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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 →
152Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
45
198656
1987143
1988152
1989101
1990327
1991162
1992
Compare all Escort years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
64Engine And Engine Cooling
22Seat Belts
19Fuel System, Gasoline
12Exterior Lighting
9
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
9Power Train
8Steering
7Seats
6Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Wheels
3Structure
2Suspension
2Unknown Or Other
2Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1Visibility
1

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

Seat Belts complaints

19 reports
Clear category filter
100,000 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD ESCORT. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE SHE WAS REAR-ENDED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER HEAD AREA. SHE MENTIONED SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH AND BELIEVED THE FAILURE OF THE SEATBELTS CONTRIBUTED TO HER INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD ESCORT. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE SHE WAS REAR-ENDED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER HEAD AREA. SHE MENTIONED SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH AND BELIEVED THE FAILURE OF THE SEATBELTS CONTRIBUTED TO HER INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10318126

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2000
Seat Belts

IN TRYING TO BUY RECYCLEED PARTS I ENCOUNTERED MANY INSTANCESES OF THE SAME PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #733961

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1999
Seat BeltsInjury

REAR SEAT PASSENGER WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE CAR ROLLOVER, DUE TO SEAT BELT FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #545173

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Seat Belts

SOMETIMES THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BECOMES EXTREMELY TIGHT WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR. THE CONSUMER MENTIONED THAT HE HAS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF IN ORDER FOR THE BELT TO LOOSEN. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE SITUATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #828997

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1998
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #780320

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1998
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT FAILED ON DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING TWO ACCIDENTS

NHTSA ODI #532309

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1998
Seat Belts

MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS REMAINED/LOCKED UP IN FORWARD POSITION; HINGE AT TOP END GEARS HAVE STRIPPED; MOTOR TURNS WITH NO EFFECT; ACCORDING TO DEALER, ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819032

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 1997
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

EA90008; WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND NECK, AND BENT THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819352

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1997
Seat Belts

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT NO LONGER RUNS ALONG THE TRACK BECAUSE THE MOTOR BURNT OUT AND THE SEAT BELT CAN NO LONGER BE USED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814979

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1997
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS BROKEN TWICE, CAUSING THE BELT TO STICK/NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #515062

Official recalls

1

96V071000 · 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

2

DP91003 · 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