1991 Ford Festiva
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Festiva › 1991
These records cover every 1991 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 1991 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
21 complaints4 involved a crash1 involved a fire2 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Seat belts
TL* the contact owns a 1991 ford festiva. The contact stated that the driver side seat belt failed to work. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 095v103011 (seat belts). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The contact was to schedule an appointment for repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
- Suspension
Rides extremely rough, like it has no shocks! *tr
- Seat belts
Driver seat, seat belt will not retract. It IS stuck in the window and will not come down! *tr
- Seat belts › Front
The driver's side seat belt stopped working, because the motor needed to be replaced.*ak *ph *jb
- Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Threading of shoulder harness broke.
- Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Shoulder belt broke at stitching. *Ak
- Seat belts
Driver's side eletronic seatbelt does not automaticially lock/unlock. I have to tug on it to start the motor. works better in warm climate. called freedom ford in hampton, virginia and was told not covered. vehicle had 50K miles on it then. two years later, belt getting worse, and now I drive…
Driver's side eletronic seatbelt does not automaticially lock/unlock. I have to tug on it to start the motor. works better in warm climate. called freedom ford in hampton, virginia and was told not covered. vehicle had 50K miles on it then. two years later, belt getting worse, and now I drive it w/out belt in clip due to track not wanting to slide belt back to restrain. I contacted ford and they told me that it was not covered, and that I would have to pay for this to be fixed. I got a $350 estimate to fix it. didn't know you had to pay for safety... very disappointed in the customer service. *ak
- Structure › Body › Door
In cold weather plastic door handles break.
- Parking brake › Conventional › Mechanical › Linkage and cable
Emergency brake cable constantly locks up/freezes due to poor design. *ak
- Wheels
Right rear wheel came off, causing loss of control.. (Ohio state police report)
- Parking brake › Conventional › Mechanical › Linkage and cable
Coming out of the garage into the driveway adjusted the emergency parking brake lever and the cable broke at the right rear wheel assembly and now the emergencey parking brake does not work. pleaes give more details. *ak
- Exterior lighting › Turn signal › Switch
Vehicle has been experiencing periodic failures of the multi-function switch. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Recall repairs to seat belt buckle not done due to lack of parts.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum
Failure of the rear brake adjusters, the rear brakes adjusters lock up. *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Automobile rolled 25 feet while in first gear,and the emergency brake was on. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicle caught fire after parked for (10) minutes w/cause stated by circleville city fire dept being electrical. Please describe details. *ak
- Seat belts
After opening the door, the driver's side automatic seat belt did not retract. please describe. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Driving vehicle down main street, another vehicle pulled out in front, vehicle was hit head-on, seatbelts did not restrain passenger. *ak
- Fuel system, gasoline
After auto had been driven and parked approx 3 hrs-it self ignited-no one was injured because auto was parked for the night. tt
- Seat belts
Involved in accident last year, drivers passive restraint will either not complete cycle, tighten or not restrain. Please describe details. tt
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
Warped brake rotors, causing front end vibration/loss of control. *aw
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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