1990 Ford Festiva
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Festiva › 1990
These records cover every 1990 Ford Festiva. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
3 recalls name the 1990 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.
The "fasten seat belts" warning lights may not work when the ignition IS switched to the "on" position during cold ambient temperatures.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Occupants would not receive this warning to use safety belts and cars would not comply with fmvss 208.
Remedy
Ford will replace instrument clusters in the affected cars.
Owner complaints
21 complaints1 involved a crash1 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Tires › Tread/belt
Consumer stated while traveling at normal speed passenger side front tire tread completely separated. however, tire stayed inflated. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
While driving vehicle completely shut down. Upon trying to start it again, it will not start unless it IS jumped started. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Problem has not been remedied as of yet. Please provide any further information.*ak
- Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Real wheels can come off very easily because there IS nothing to hold lugs: nuts on. Consumer contacted dealer several years ago for this problem. Please provide further details.*ak
- Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Stetching that hold both shoulder harness webbing together have weathered and fallen apart. I would guess that there should be other similar cases due the position and the uv/ sun contamination on the treads ( the threads are cotton and not nylon). *Ak
- Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
The spindle nut of right rear wheel loose and the wheel drop out.
- Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
Was driving vehicle & heard a noise coming from rear right wheel. Took to dealer & informed by mechanic spindle knuckle had fallen out. The problem IS repairable.*ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Driver side seat belt will not stay enganged in the buckle assembly. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer replaced the buckle. Please provide any further details. *Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt will notstay buckled in. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
During cold weather, none of the instrument panel works. Similar to what's described in nhtsa campaign ID number: 90v045000, but the whole panel IS inoperative. Recurring problem since I've owned the car.
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Structural failure to driver side windshield wiper mount. Driver side now has no windshield wiper mechanism.
- Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
While driving down the street the wheel came off the automobile due to lugs:nuts and bolts breaking off. consumer had to run down the street to catch it. caused damage to the left rear spindle dust cover pan, which had to be replaced. *ak *ML
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Engine compartment fire, under the hood, electrical short, vehicle was parked, failure of ignition switch. *ak *slc
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Both front seat belts does not retract. Please describe details. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Front seat belts; passenger and drivers side will not retract. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Takata belt buckle recall; kirk ford hancock md. Gave owner hard time w/appointment and replaced passenger buckle from junk yard. Dealer not aware of recall.*ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
The dealership IS refusing to handle the recall for sea tbelt buckles. Pleade describe. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum › Shoes/linings
Brake shoe lining separated from brake shoes. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Recall related, 95v103011, interior seat belt buckle, in for repair buckle will not stay latched. tt
- Seat belts
The passenger side seat belt retractor almost choked person that was sitting on that side . tt
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Consumer went to put child seat in back seat of car and the rear seat belt broken. tt
- Power train
Vehicle had a speedometer problem when new, problem continued due to an incorrect analysis, which led to the speddometer breaking. tt
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.
- 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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