1991 Ford Festiva Problems
- Complaints
- 21filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 167,500miles, 4 complaints with mileage
- 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
- 33 mpgcombined, 1.3L 4-cyl FWD · 30 city / 38 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1991 Ford Festiva (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 1991 Ford Festiva. The part named most often is seat belts, with 10 complaints (48% of the total), followed by brakes (4) and electrical system (1). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 167,500 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 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.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
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 belts10 48%
- Brakes4 19%
- Electrical system1 4.8%
- Exterior lighting1 4.8%
- Fuel system1 4.8%
- Body and structure1 4.8%
- Suspension1 4.8%
- Wheels1 4.8%
Example complaints
Seat belts: “The contact owns a 1991 Ford Festiva. The contact stated that the driver side seat belt failed to work. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 095v103011 (seat belts). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The contact was to schedule an appointment for repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10788719, filed 2015-11, 135,000 milesBrakes: “Coming out of the garage into the driveway adjusted the emergency parking brake lever and the cable broke at the right rear wheel assembly and now the emergencey parking brake does not work. Pleaes give more details.”
NHTSA complaint #806775, filed 1996-12Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 135,000 and 200,000 miles.
Complaints 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 1991 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 | 30 | 38 | 33 | $2,050 |
| Festiva FWD | 1.3L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 27 | 30 | 28 | $2,400 |
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 1991 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 1991 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 1991 Ford Festiva have?
NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 1991 Ford Festiva as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1991 Ford Festiva is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 10 complaints (48% of the total), followed by brakes with 4.
Has the 1991 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 1991 Ford Festiva get?
The EPA rates the 1991 Ford Festiva (Festiva, 1.3L 4-cyl) at 33 mpg combined, 30 city and 38 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1991 Ford Festiva reported?
Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 167,500 miles and the middle half falls between 135,000 and 200,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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.