Illustration1989 FORD ESCORT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND ONCE HE/SHE PULLED OVER, THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *JB
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
22 reportsIT RAN LIKE A CHARM UNTIL 1 DAY I SLOWED TO GO TO DRIVEWAY, AND STALLED. IT STARTS BACK UP. *AK
THE ENGINE OVERHEATED RESULTING IN ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE INSURANCE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. I REMOVED LOWER CRANKSHAFT PULLY AND RETURNED IT TO DEALER. THEY FINALLY REPAIRED PROBLEM AFTER MUCH INCONVIENCE TO ME. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION FOR ONE HOUR AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. CONSUME HAS YET TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
POSSIBLE WATER PUMP OR FAN BELT FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHILE DRIVING LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS, VEHICLE DID NOT TURNOVER, BUT CUT OFF AGAIN.* ET
ENIGNE FIRE.
AS SOON AS VEHICLE STARTS THE RPMS REV TO 2200 RPMS FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS THEN FALL TO 0 AND ENGINE DIES/STALLS IF ACCELERATOSR IS NOT PRESSED QUICKLY. ONCE MOVING AND CLUTCH PUSHED IN AND DECELERATING TO COME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLS. ALSO, REPLACED MAP SENSOR. *AK
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.
INNER TIE ROD FAILED.
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