints
- 42filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 116,250miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 5campaigns 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 F-350 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 1989 Ford F-350. The part named most often is brakes, with 8 complaints (19% of the total), followed by electrical system (7) and fuel system (7). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 116,250 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 3 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the shoes/linings and 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign 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.
- Brakes8 19%
- Electrical system7 17%
- Fuel system7 17%
- Tires7 17%
- Engine cooling5 12%
- Body and structure3 7.1%
- Exterior lighting2 4.8%
- Steering2 4.8%
- Suspension2 4.8%
Also reported: Engine (1), Other or unknown (1), Seat belts (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “Grease on rear brake seals, they failed while driving. Oil would get onto brakes. Could see oil dripping. Brakes would lock up. Rear brakes not effective at all, especially while towing a trailer. Will have dealer check out seals.”
NHTSA complaint #822714, filed 1998-04Electrical system: “Thanks; I need help: I am driving along and the engine just stops. I am at a stop light and when I take off I only go a few yards, and the engine stops.I am at a stop sign, and the engine just stops. I have been towed 3 times in the last 3 months by aaa. I wait a while most of the time and the engine will start again after about 30 minutes.my wife is 70 years and I am 67. And we are too old for things like this to put with things like this. We are afraid to leave town now. I have taken the truck to a Ford dealer,pet boy's,and a auto repair shop. …”
NHTSA complaint #729720, filed 2000-08Fuel system: “Since november 19, 2014 I have been noticing a strong fuel vapor smell from my truck. I really didn't think anything of it until I got into my truck and turned the key to the on position. All of a sudden I noticed that my rear gas tank was empty. I flipped the switch to the front tank and it was over full. After quite a period of researching online when I had time to, I found out that there had been a recall on the dual fuel tank selector valve. …”
NHTSA complaint #10567499, filed 2014-03, 82,500 milesTires: “I was returning home from phoenix. I was transitioning from the 101 freeway,to the 60 eastbound. Almost where the concrete barriers come to a point and end, my left front tire cut loose of it's tread. I briefly saw that it went towards, and in between the concrete barriers. The tire did not go flat. When the tread left, it tore up the inner fender plastic, bent the quarter panel right behind the wheel well, destroyed the footstep bolted on underneath the drivers door. The vehicle is a 1989 f350 4-door longbed 4-wheel drive truck. This episode is not the first. The first happened in 2003. …”
NHTSA complaint #10141722, filed 2005-11Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 82,500 and 150,000 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
- 96V071000Apr 25, 1996Electrical system › IgnitionCovers: Ford F-350 1988–1991, Thunderbird 1988–1993, Mercury Cougar 1988–1993 +12 more
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
- 92V026000Mar 3, 1992Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum › Shoes/liningsCovers: Ford F-350 1988–1991, F-250 1988–1991
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…
- 91V146000Sep 4, 1991Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Auxillary tank › Selector devicesCovers: Ford F-350 1989, E-350 1989–1991, E-150 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 F-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.
- 89V114000Jul 14, 1989Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Auxillary tankCovers: Ford F-350 1989, F-250 1989, F-150 1989
Shields on the fronts of the midship mounted fuel tanks were omitted during assembly.
Recall details for the 1989 Ford F-350 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE94004Hydraulic brake line cracks/leaksClosed · Jan 25, 1994
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 Ford F-350.
Other model years of the Ford F-350
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 91 | 73,000 | 0 | — | — | 9 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2013 | 76 | 79,000 | 1 | — | — | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 149 | 90,000 | 4 | — | — | 71 · More | Stable |
| 2011 | 136 | 60,000 | 4 | — | — | 92 · More | Falling |
| 2009 | 28 | 104,000 | 2 | — | — | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2008 | 131 | 67,532 | 9 | — | — | 90 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 36 | 54,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 145 | 60,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 114 | 81,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 159 | 50,047 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 90 | 42,044 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 116 | 65,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 160 | 72,000 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 304 | 81,000 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 413 | 106,925 | 12 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 12 | 75,158 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 155 | 110,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 130 | 103,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 134 | 130,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 95 | 145,900 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1993 | 101 | 111,330 | 6 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 52 | 87,500 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 31 | 89,450 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 39 | 44,470 | 6 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 42 | 116,250 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 29 | 150,000 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 8 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 14 | 106,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Ford F-350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Ford F-350 have?
NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 1989 Ford F-350 as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Ford F-350 is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 8 complaints (19% of the total), followed by electrical system with 7.
Has the 1989 Ford F-350 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 5 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 F-350 reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 116,250 miles and the middle half falls between 82,500 and 150,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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.