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U.S. public vehicle records

1988 Ford FESTIVA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

32 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 32 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior26.3%
Braking behavior13.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
16
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
4
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
3
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
2
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
Electrical System:Wiring
1
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft
1
Seat Belts
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly16
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor4
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage3
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch2
Electrical System:Starter Assembly1
Electrical System:Wiring1
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft1
Seat Belts1

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 16; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft: 1; Seat Belts: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 32 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
11
1996
17
2001
1
2002
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199511
199617
20011
20023

1995: 11; 1996: 17; 2001: 1; 2002: 3

Pattern summary

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 802522 · 1996-09-17 (September 17, 1996)

STEERING COLUMN FIRE, IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATED AND VEHICLE BURNED. *AK *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802522 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 982998 · 1996-04-18 (April 18, 1996)

ON (2) OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, STEERING COLUMN COVER BEGAN SMOKING. OWNER SAW SAUDER/FLUID MAKING CONTACT W/GROUND WIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982998 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 501201 · 1995-12-26 (December 26, 1995)

INSTALLED ANTI-RATTLE SPRING FOR THE FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501201 at NHTSA ↗