Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
50,000 – 74,999 miles
250.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
125.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
125.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 5Jul 2008
NHTSA investigations into the 1989 Ford E150
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA91044Opened 30 Oct 1991Closed 30 Oct 1992SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
===
EA91031Opened 26 Jun 1991Closed 1 Nov 1991VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FUEL EXPULSION
PE91077Opened 23 May 1991Closed 31 Oct 1991SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
Recalls on the 1989 Ford E150
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1990192659 units in Canada
Emissions
ON VEHICLES WITH 5.8 LITRE ENGINES, THE VACUUM LINES FOR THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) AND THERMACTOR EMISSIONS SYSTEMS MAY BE DAMAGED BY CONTACT WITH THE EGR VALVE AND TUBE ASSEMBLY. THE VACUUM LINES MAY EITHER DEVELOP A LEAK OR FUSE SHUT FROM THE CONTACT WITH THE HOT EGR VALVE AND TUBE ASSEMBLY. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND VACUUM LINES WILL BE REPAIRED IF NECESSARY. ALL LINES WILL BE REPOSITIONED AND RETAINED WITH A TIE STRAP.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Williamsburgh, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTENATEOR HARNESS PLUG CONNECTOR SUDDENLY SHORT CIRCUTED, AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCHON FIRE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #839489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carbondale, PAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
FIRE STARTED ON DRIVERS SIDE NEAR STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD.NM
NHTSA complaint #545870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Auburn, GAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CLIMATE CONTROL FAN SWITCH MELTED/BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #506365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Forked River, NJFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTENATOR HEATED UP THE WIRING HARNESS, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #986064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jonesboro, GAFire
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED 65MPH, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, SMELL OF WIRING BURNING, ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #985561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jonesboro, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED 65MPH, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, SMELL OF WIRING BURNING, ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #985561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 94,000 milesGardena, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 91V146000 REFERS TO A SAFETY RECALL FOR A FAULTY DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE IN FORD ECONOLINE VANS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FUEL TANKS BUILT BETWEEN 1989 AND 1991 AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS . I HAVE CONTACTED FORD TO INVESTIGATE , BUT THERE ARE NO RECORDS THAT CONFIRM OR DISAFFIRM MY VEHICLE'S INCLUSION IN THIS RECALL. BASICALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF MY VAN WAS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND IF ANY RECALL SERVICES WERE PERFORMED. I AM EXPERIENCING A FAULT IN THE DUAL FUEL TANK SYSTEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WILL NOT SWITCH TO THE MAIN TANK, AND WHEN FILLED, THE MAIN TANK WILL FLOW PAST THE FILLER CAP AND CAUSES A FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO ADVISED ME THAT NO RECALL SERVICE CAN BE PERFORMED TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY VIN# DOES NOT REGISTER IN THE FORD RECALL DATABASE. AGAIN, FORD CANNOT CONFIRM OR DISAFFIRM ANY RECALL SERVICES PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SO I DO NOT HAVE ANY SERVICE RECORDS PRIOR TO 2005. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THIS CONCERN, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE SECONDARY FUEL PUMP, AS ADVISED BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC. I HAVE ALSO OVERHAULED BOTH FUEL TANKS TO CHECK FOR CLOGGING, OR ANY FOREIGN MATERIALS, AND I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL SEALS AND MISC. HARDWARE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS CONCERN HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2005. I AM ONLY ABLE TO OPERATE MY VEHICLE ON THE AUXILLARY (REAR) FUEL TANK WITH A 13 GALLON CAPACITY. WHEN THE SELECTOR SWITCH IS ON THE FRONT TANK, THE VEHICLE WILL EVENTUALLY STALL AS IF IT IS OUT OF FUEL. WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH IS SET TO THE REAR TANK, I AM ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LIMITED RANGE DUE TO THE SMALL AUXILLARY FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10232970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 138,000 milesStatesville, NC
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VAN DIED,TOWED TO MECHANICS SHOP,WAS TOLD SWITCH VALVE BETWEEN TANKS WAS PROBLEM, LOOKED ON NHTSA WEBSITE ABOUT RECALLS. FORD VAN 89 E-150 WITH DUEL GAS TANKS. FORD SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS 91S39 WENT TO FORD WEB SITE,CALLED THEM ON PHONE, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND LOCAL DEALERSHIP. BOTH SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VAN.
NHTSA complaint #10225733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 61,000 milesMiddletown, PA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING, THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND DAMAGED THE FRONT FENDER. *AK THE VALVE STEM WAS ALSO REPLACED. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10024474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 61,000 milesMiddletown, PA
TIRES:VALVE
WHILE DRIVING, THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND DAMAGED THE FRONT FENDER. *AK THE VALVE STEM WAS ALSO REPLACED. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10024474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodlands, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN GIVING US PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASED-1993- ONE TIME THE MODULE FAILED AND ANOTHER TIME IT WAS REPLACED, STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.
NHTSA complaint #735288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
BEGAN HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH STALLING APPROX. 2 MOS AGO , STALLED WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHILE CROSSING INTERSECTIONS , ENDANGERING THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY , WHICH CONSISTS OF MYSELF ,MY WIFE , AND OUR FOUR SMALL CHILDREN. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED 7 TIMES. I HAVE REPAIRED IT TWICE. RECENTLY I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. AND AT FIRST THEY DENIED AND PROBLEM AND THE RECENT RECALL IN CALIFORNIA. IHAVE DONE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH REGARDING THIS PROBLEM INCLUDING MEETING WITH A REGIONAL FORD DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER. PLEASE , PLEASE HELP ME...
NHTSA complaint #734638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lenoir, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH WAS MELTED I REPLACED IT AND IT MELTED AFTER 4000 MILES. I WENT TO A SALVAGE YARD AND THEY WERE ALL MELTED IN THE HI POSITION. WHEN ON HI THE WIRING GET SO HOT YOU CANNOT HOLD THE WIRES
NHTSA complaint #729257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Williamsburgh, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTENATEOR HARNESS PLUG CONNECTOR SUDDENLY SHORT CIRCUTED, AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCHON FIRE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #839489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carbondale, PAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
FIRE STARTED ON DRIVERS SIDE NEAR STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD.NM
NHTSA complaint #545870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Point Pleasant, NJ
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
BUMPER ASSEMBLY MISSING PARTS THAT ARE ON ASSEMBLY DRAWING, POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE STEP BUMPER OF THE VAN TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FRAME WHILE TOWING.
NHTSA complaint #522278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakdale, MN
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK
VEHICLE HAS AUXILIARY FUEL TANK. WHEN FIRST TANK IS FILLED WITH GAS IT CAUSES SPILLAGE OF SECOND TANK. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #825116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Point Pleasant, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
STEP BUMPER ON THE VAN BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAM WHILE TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER, DUE TO MISSING PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #522278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Harbor, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STALLS.
NHTSA complaint #528527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stafford, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK
WHEN ONE FUEL TANK ON A DUAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY FILLS UP IT OVERFLOWS, LEAKING GAS.
NHTSA complaint #817969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Inverness, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS AND CUTS OFF COMPLETLY. OWNER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #816757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.