54 of the 241 complaints about the 1989 Ford F150 are about the electrical system — 22% of everything reported for this model year.
54
Complaints
0
Crashes
35
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10109107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE FUSE BOX MELTED OVER THE BATTERY CABLE, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10015810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I AM AFRAID TO FIX THE TRUCK THIS TIME BECAUSE IT COULD BURN DOWN MY HOUSE OR CAUSE A ACCIDENT. MR
NHTSA complaint #767901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VEHICLE HAS HAD FOUR ALTERNATORS REPLACED, AND TWICE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WILL BE REPLACED, BUT REMEDY WAS NOT WORKING.*AKI
NHTSA complaint #8010492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
FOR OVER 20 YEARS I HAVE BEEN AN NIASE & ASE MASTER AUTO AND MASTER MEDIUM & HEAVY DUTY TRUCK MECHANIC. AS I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE, FORD HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM WITH ALTERNATORS SUCH AS THE ONE USED ON THE MODEL YEAR MENTIONED IN THIS COMPLAINT. STARTING JUST AFTER MY ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER WARRANTY RAN OUT, MY ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRED. I CARRY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON BOARD. I REPAIRED THE FIRE DAMAGE AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR WITH A REBUILT UNIT. BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, I HAVE HAD THREE MORE ALTERNATOR FIRES. EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE RESULTED. EACH TIME I MADE REPAIRS BRINGING THE VEHICLE BACK TO OEM CONDITION AND INSTALLED ANOTHER REBUILT ALTERNATOR. TWO OF THE FOUR FIRES, I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE WITHOUT DOUBT THAT THE FIRE STARTED INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR AND NOT IN THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG. IN ADDITION, I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER FORD ALTERNATOR FIRES. I GUESS THIS TIME WAS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMELS BACK AND COMPELLED ME TO MAKE THIS REPORT TO YOU. FORD REALLY NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND COME OUT WITH A RECALL TO RECTIFY THIS HAZARD TO MOTORISTS. AS I SAID BEFORE, I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE NOT, CONTACT ANY PARTS HOUSE OR FORD MECHANIC AND I'M SURE YOU WILL GET AN EARFUL. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY BURN JOBS THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAS TO ABSORB NOT TO MENTION THE POOR GUY WITHOUT FULL COVERAGE. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION PROVES TO BE USEFUL TO YOU IN OBTAINING A BENEFICIAL RESOLUTION FOR THE CONSUMER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU DESIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #748627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR 96V071, CONSUMER HAD NOT RECEIVED THE NOTICE UNTIL NOW DUE TO IT BEING SENT TO AN INCORRECT ADDRESS, DURING RECALL REPAIR A MECHANIC BROKE AN ACTUATOR ROD IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND LOCKED UP THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE LABOR COSTS AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #561760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
BACK IN LATE MARCH'01 I LOST MY TURN SIGNALS/ BACK BRAKE LIGHTS,AND WHEN I WOULD PUT ON MY BRAKES, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD LIGHT UP AND OUTSIDE MARKER LIGHTS WOULD COME ON.THEN IN MARCH '01 I KEPT BLOWING FUSES FOR MY TURN SIGNALS,LOST BRAKE LIGHTS,TURN SIGNAL ON DRIVERSIDE REAR WONT WORK AND THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF MY STEERING COLUMN, AND NOW DONT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE .SOMEBODY TOLD ME TO CHECK TO SEE ABOUT A RECALL,THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME . HOPE WE CAN RESOLVE PROBLEM. STEVE.
NHTSA complaint #744697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
BACK IN LATE MARCH'01 I LOST MY TURN SIGNALS/ BACK BRAKE LIGHTS,AND WHEN I WOULD PUT ON MY BRAKES, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD LIGHT UP AND OUTSIDE MARKER LIGHTS WOULD COME ON.THEN IN MARCH '01 I KEPT BLOWING FUSES FOR MY TURN SIGNALS,LOST BRAKE LIGHTS,TURN SIGNAL ON DRIVERSIDE REAR WONT WORK AND THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF MY STEERING COLUMN, AND NOW DONT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE .SOMEBODY TOLD ME TO CHECK TO SEE ABOUT A RECALL,THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME . HOPE WE CAN RESOLVE PROBLEM. STEVE.
NHTSA complaint #744697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, VEHICLE STARTED DYING FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE SLOWING DOWN, LIKE COMING INTO A STOP SIGN. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL ( STEERING AND BRAKES) AND AS THIS IS A HEAVY VEHICLE, I WON'T ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE IT. HAVE TRIED TUNEUPS, ETC. TO NO AVAIL.
NHTSA complaint #738579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, TRAVELING 65MPH, HEARD A LOUD BANG THAT SHOOK THE VEHICLE. PULLED OVER, COULD SEE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW THE WIRES COMING OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR WERE ON FIRE. CONTACTED THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #858376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WE REPLACED ENGINE ON 5/13/98 ,IGN.CYL1/04STEERING COL1/04/00FUELTANK&SENG UNIT1/10/00 WE DID NOT KNOW THESE ITEMS WERE ONRECALL WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET OUR MONEY BACK? SAFTY WAS OUR CONCERN WITH OUR KIDS CAN YOU HELP US PEP BOYS DID ALL THE WORK FOR US. I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL WORK DONE. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #719113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REPAIRS DONE ON IGNITION SWITCH ON 27 JUL 97 AND 10 OCT 98, VEHICLE HAD UNDER HOOD FIRE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS WAS CAUSED BY MFR. RECALL FAILURE. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA complaint #851457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
A SHORT CIRCUIT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUSED THE HORN TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WORE THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS AND SHORTED OUT THE HORN/SPEED CONTROL/CIGARETTE LIGHTER CIRCUIT. SHORT LOCATED AND REPAIRED BY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. *AK
NHTSA complaint #842876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTING IT UP, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND THE FIRE KEPT STARTING BACK UP UNTIL THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED TO KEEP WIRING HARNESS FROM REIGNITING. THIS FIRE WAS A RESULT OF A VERY POORLY DESIGNED QUICK DISCONNECT TYPE CONNECTION BETWEEN HARNESS AND ALTERNATOR.
NHTSA complaint #832451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH WIRING SHORTED OUT AND BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #511182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TFI MODULE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #524784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECALL 96V071000; FORD MANUFACTURER DID NOT SENT RECALL NOTICE TO OWNER AND HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO THE VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE BECAUSE OF RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #820905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED AND CREATED A FIRE THAT BURNED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING AT TIME.
NHTSA complaint #527562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #520982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE TRUCK STARTED TO SMOKE BEHIND STEERING WHEEL AND CAUGHT FIRE, DESTROYING VEHICLE. THE OWNERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF FIRES. THE OWNER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #509146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #519449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION WIRING CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #520078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #515753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #808090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#96V071000); PROBLEM NOT IGNITION BUT W/ROD WHICH A SCREWDRIVER CAN BE USED TO PUSH & START VEHICLE & ALSO NOT VERY STABLE & CAN BREAK W/PRESSURE. WANTS ROD FIXED, NOT IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #809192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. TOOK VEHICLE HOME AND THE IGNITION WAS BROKEN. DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE REPLACES NEW PARTS WITH OLD ONES.
NHTSA complaint #807653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL PROCESSOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #511891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE PARKED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE DASH AREA.
NHTSA complaint #804215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #510256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #509116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.