Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Ford Festiva, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 40 | 74% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER SAID THAT VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE, THEN IT JUST QUIT. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WIRING HELD IN AN UNPADDED CLAMP, WHICH RUBBED OFF INSULATION OVER TIME, RESULTED IN A FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS (LUCKILY) IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS. THE PARTS SUPPLIER MENTIONED THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE LIGHTING SYSTEM SHORTED OUT, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK *YC
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATS AND SMOKES. BLOWER FAN ALSO QUITS AT FREQUENT INTERVALS. SMOKE CAME UP OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AT ONE POINT. THERE IS A PERSISTANT PROBLEM WITH THIS WHEN I TRY TO RUN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYS
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE REAR SEATBELTS ARE JAMMED AND RED RELEASE BUTTON IS BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SEAT BELT RECALL WORK DENIED DUE TO ORIGINAL INSPECTION REVEALING NO PROBLEM WITH BUCKLES, AFTER INSPECTION BUCKLES FAILED. (QCAW)
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SEAT BELT PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTON CRUMBLED, DEPOSITING FRAGMENTS AND JAMMING THE LOCKING MECHANISM.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THE SEAT BELT RECALL, AND DEALER ORDERED THE WRONG BUCKLES. NOW CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR MORE BEFORE DEALER COULD ORDER THE RIGHT BUCKLES. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1989 Ford Festiva. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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 A
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.
Risk: THESE 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
Fix: MOOG WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECTLY PACKAGED ASSEMBLIES WITH CORRECT BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES.
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 37 | below average |
| Efficiency | 57 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 40 of them (74%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.