IllustrationSEAT BELT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.
1989 Ford Festiva
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 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 47 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 38 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 3 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 reports6 fire reports0 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
38 reportsTAKATA BELT BUCKLE; UPON ARRIVAL TO SCHOLLS FORD IN MUSCLE SCHOLLS AL., LOANER VEHICLE NOT AVAILABLE UPON APPOINTMENT DATE ACCEPTED. 95V103011. *AK
THE SEAT BELT ON THE RIGHT WILL NOT UNLATCH AND THE LEFT ONE WILL NOT RETRACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
RECALL RELATED, 95V103011, DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, MFR. IN REFERNCE TO RECALL INSISTED VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM. *AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS BROKE PRIOR TO RECALL. (95V103011) *DH
PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO MANUFACTURING DATE. (95V103011) *DH
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, RED RELEASE BUTTONS BROKE, CALLED MFG AND DEALER AND THEY SAID HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN RECALL.
THE FRONT SEATBELT BUCKLES HAVE BROKEN AND FORD WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, RED RELEASE BUTTON HAS BROKEN. TT *JB
THE SEATBELT BUCKLES ARE BREAKING AND NO LONGER CAN LATCH. THE DRIVERS AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
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
3PE95013 · 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
PE90083 · Seat Separation
Opened May 25, 1990 · Closed Sep 27, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
PE89139 · Rear Safety Belt
Opened Jul 6, 1989 · Closed Oct 31, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other
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