Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

1989 Ford Festiva

What the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this vehicle: every recall, every consumer complaint, every defect investigation, every NCAP crash test. Sourced directly from NHTSA data feeds.

2
Open recalls
47
NHTSA complaints
3
Defect investigations
21
Service bulletins

Consumer complaints

47 filed
1
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries reported
0
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • Seat BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE Assembly
    31
  • Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
    4
  • Seat BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
    3
  • Seat BELTS:REAR/OTHER
    2
  • Exterior Lighting
    1
  • Engine AND Engine COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
    1
  • Fuel SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND Fittings
    1
  • Engine AND Engine COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL Pipe
    1

Recalls

2 campaigns
96E017000·SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM1996-06-24

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM MANUFACTURED BY MOOG INDUSTRIES. DUE TO MISPACKAGING, CERTAIN BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES WERE INCORRECTLY PLACED IN THE WRONG BOXES.

RiskTHESE BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES WILL NOT FIT INTO THE FRAME RECESS WITHOUT BEING ALTERED. ALSO THE STUD IS UNDERSIZED AND WILL NOT FIT THE SPINDLE PROPERLY POSSIBLY CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

FixMOOG WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECTLY PACKAGED ASSEMBLIES WITH CORRECT BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES.

95V103011·SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1995-06-27

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.

RiskTHE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

FixOWNERS 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.

NHTSA investigations

3 actions
PE95013·SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1995-02-23 → 1995-07-28

SEAT BELT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION

Led to recall95V103011

PE90083·SEATS1990-05-25 → 1990-09-27

SEAT SEPARATION

PE89139·SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER1989-07-06 → 1989-10-31

REAR SAFETY BELT

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