1991 Ford FESTIVA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
167,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 16 complaints (31.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 18.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 5 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
Seat Belts: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seat Belts:Front: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 12 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 7; 2000: 3; 2003: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10659863 · 2014-11-20 (November 20, 2014)
DRIVER SEAT, SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. IT IS STUCK IN THE WINDOW AND WILL NOT COME DOWN! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10659863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10659870 · 2014-11-20 (November 20, 2014)
RIDES EXTREMELY ROUGH, LIKE IT HAS NO SHOCKS! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10659870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10788719 · 2015-11-05 (November 5, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10788719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482720 · 1995-03-17 (March 17, 1995)
WARPED BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING FRONT END VIBRATION/LOSS OF CONTROL. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504480 · 1996-05-17 (May 17, 1996)
RECALL REPAIRS TO SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT DONE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720458 · 2000-03-22 (March 22, 2000)
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 PA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722868 · 2000-05-18 (May 18, 2000)
SHOULDER BELT BROKE AT STITCHING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723374 · 2000-05-30 (May 30, 2000)
THREADING OF SHOULDER HARNESS BROKE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723374 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
95V103011 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1995-06-27 (June 27, 1995)
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.
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS 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 campaign record ↗