IllustrationTHE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT NO LONGER RUNS ALONG THE TRACK BECAUSE THE MOTOR BURNT OUT AND THE SEAT BELT CAN NO LONGER BE USED. *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
What owners actually said
152 reportsROOF FELL DOWN WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HEARD LOUD NOISE, SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING DRAGGING UNDER VEHICLE, CAUSED BY BROKEN TEETH AROUND GEAR, COULD CAUSE CRASH, AUTO REPAIR REPLACED GEARS, OUTER CV BOOT, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, GETTING READY TO GET ON FREEWAY, WANTED TO HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN, THE CONSUMER HAD TO LEAVE PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL THEN PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PULL TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS BROKEN TWICE, CAUSING THE BELT TO STICK/NOISE.
WHEELS MAY HAVE LOCKED AS IN SERVICE BULLETIN T1 91-02-05, ONLY THIS OCCURED ON AN ICY ROAD. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE RESULTING IN A CRASH.
CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED DOWN HOUSE, INVESTGATOR SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH . *AK
THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THAT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT IS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY. *AK
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT COME ACROSS SHOULDER WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. *AK
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