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
What owners actually said
152 reportsI BOUGHT THIS 1989 ESCORT GT FROM A FAMILY MEMBER AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN WHEN HE HAD THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED TO LOCATE ANOTHER SEAT, BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ESCORT GTS SEATS SINCE I CANNOT FIND ANOTHER ONE IN STOCK ANYWHERE OR IN ANY LOCAL JUNKYARDS. THE BACK OF THE SEAT IS BROKEN AND I HAVE TO PUT THE S…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT THIS 1989 ESCORT GT FROM A FAMILY MEMBER AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN WHEN HE HAD THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED TO LOCATE ANOTHER SEAT, BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ESCORT GTS SEATS SINCE I CANNOT FIND ANOTHER ONE IN STOCK ANYWHERE OR IN ANY LOCAL JUNKYARDS. THE BACK OF THE SEAT IS BROKEN AND I HAVE TO PUT THE SPLIT-BACK SEAT IN THE DOWN POSITION (LEAVING THE TRUNK EXPOSED FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR) TO HOLD THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. IF I HAVE MORE THEN TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, I HAVE TO PUT THE BACK SEAT BACK UP, LEAVING THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEANING TOO FAR BACK TO BE IN A POSITION TO DRIVE SAFELY. *AK
CONSUME 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
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
VEHICLE HAS AN AUTOMATIC FUEL SHUT OFF SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY, AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF SWITCH WAS NOT EFFECTIVET DURING AN ACCIDENT. PRESENTLY, TWO YEARS LATER, THE FUEL IS SHUT OFF SWITCH SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
REAR SEAT PASSENGER WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE CAR ROLLOVER, DUE TO SEAT BELT FAILURE. *YC
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
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED. WHEN GOING UP A HILL OR GOING AROUND A CORNER CONSUMER WILL APPLY THE BRAKES, AND THAT WILL STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK
HOOD WILL NOT STAY DOWN, BECAME UNLATCHED AND FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
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