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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

View investigation details →

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

What owners actually said

152 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

OWNER PICKED UP VEHICLE, DROVE TO WORK, PARKED VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT, LEFT VEHICLE AND WENT INSIDE OFFICE BUILDING, CO-WORKER INFORMED OWNER THAT VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, CALLED FIRE DEPT WHO PUT FLAMES OUT. *AK FIRE DEPT STATED ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED, CONSUMER HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD MAJOR IGNITION WO…

Read full complaint

OWNER PICKED UP VEHICLE, DROVE TO WORK, PARKED VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT, LEFT VEHICLE AND WENT INSIDE OFFICE BUILDING, CO-WORKER INFORMED OWNER THAT VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, CALLED FIRE DEPT WHO PUT FLAMES OUT. *AK FIRE DEPT STATED ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED, CONSUMER HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD MAJOR IGNITION WORK COMPLETED ON VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #801074

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR , CAUSING THE BATTERY CABLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #800897

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 1996
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSING LIGHTS TO COME ON.

NHTSA ODI #507508

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 1996
WheelsCrash

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STUDS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING WHEEL TO FALL OFF. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA ODI #507476

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE THROTTLE REMAINED OPEN AND THE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #986360

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN.THE FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985983

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. PULLED ON EMERGENCY BRAKE NO RESPONSE AND VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #987195

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

NHTSA ODI #506532

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1996
Wheels

WHEEL FELL OFF, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY POLICE REPORT)*SD

NHTSA ODI #505602

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

DRIVING VEHICLE, SMELLED THE ODOR BURNING PLASTIC, SAW A SMALL REFLECTION OF A SMALL FLAME IN DASHBOARD, SUDDENLY WHOLE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE & FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS ENGULF IN FLAMES. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #985820

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