1988 Ford Festiva
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Festiva › 1988
These records cover every 1988 Ford Festiva. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1988 Ford Festiva. Newest first.
Equipment description: aftermarket ball joint/control arm manufactured by moog industries. due to mispackaging, certain ball joint/control arm assemblies were incorrectly placed in the wrong boxes.
Risk and remedy
Risk
These ball joint/control arm assemblies will not fit into the frame recess without being altered. Also the stud IS undersized and will not fit the spindle properly possibly causing a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Moog will replace the incorrectly packaged assemblies with correct ball joint/control arm assemblies.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
44 complaints1 involved a crash4 involved a fire1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Tires
June, 2001, tire #NPC8 jphr 169 on the rear driver's side blew out while I was doing about 70 mph in the middle of the night (cool out). the car immediately went sideways to the road, in the oncoming lane. I barely got control of the vehicle, and back to my side of the road only a couple of…
June, 2001, tire #NPC8 jphr 169 on the rear driver's side blew out while I was doing about 70 mph in the middle of the night (cool out). the car immediately went sideways to the road, in the oncoming lane. I barely got control of the vehicle, and back to my side of the road only a couple of seconds before an oncoming car whizzed by. a couple of seconds later, or less driving skill, and I would have been killed. this was one of a set of four new tires I got from the local goodyear store. I thought it was "just a blowout" but I kept the tire as a precaution. I still have the tire. if I find out that goodyear knew of the defect in these tires before june, 2001, and did not warn me, I am going to be upset, because it allmost killed me. the second tire that blew was the same number: NPC8 jphr 169. it blew out in the early morning hours of sept. 1, 2002, at over 7000 ft (cool temp). speed was about 50 mph. this blowout was on the front passenger side, and was uneventful, but since it was one of the set of four that I had purchased new from the local goodyear store, I became suspicious. I became more suspicious when I found out that the tire was the same number as the other one that blewout a year before. this blowout left me out in the middle of nowhere in new mexico without a spare. I still have this tire. the other two tires of the set of four tires had the # NPC8 jphr 309. I have replaced both tires because of the two blowouts. not goodyears.*ak
- Seat belts
After taking vehicle in for service mechanic stated vehicle had a recall on safety belt buckles. Manager insisted that consumers vehicle was not covered under recall, and refused to service vehicle. *ak
- Suspension › Multiple axle
Consumer states while driving 25 mph without warning the wheel came off, the mechanic stateed that the rear wheel bearing needed replacement. nlm
- Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft
Every 3 to 6 months I have to replace the rear wheelbearings one or both sides. have already replaced the rear spindles on both sides too. I have been told that this IS not normal. IS there any that can be done about this problem? And what can I do about it.*ak
- Suspension › Front
No summary
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
Calipers rusted due to design problems (lubrication of the bushings). Mjs
- Unknown or other
No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt buckle release button broke, jamming buckle. recall, nhtsa ID 95v103011. mfg. Says my vin IS not included, and won't fix it.
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Safety seat belt failed, prior recall item, however consumer not able to get recall work done.
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Seat belts cracked prior to recall, recall repairs refused.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
Ignition switch replaced prior to recall.
- Wheels
Right rear wheel fell off, did not give an warning. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
While parked, an electrical short in the wiring caused the wiring under the hood to catch on fire. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
On one occasion the belt teinsioner was replaced and now it IS loose again. .*Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Contacted dealership in september still no word on when parts will be available regarding seat belt buckle recall 95v103011. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Recall 95v103011, seat belt buckles. The parts were ordered on 8-27-96. No parts have been received. Garnet ford 215- 358-5600. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt buckle replaced prior to recall.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Steering column fire, ignition switch overheated and vehicle burned. *ak *slc
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Lap belts in the rear will not retract on passenger's and driver's sides. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Plastic seat belt release button broke, causing seat belt to fail prior to recall. (95V103011) *dh
- Seats
The front driver seat screw fell out . Please describe . *ak
- Electrical system › Starter assembly
Starter caught fire. *Sd
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Prior to recall, recall repairs refused due to manufacturing date. (95V103011) *dh
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads
Seat belt buckle failed. *Sd
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Front passenger seat belt broke. *Dsh
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Seat belt failure or malfunction
There is no summary currently available
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 6089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses.
- 3012300Unknown
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 623944Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *Slc
- 612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *Mjs
- 608431Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda.
- 604059Ford motor company has released a new electrical grease ( F8AZ - 19g208-aa ) to reduce the possibility of moisture corrosion at the terminals.
- 601312Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 601269Announcing the ford oem air conditioning retrofit kit availability.
- 601238Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart.
- 601010Recommended guidelines for towing behind recreational vehicles.
- 51987Fuel economy- customer expectations versus vehicle usage.
- 51945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts.
- 50997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip.
- 50972Axke leaks - fluid leaks from front of vehicle at axle shafts - new design replacement cv joint boots.
- 50940Windshield and interior glass - fog/film.
- 50908Torque converter - leak test procedure - service tip.
- 39900Roughness concern during brake application.
Every Ford Festiva model year
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