IllustrationCONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR STARTED TO SMOKE AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
1989 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Ford Escort do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escort years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 152 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports60 fire reports7 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
64 reportsWHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
CONSUMER SMELLED A FOUL ODOR AND WENT TO SERVICE VEHICLE, SERVICE STATION DISCOVERED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, CONSUMER HAD SERVICE STATION PERSONNEL PUT OUT THE FIRE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HOME VEHICLE STALLED THEN RESTARTED TO CONTINUE, WHILE DRIVING A PERSON CALLED TO HER ATTENTION THAT HER CAR WAS SMOKING, SHE GOT OUT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
RECALL WORK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO SCHEDULING PROBLEMS WITH THE DEALER.
THE DEALER DENIED TO FIX THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE THE FIRE DID NOT START IN THE STEERING, IT STARTED IN THE IGNITION MODULE.THE ELECTRICIAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED OVERHEATING OF THE ECECTRICAL CIRCUITING. *JB
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING, CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED CAUSING THE DASHBOARD TO CATCH ON FIRE DESTROYING THE VEHICLE.
DEFECT NOTICE--IGNITION SWITCH COULD SHORT-CIRCUIT AND COULD LEAD TO FIRE, AS WAS THE CASE OF THIS OWNER.
DEALERSHIP WILL NOT CALL CONSUMER TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL WORK. CONSUMER HAS BEEN CALLING FOR (1) MONTH. RECALL 96V071000. *AK *SLC
Official recalls
196V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2DP91003 · Engine Stalling
Opened Nov 29, 1990 · Closed Jan 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE STALLING
EA90008 · Failed Passive Restraint
Opened Dec 27, 1989 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT