IllustrationSINCE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH PER RECALL 96V071 THE CONSUMER SOMETIMES NOTICES THAT WHEN HE TURNS THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY CAN BE TURNED WITHOUT ANY PLAY IN THE SWITCH AND THE BATTERY TURNS OVER BUT DOES NOT START. NLM
1989 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Ford Escort do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escort 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: 5 of 152 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports60 fire reports7 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
64 reportsCONSUME R WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND FUMES WERE COMING THROUGH THE HEATER VENT. THEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICL. HE PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. LIFTED THE HOOD UP AND FLAMES CAME SHOOTING OUT, AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND STALLING. THEN WENT UP INTO FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND REPORT FILED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE TOTALLED AND TOWED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
HAD PARKED VEHICLE & LEFT. WAS NOTIFIED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. HAD NOTICED SEVERAL LARGE HOT SPOTS ON HOOD. THE FLAMES CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. INFORMED POSSIBLY FROM THE BATTERY CABLES. *AK
MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND SIGNAL SWITCH TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, REPLACED MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH 9 TIMES. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED TO CONSUMER MOTHER'S 1987 FORD ESCORT GT. FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICES W…
Read full complaint
MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND SIGNAL SWITCH TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, REPLACED MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH 9 TIMES. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED TO CONSUMER MOTHER'S 1987 FORD ESCORT GT. FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICES WAS NON-COOPERATIVE WHEN CONTACTED WITH A FULL HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE. THE FACT THAT ANOTHER ESCORT DISPLAYED THE SAME SYMPTOMS RECEIVED THE ATTENTION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER TO PURSUE THE ISSUE BY HIRING A PRIVATE ATTORNEY. IN ADDITION, REPLACED BATTERY 3 TIMES/LED PANEL, AND STATOR WITHIN ALTERNATOR ALSO FAILED. *AK
THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY RECALL, NOW THE REPLACED PART HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE ORIGINAL PART DID AND IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. FORD HAS FAILED TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE PROBLEM.
IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE WHILE VEHILE WAS PARKED AND IGNITION OFF. THE FIRE WAS AUGUST, 1996, RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED DECEMBER, 1996. FORD DENIES RESPONSIBILITY SINCE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD ALREADY PAID.
CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED DOWN HOUSE, INVESTGATOR SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH . *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
Official recalls
196V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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
2DP91003 · Engine Stalling
Opened Nov 29, 1990 · Closed Jan 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE STALLING
EA90008 · Failed Passive Restraint
Opened Dec 27, 1989 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT