IllustrationTHE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THAT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT IS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY. *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
Seat Belts complaints
19 reportsAUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT COME ACROSS SHOULDER WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. *AK
WHEN INSERTING THE SEAT BELT INTO THE BELT BUCKLE, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE. *AK
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO SCHOOL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, NOTICED SMOKE GETTING UP THE HILL, VEHICLE DIED, PUSHED VEHICLE OUT OF WAY, VEHICLE FRONT ENGULFED IN FLAMES, DRIVER STUCK IN SEAT BELT. *AK
THE AUTOMATIC SAET BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
DURING NORMAL STOPPING CONDITIONS SEAT BELT ANCHORED TO THE FLOOR BROKE. OWNER HAS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT. TT
DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT LOCK IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, PREVENTING DRIVER FROM BEING HELD SECURELY. *SKD
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE, HAD TO BE CUT OUT. TT
REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT PROPERLY RETAIN CAR SEAT IN EVENT OF SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT. FITS LOOSE, TOO MUCH SLACK. 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