IllustrationMileage unknown · Jun 17, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
ENIGNE FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #536793
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 reportsENIGNE FIRE.
THE SEATBACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS BROKEN. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
SEAT BELT FAILED ON DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING TWO ACCIDENTS
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
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
BOX CONNECTING WITH HEAT COIL IS MISSING , NO CONNECTION THAT WILL START HEAT/AIR. DEALER KNOWS THAT IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT OF MANUFACTURER, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WARRANTY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DUE TO NO HEATER AND DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER, HE GOT SICK, DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT SINCE HE NEVER NOTICED …
Read full complaint
BOX CONNECTING WITH HEAT COIL IS MISSING , NO CONNECTION THAT WILL START HEAT/AIR. DEALER KNOWS THAT IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT OF MANUFACTURER, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WARRANTY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DUE TO NO HEATER AND DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER, HE GOT SICK, DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT SINCE HE NEVER NOTICED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE HEATER OR DEFROSTER INSTALLED THAT THIS WAS HIS PROBLEM SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT, CONSUMER WAS FROM HAWAII WHERE HE NEVER HAD TO USE THE HEATER OR DEFROSTER AND NEVER REALIZED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD LEFT THIS OUT. *SLC
HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED TO WORK DUE TO FUSE BLOW OUT.
HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILED.
THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK *SLC
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
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