IllustrationWHILE DRIVING HEARD LOUD NOISE, SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING DRAGGING UNDER VEHICLE, CAUSED BY BROKEN TEETH AROUND GEAR, COULD CAUSE CRASH, AUTO REPAIR REPLACED GEARS, OUTER CV BOOT, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. *AK
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
Steering complaints
7 reportsINNER TIE ROD FAILED.
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR WHILE IN TRAFFIC. *AK CONSUMER HAD A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED, PARKING BRAKE CABLE RECONNECTED, A UNE WAS PERFORMED, WATER PUMP REPLACED, REPLACED BRAKE PADS,DISC PAD SHIMS AND ROTORS, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW TRANSMISSION GASKET, COOLANT FAN MOTOR INSTALLED WHICH WAS REPLACED A SECOND …
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR WHILE IN TRAFFIC. *AK CONSUMER HAD A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED, PARKING BRAKE CABLE RECONNECTED, A UNE WAS PERFORMED, WATER PUMP REPLACED, REPLACED BRAKE PADS,DISC PAD SHIMS AND ROTORS, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW TRANSMISSION GASKET, COOLANT FAN MOTOR INSTALLED WHICH WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME, INNER TIE RODS AND OUTER TIE RODS WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE REPLACED, STARTER WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME,TIMING BELT FAILED WHILE TRAVELING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, UNDETECTED PROBLEM WITH DIFFERENTIAL CAUSED DESTRUCTION OF TRANSMISSION.*JB
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
SMOKE POURING OUT OF VEHICLE. STEERING COLUMN,FLOOR AND DASH BOARD ENGULFED IN FLAMES. VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK
HORN IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO BRUSHES IN THE COLUMN OF STEERING WHEEL. TT
HORN IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO BRUSHES IN THE COLUMN OF STEERING WHEEL. TT
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