Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
50,000 – 74,999 miles
125.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
125.0%
150,000+ miles
250.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 1995peak 2Nov 2015
NHTSA investigations into the 1991 Ford Festiva
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE95013Opened 23 Feb 1995Closed 28 Jul 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION
Recalls on the 1991 Ford Festiva
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199510619,615 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
DEFECT: THE (Takata) ABS PLASTIC FRONT SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTONS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY BREAK ALLOWING PLASTIC PIECES TO FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN, A NO LATCH, FALSE LATCH OR FAILURE TO UNLATCH CONDITION COULD OCCUR CREATING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR SUDDEN STOP. CORRECTION: FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Rowlett, TXCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
THREADING OF SHOULDER HARNESS BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #723374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rowlett, TXCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SHOULDER BELT BROKE AT STITCHING.
NHTSA complaint #722868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Circleville, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER PARKED FOR (10) MINUTES W/CAUSE STATED BY CIRCLEVILLE CITY FIRE DEPT BEING ELECTRICAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #985821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portsmouth, VACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN MAIN STREET, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT, VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON, SEATBELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN PASSENGER.
NHTSA complaint #983560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brockton, MACrash
SEAT BELTS
INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT LAST YEAR, DRIVERS PASSIVE RESTRAINT WILL EITHER NOT COMPLETE CYCLE, TIGHTEN OR NOT RESTRAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #976026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 135,000 milesTemecula, CA
SEAT BELTS
TL* 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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200,000 milesEdmond, OK
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SEAT, SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. IT IS STUCK IN THE WINDOW AND WILL NOT COME DOWN!
NHTSA complaint #10659863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200,000 milesEdmond, OK
SUSPENSION
RIDES EXTREMELY ROUGH, LIKE IT HAS NO SHOCKS!
NHTSA complaint #10659870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesWest Lawn, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING, BECAUSE THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *PH
NHTSA complaint #8010665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rowlett, TXCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
THREADING OF SHOULDER HARNESS BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #723374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rowlett, TXCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SHOULDER BELT BROKE AT STITCHING.
NHTSA complaint #722868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesapeake, VA
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE ELETRONIC SEATBELT DOES NOT AUTOMATICIALLY LOCK/UNLOCK. I HAVE TO TUG ON IT TO START THE MOTOR. WORKS BETTER IN WARM CLIMATE. CALLED FREEDOM FORD IN HAMPTON, VIRGINIA AND WAS TOLD NOT COVERED. VEHICLE HAD 50K MILES ON IT THEN. TWO YEARS LATER, BELT GETTING WORSE, AND NOW I DRIVE IT W/OUT BELT IN CLIP DUE TO TRACK NOT WANTING TO SLIDE BELT BACK TO RESTRAIN. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS TO BE FIXED. I GOT A $350 ESTIMATE TO FIX IT. DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD TO PAY FOR SAFETY... VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE.
NHTSA complaint #720458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bicknell, IN
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
IN COLD WEATHER PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES BREAK.
NHTSA complaint #529958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Erie, PA
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE CONSTANTLY LOCKS UP/FREEZES DUE TO POOR DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #524380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
WHEELS
RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #513007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olathe, KS
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Randolph, MA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PERIODIC FAILURES OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #511147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL REPAIRS TO SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT DONE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #504480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hewitt, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS, THE REAR BRAKES ADJUSTERS LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #801327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Penargyl, PA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMOBILE ROLLED 25 FEET WHILE IN FIRST GEAR,AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON.
NHTSA complaint #987096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Circleville, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER PARKED FOR (10) MINUTES W/CAUSE STATED BY CIRCLEVILLE CITY FIRE DEPT BEING ELECTRICAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #985821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodbridge, VA
SEAT BELTS
AFTER OPENING THE DOOR, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodbridge, VA
SEAT BELTS
AFTER OPENING THE DOOR, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portsmouth, VACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN MAIN STREET, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT, VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON, SEATBELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN PASSENGER.
NHTSA complaint #983560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AFTER AUTO HAD BEEN DRIVEN AND PARKED APPROX 3 HRS-IT SELF IGNITED-NO ONE WAS INJURED BECAUSE AUTO WAS PARKED FOR THE NIGHT. TT
NHTSA complaint #978924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brockton, MACrash
SEAT BELTS
INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT LAST YEAR, DRIVERS PASSIVE RESTRAINT WILL EITHER NOT COMPLETE CYCLE, TIGHTEN OR NOT RESTRAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #976026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Chest, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WARPED BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING FRONT END VIBRATION/LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #482720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.