1988 Ford Festiva Problems
- Complaints
- 44filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 35 mpgcombined, 1.3L 4-cyl FWD · 33 city / 39 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Ford Festiva (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints for the 1988 Ford Festiva. The part named most often is seat belts, with 28 complaints (64% of the total), followed by electrical system (6) and brakes (2). Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Seat belts complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the buckle assembly and 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Seat belts28 64%
- Electrical system6 14%
- Brakes2 4.5%
- Engine cooling2 4.5%
- Seats2 4.5%
- Suspension2 4.5%
- Other or unknown1 2.3%
- Tires1 2.3%
- Wheels1 2.3%
Example complaints
Seat belts: “After taking vehicle in for service mechanic stated vehicle had a recall on safety belt buckles. Manager insisted that consumers vehicle was not covered under recall, and refused to service vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #8012422, filed 2002-06Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1988 Ford Festiva version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Festiva FWD | 1.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 33 | 39 | 35 | $1,900 |
| Festiva FWD | 1.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed manual | 32 | 36 | 34 | $1,950 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 95V103011Jun 27, 1995Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: Ford Festiva 1988–1991, Mercury Tracer 1987–1989
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.
Recall details for the 1988 Ford Festiva → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE95013Seat belt failure or malfunctionClosed · Feb 23, 1995
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1988 Ford Festiva.
Other model years of the Ford Festiva
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 20 | 113,628 | 0 | — | 33 | — | Stable |
| 1992 | 14 | 203,500 | 0 | — | 33 | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 21 | 167,500 | 1 | — | 33 | — | Stable |
| 1990 | 21 | — | 2 | — | 33 | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 47 | — | 1 | — | 34 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 44 | — | 1 | — | 35 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Ford Festiva have?
NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints for the 1988 Ford Festiva as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 Ford Festiva is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 28 complaints (64% of the total), followed by electrical system with 6.
Has the 1988 Ford Festiva been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1988 Ford Festiva get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Ford Festiva (Festiva, 1.3L 4-cyl) at 35 mpg combined, 33 city and 39 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.