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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 →
152Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
45
198656
1987143
1988152
1989101
1990327
1991162
1992
Compare all Escort years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
64Engine And Engine Cooling
22Seat Belts
19Fuel System, Gasoline
12Exterior Lighting
9
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
9Power Train
8Steering
7Seats
6Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Wheels
3Structure
2Suspension
2Unknown Or Other
2Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1Visibility
1

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

Seats complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1999
Seats

I BOUGHT THIS 1989 ESCORT GT FROM A FAMILY MEMBER AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN WHEN HE HAD THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED TO LOCATE ANOTHER SEAT, BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ESCORT GTS SEATS SINCE I CANNOT FIND ANOTHER ONE IN STOCK ANYWHERE OR IN ANY LOCAL JUNKYARDS. THE BACK OF THE SEAT IS BROKEN AND I HAVE TO PUT THE S…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT THIS 1989 ESCORT GT FROM A FAMILY MEMBER AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN WHEN HE HAD THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED TO LOCATE ANOTHER SEAT, BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ESCORT GTS SEATS SINCE I CANNOT FIND ANOTHER ONE IN STOCK ANYWHERE OR IN ANY LOCAL JUNKYARDS. THE BACK OF THE SEAT IS BROKEN AND I HAVE TO PUT THE SPLIT-BACK SEAT IN THE DOWN POSITION (LEAVING THE TRUNK EXPOSED FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR) TO HOLD THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. IF I HAVE MORE THEN TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, I HAVE TO PUT THE BACK SEAT BACK UP, LEAVING THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEANING TOO FAR BACK TO BE IN A POSITION TO DRIVE SAFELY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #715133

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1998
Seats

THE SEATBACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS BROKEN. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821773

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1997
Seats

THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #818244

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1996
SeatsCrash

DRIVER'S SEATBACK POPPED OUT OF POSTION AND FELL REARWARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985666

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 1996
Seats

DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE AT A WELD SITE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #502255

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 1995
SeatsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT SIDE IMPACT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FELL BACKWARDS AND THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CAME APART . TT

NHTSA ODI #972473

Official recalls

1

96V071000 · 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

2

DP91003 · 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