1989 FORD ESCORT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
199
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
1
Service Bulletin
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1989 FORD ESCORT
The 1989 FORD ESCORT has received a total of 199 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical Systemignitionswitch (35 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (11 complaints), and Electrical Systemalternatorgeneratorregulator (10 complaints).
Recalls for the 1989 FORD ESCORT
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 1989 FORD ESCORT, potentially affecting up to 7,900,000 vehicles.
Recall 96V071000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
| 7,900,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1989 FORD ESCORT
199 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1989 FORD ESCORT. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD ESCORT. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE SHE WAS REAR-ENDED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER HEAD AREA. SHE MENTIONED SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH AND BELIEVED THE FAILURE OF THE SEATBELTS CONTRIBUTED TO HER INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
1989 FORD ESCORT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND ONCE HE/SHE PULLED OVER, THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *JB
1989 FORD ESCORT HATCHBACK - A PASSENGER EXITING THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR SEAT STEPPED ON AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE CARPET WHICH CAUSED THE +12V AND GROUND WIRES TO SHORT TOGETHER. THIS CONNECTOR IS PART OF THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP HARNESS. THE CONNECTOR MELTED, THE WIRE HARNESS BURNED AND THE CARPET SINGED. THERE WAS SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *JB
ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED ALTERNATOR. ALSO, THE SECOND ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE GAS PUMP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE BLAZE. CONSUMER CLAIMED IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE INSTALLATION THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK
BATTERY CHARGING LIGHT GOING ON & OFF AT TIMES. ALSO ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED FUEL GAUGE WILL REGISTER ABOVE FULL & AT SAME TIME TEMPERATURE. GAUGE GOES UP TO MAXIMUM. NEITHER BEING CLOSE TO BE CORRECTED. DURING THIS TIME I NOTICED KEYS & IGNITION BECOME VERY HOT. IF TURNED ON & OFF COUPLE TIMES IT IS OK AGAIN . EXCEPT OCCASIONAL CHARGING LIGHT ON & OFF WITH NO LOSS OF POWER. CAN'T FIND CAUSE! *LA
Safety Rating for the 1989 FORD ESCORT
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1989 FORD ESCORT in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1989 FORD ESCORT
Ford Motor Company has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1989 FORD ESCORT. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
94238 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
ROUGH RUNNING AT STEADY HIGHWAY CRUISE SPEEDS. *TW
NHTSA Investigations for the 1989 FORD ESCORT
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1989 FORD ESCORT.
Other Model Years of the FORD ESCORT
- 1984 FORD ESCORT — 27 complaints
- 1985 FORD ESCORT — 31 complaints
- 1986 FORD ESCORT — 53 complaints
- 1987 FORD ESCORT — 65 complaints
- 1988 FORD ESCORT — 206 complaints
- 1989 FORD ESCORT (current)
- 1990 FORD ESCORT — 128 complaints
- 1991 FORD ESCORT — 413 complaints
- 1992 FORD ESCORT — 222 complaints
- 1993 FORD ESCORT — 480 complaints
- 1994 FORD ESCORT — 351 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD EXPLORER — 42,140 total complaints
- FORD ESCAPE — 34,654 total complaints
- FORD FOCUS — 29,539 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints