1989 Ford Festiva Problems
- Complaints
- 47filed 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
- 34 mpgcombined, 1.3L 4-cyl FWD · 32 city / 36 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Ford Festiva (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 47 consumer complaints for the 1989 Ford Festiva. The part named most often is seat belts, with 38 complaints (81% of the total), followed by electrical system (6) and engine cooling (3). Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 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 2 NHTSA investigations 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 belts38 81%
- Electrical system6 13%
- Engine cooling3 6.4%
- Equipment1 2.1%
- Exterior lighting1 2.1%
- Fuel system1 2.1%
- Suspension1 2.1%
Example complaints
Seat belts: “Took vehicle to dealer for the seat belt recall, and dealer ordered the wrong buckles. Now consumer has to wait for another week or more before dealer could order the right buckles.”
NHTSA complaint #809802, filed 1997-03Electrical system: “Ignition switch overheats and smokes. Blower fan also quits at frequent intervals. Smoke came up out of the steering column at one point. There is a persistant problem with this when I try to run the air conditioning system. I would like to get this fixed with a new updated switch before it burns my car and house up. My Ford dealership is not the friendly kind that wants to listen to your problems. So please help me with this.”
NHTSA complaint #702521, filed 1999-01Complaints 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 1989 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 |
| Festiva FWD | 1.3L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 26 | 29 | 27 | $2,500 |
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 1989 Ford Festiva → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE95013Seat belt failure or malfunctionClosed · Feb 23, 1995
- PE90083Seat separationClosed · May 25, 1990
- PE89139Rear safety beltClosed · Jul 6, 1989
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 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 1989 Ford Festiva have?
NHTSA recorded 47 consumer complaints for the 1989 Ford Festiva as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Ford Festiva is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 38 complaints (81% of the total), followed by electrical system with 6.
Has the 1989 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 1989 Ford Festiva get?
The EPA rates the 1989 Ford Festiva (Festiva, 1.3L 4-cyl) at 34 mpg combined, 32 city and 36 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950 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 30, 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.