Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1989 Ford Escort, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system64
- Engine and engine cooling22
- Seat belts19
- Fuel system, gasoline12
- Exterior lighting9
- Vehicle speed control9
- Power train8
- Steering7
- Seats6
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 9 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1989 Ford Escort cars on Dutch roads are the 1.4 petrol (54 kW, 72 hp), 1.6 petrol (65 kW, 87 hp) and 1.6 petrol (97 kW, 130 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 petrol | 54 kW 72 hp | 44 |
| 1.6 petrol | 65 kW 87 hp | 30 |
| 1.6 petrol | 97 kW 130 hp | 27 |
| 1.8 diesel | 44 kW 59 hp | 21 |
| 1.3 petrol | 44 kW 59 hp | 20 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
204 first registered in 1989 are on Dutch roads; 29% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde18
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen17
- Slijtage/beschadiging wiellager hoorbaar of voelbaar9
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar6
- Band onvoldoende profiel6
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm6
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)6
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
451 cars built in 1989 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 2,909 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 910 of these cars first registered in 1989 took their annual MOT test. 78% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1989 the figure was 72%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1989 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.8% | 15.4% |
| Suspension | 6.8% | 8.6% |
| Brakes | 6.4% | 9.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 6.3% | 8.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.7% | 5.1% |
| Visibility | 4.7% | 6.5% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
82 of these cars first registered in 1989 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 55,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
11 1989 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1989 Ford Escort.
| 1995212 29 Nov 1995 | Electrical A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDIT… |
| 1994116 19 Jul 1994 | Emissions THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. CORRECTION: EXHAUST SYSTEM CATALYST WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1989 Ford Escort: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 618599 | CONCERNS WITH PREMATURE FAILURE OCCURING ON THE 1.9L MOTORCRAFT REMANUFACTURED LONGBLOCK ASSEMBLY AND SHORTBLOCK ASSEMBLY DUE TO INGESTION OF FOREIGN OBJECTS REMAINING IN THE TRANSFERRED INTAKE SYSTEM FROM THE ORIGINAL FAILED ENGINE. *JB |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 6089681 | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT |
| 608431 | INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT |
| 606420 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT |
| 604059 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC |
| 601343 | A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC |
| 601312 | INFORMATION ON A BUZZING OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT |
| 601290 | INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC |
| 601269 | ANNOUNCING THE FORD OEM AIR CONDITIONING RETROFIT KIT AVAILABILITY. *YC |
| 601238 | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 601012 | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC |
| 51945 | FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD |
| 50997 | TRANSAXLE - TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES AND TORQUE CONVERTER/TRANSAXLE COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING PROCEDURES - SERVICE TIP. *TW |
| 50940 | WINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR GLASS - FOG/FILM. *TW |
| 50908 | TORQUE CONVERTER - LEAK TEST PROCEDURE - SERVICE TIP. *TW |
| 50905 | WIRING - ELECTRICAL DIODE IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICE REPLACEMENTS. *TW |
| 46478 | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT MAY BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE RUBBER MATERIAL USED IN THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM. IF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE IS USED TO LUBRICATE ANY PART OF THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM, IT COULD CAUSE RUBBER PARTS TO SWELL IF LUBRICANT CONTACTS THE RUBBER MATERIAL. |
| 45947 | SHEET METAL-ROOF PANEL AND DRIP RAIL REPLACEMENT- SEAM SEALER APPLICATION PROCEDURE.*SD |
| 41025 | A REVISED SERVICE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS NOW AVAILABLE. *TW |
| 39900 | ROUGHNESS CONCERN DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TW |
| 39720 | RECALL 93E50 - VEHICLE'S ENGINE MAY BE RELEASING AIR POLLUTANTS WHICH EXCEED US FEDERAL STANDARDS. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CATALYST. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE STALLING
FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation