IllustrationFAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK
1988 Ford Festiva
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Ford Festiva do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Festiva 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: 0 of 44 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
28 reportsWOULD NOT GIVE LOANER CAR EVEN THOUGH THE LETTER STATES SHE SHOULD HAVE ONE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
VEHICLE IMPROPERLY PASSED ANOTHER VEHICLE, WEATHER WAS FOGGY, TRUCK WAS COMING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, VEHICLE HIT TRUCK, SEAT BELT STRAP BROKE UPON IMPACT. *AK
SEAT BELT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO VIN. *SD
FRONT TWO SEATBELT BUCKLES HARD TO INSERT AND STICKS WHEN TRYING TO UNLATCH. TT
PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO MANUFACTURING DATE. (95V103011) *DH
RECALL 95S16 NHTSA 95V10311; NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL BUT HAVE TAKATA BUCKLE HAVING PROBLEM. WAS TOLD SPECIFIC VEHICLES, SOME MANUFACTURE PLANTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED. *SD
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKE CAR WAS BUILT IN KOREA . TT
SEAT BELTS CRACKED PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED.
Official recalls
195V103011 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Jun 27, 1995
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THAT LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
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
1PE95013 · Seat Belt Failure Or Malfunction
Opened Feb 23, 1995 · Closed Jul 28, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available