IllustrationIGNITION SWITCH FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
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 reportsVEHICLE HAD A BURNING SMELL WHEN STARTED UP, COULDN'T GET ANY SPEED, HAD CLUTCH PUT IN 18 MONTHS AGO, DEALER INDICATES SHE NEEDS A NEW CLUTCH. *AK
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, IN THE BACK OF THE FUEL PUMP THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES AND ONE CAN STILL HEAR THE NOISE. *AK
WHEN INSERTING THE SEAT BELT INTO THE BELT BUCKLE, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR STARTED TO SMOKE AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
CONSUMER SMELLED A FOUL ODOR AND WENT TO SERVICE VEHICLE, SERVICE STATION DISCOVERED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, CONSUMER HAD SERVICE STATION PERSONNEL PUT OUT THE FIRE. *AK
INNER TIE ROD FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING HOME VEHICLE STALLED THEN RESTARTED TO CONTINUE, WHILE DRIVING A PERSON CALLED TO HER ATTENTION THAT HER CAR WAS SMOKING, SHE GOT OUT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *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