The 1989 Ford E350 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 461,228 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the structure. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
Consequence
THE OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUELLEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy
REPLACE THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE.
POWER TRAIN90V1010001990-06-01111,000 affected
Defect
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.
Consequence
WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM89V0620001989-04-17228 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH COULDRESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
INSTALL RETROFIT RIT OF PLASTIC-COATED METAL CLAMPS, LOOM FOR POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES AND RE-ROUTE WIRING.
Complaints by component
STRUCTURE
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
3
1fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
1
Total complaints36
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“Brake caliper failed to release, boiling the brake fluid (unbeknownst to me until it came time to apply the brakes). The brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I let it up completely and when depressed, it went to the floor once again. I used the transmission (gearing down) and the emergency…”
“Brake caliper failed to release, boiling the brake fluid (unbeknownst to me until it came time to apply the brakes). The brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I let it up completely and when depressed, it went to the floor once again. I used the transmission (gearing down) and the emergency…”
“Brake caliper failed to release, boiling the brake fluid (unbeknownst to me until it came time to apply the brakes). The brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I let it up completely and when depressed, it went to the floor once again. I used the transmission (gearing down) and the emergency…”
“While driving fuel will spill out from tank onto ground, recall #93s68. *ak the consumer's vehicle was not included in the recall eventhough the problelm is identical to that stated in recall # 93s68. *yh”
“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. *slc”
“Catalytic converter failed.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA91031 Opened 1991-06-26 · closed 1991-11-01
FUEL EXPULSION
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA91044 Opened 1991-10-30 · closed 1992-10-30
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
===
InvestigationEA93014 Opened 1993-06-04 · closed 1994-07-29
ALTERNATOR BELT FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE90056 Opened 1990-03-12 · closed 1990-06-12
TRNSMSSION PARK GEAR FAIL
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE91077 Opened 1991-05-23 · closed 1991-10-31
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationSQ99005 Opened 1999-02-10 · closed 2001-09-21
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Ford E350 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.