IllustrationMHTSA#92-V-117-000:FATIGUE CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN TUBE AND THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED BECAUSE YEAR OF MANUFACTURING, 1989. *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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
12 reportsGAS TANK FAILED TWICE. NLM
VEHICLE HAS AN AUTOMATIC FUEL SHUT OFF SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY, AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF SWITCH WAS NOT EFFECTIVET DURING AN ACCIDENT. PRESENTLY, TWO YEARS LATER, THE FUEL IS SHUT OFF SWITCH SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
FUEL PUMP HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN VEHICLE EXPLODING. OWNER VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, IN THE BACK OF THE FUEL PUMP THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES AND ONE CAN STILL HEAR THE NOISE. *AK
INNER TIE ROD FAILED.
EXPERIENCED FIRE UNDER HOOD. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. TT
THE CAR WAS PARKED AND WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. TT
FUEL TANK RUSTED OUT DUE TO CHEAP STEEL USED IN DESIGN RATHER THAN STAINLESS STEEL. *AK
THE GAS ROTTED OUT AND CAUSED THE GAS TO LEAK AND CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
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