IllustrationPLASTIC SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON BROKE, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO FAIL PRIOR TO RECALL. (95V103011) *DH
1988 Ford Festiva
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Ford Festiva do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Festiva 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: 0 of 44 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
44 reportsFRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BROKE. *DSH
NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND THE REFUSAL OF A RENTAL CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK
WOULD NOT GIVE LOANER CAR EVEN THOUGH THE LETTER STATES SHE SHOULD HAVE ONE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WILL NOT LATCH IN A POSITION. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH STICKS, WON'T ALLOW TO RELEASE KEY UPON TURNING OFF VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE IMPROPERLY PASSED ANOTHER VEHICLE, WEATHER WAS FOGGY, TRUCK WAS COMING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, VEHICLE HIT TRUCK, SEAT BELT STRAP BROKE UPON IMPACT. *AK
ON (2) OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, STEERING COLUMN COVER BEGAN SMOKING. OWNER SAW SAUDER/FLUID MAKING CONTACT W/GROUND WIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
SEAT BELT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO VIN. *SD
Official recalls
195V103011 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Jun 27, 1995
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THAT LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
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
1PE95013 · Seat Belt Failure Or Malfunction
Opened Feb 23, 1995 · Closed Jul 28, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available