1989 Ford Festiva
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Festiva › 1989
These records cover every 1989 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 1989 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
47 complaints1 involved a crash6 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle just stopped without prior warning. consumer said that vehicle was making noise, then it just quit. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Wiring held in an unpadded clamp, which rubbed off insulation over time, resulted in a fire while the vehicle was (luckily) in for other repairs. the parts supplier mentioned that the same thing happened to a friend of his, but while driving at speed, and caused even more damage. the fire started…
Wiring held in an unpadded clamp, which rubbed off insulation over time, resulted in a fire while the vehicle was (luckily) in for other repairs. the parts supplier mentioned that the same thing happened to a friend of his, but while driving at speed, and caused even more damage. the fire started right under the carburator - a scource of gasoline - and therefore I consider this very dangerous, especially when the wire insulation wears off and a short causes a fire.
- Exterior lighting
The lighting system shorted out, resulting in a fire. *ak *yc
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
Ignition switch overheats and smokes. Blower fan also quits at frequent intervals. Smoke came up out of the steering column at one point. There IS a persistant problem with this when I try to run the air conditioning system. I would like to get this fixed with a new updated switch before it burns…
Ignition switch overheats and smokes. Blower fan also quits at frequent intervals. Smoke came up out of the steering column at one point. There IS a persistant problem with this when I try to run the air conditioning system. I would like to get this fixed with a new updated switch before it burns my car and house up. My ford dealership IS not the friendly kind that wants to listen to your problems. So please help me with this. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition · Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt recall work denied due to original inspection revealing no problem with buckles, after inspection buckles failed. (qcaw)
- Seat belts › Rear/other
Right and left side rear seatbelts are jammed and red release button IS broken.
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt plastic release button crumbled, depositing fragments and jamming the locking mechanism.
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Seat belt failed prior to recall.
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Took vehicle to dealer for the seat belt recall, and dealer ordered the wrong buckles. Now consumer has to wait for another week or more before dealer could order the right buckles. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Involved in a rear end collision and the driver,s side shoulder belt snapped. please describe details. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Short in ignition switch causes blower motor to quit intermittently, also smokes occasionally. *Dh
- Suspension › Front › Wheel bearing
Wheel bearing axle failed.
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt buckle recall repairs refused due to unavailability of parts.
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Drivers seat belt buckle plastic release button crumbled, jamming the locking mechanism prior to recall.
- Seat belts › Rear/other
The rear lap belts are inoperative. They are locked in place, consumer IS unable to pull them out in order to fasten a passenger.
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Front seat belt release button broke prior to recall.
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Difficulty getting seat belt recall repairs done due to lack of parts.
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
#95V103011, received recall on the seat belt buckle, brought car in and dealer doesn't have the parts. Please describe .*ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Owner brought vehicle in twice to remedy recall, first dlr had no parts, second dlr ordered wrong part, drivers' belt buckle broke, dlr won't give loaner. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Recall 954103011- when mr. Outlaw got the vehicle back the passenger's side seat belt buckle still wasn't operating correctly. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt buckle release buttons broke prior to recall. (95V103011) *dh
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
The dealership has taken two months to order the seatbelt parts. They still have not ordered it. Recall 96v071000. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Part not available. Don't know when they will have it. Contacted (3) times, 5/24,96, 6/14,96 & 7/8/96. Seat belt buckle recall 95v103011. *ak *slc
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Mr. Jacobson car has been with gillespie ford for six weeks now and the work has not been done regarding sea tbelt buckles recall 95v103011. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Prior to recall, recall repairs refused due to manufacturing date. (95V103011) *dh
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
- Seat separation
There is no summary currently available
- Rear safety belt
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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.
- 606420Ford motor company now recommends sae 5W-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year.
- 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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