FordF-Series1989Overview/ford/f-series/1989/base/

1989 Ford F-Series

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 F-Series.

The 1989 Ford F-Series Overview identifies the vehicle through specific maintenance parameters, including a 5.0 qt engine oil capacity requiring 5W-30 API viscosity. Documented reliability metrics show a low frequency of reported issues, comprising only 2 recalls and 2 total owner complaints. With the top complaint area restricted to Tires,Wheels, this model year sits as a stable entry in the model's history, meaning researcher attention is primarily directed toward this specific category.

Model year199519941993199219911990198919881987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

ThermostatRT1087

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the F-Series of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.3–10.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.30 sec — 1997 F-150 Lariat SuperCab
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1997F-150 Lariat SuperCab 5.4L V88.30 sec16.40 sec235 hpRWD
1997F-150 XLT Regular Cab 4.6L V88.80 sec16.60 sec220 hpRWD
1997F-150 Lariat Flareside Regular Cab 4.6L V88.90 sec16.70 sec220 hpRWD
1997F-150 Styleside Regular Cab 4.2L V69.30 sec17.20 sec202 hpRWD
1997F-150 XLT SuperCab 4.6L V89.90 sec17.70 sec220 hpRWD
1997F-150 XLT SuperCab 4.6L V810.40 sec17.90 sec220 hp4x4
1998F-150 XLT SuperCab 5.4L V88.70 sec16.70 sec235 hpRWD
1998F-150 XLT SuperCab 5.4L V89.40 sec17.20 sec235 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.5 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miDiesel Fuel Injection Pump (inspect) · Throttle Plate (inspect) · Throttle Return Spring (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 miClutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter Water Separator (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miDriveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Diesel Fuel Injection Pump (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate) · Throttle Plate (inspect) · Throttle Return Spring (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Idle Air Bypass Solenoid (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1989 Ford F-Series dominate in one area — the tires,wheels, 1 of 2 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 recall campaigns target the tires,wheels, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the tires,wheels pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
7
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Tires,Wheels1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

90V097000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power AssistReported 21/05/1990

INTERCONNECTION OF RETURN LINE PLUMBING FROM HYDROBOOST STEERING GEAR MAY CAUSE LIGHT APPLICATION OF HYDROBOOST UNIT WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL. Remedy: INSTALL REVISED RETURN LINES AND REPLACE DAMAGED BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS.

89V009000Steering:LinkagesReported 24/01/1989

BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE FRONT AXLE TRACK BAR BRACKET TO THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER MAY LOOSEN, ALLOWING THE FRONT WHEELS TO OSCILLATE WITH FRONT END SHIMMY. Remedy: INSTALL REDESIGNED FRONT AXLE TRACK BAR TO CROSSMEMBER BRACKET AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE CERTAIN STEERING COMPONENTS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
992221999-10-18Electrical SystemSUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING…
991961999-09-20EquipmentINFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE…
982461998-12-07Electrical SystemFORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE…
982171998-11-01Service Brakes, AirEXPERIENCING FLUID ON BRAKE SHOES AND REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK. *YC
98521998-04-13TiresINFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific F-Series. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1989 F-Series take?

5.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1989 F-Series have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.