PlainCars

FORD FESTIVA · model year

1990 FORD FESTIVA

22 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990FORDFESTIVA carries 22 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 FESTIVA is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 6 filings, followed by wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (3) and seat belts:front:retractor (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1990 FESTIVA, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

22
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

22 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY6
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH2
POWER TRAIN1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
SEAT BELTS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1

Recent Complaints

20030730TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEED PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. HOWEVER, TIRE STAYED INFLATED. *AK

20020423ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. UPON TRYING TO START IT AGAIN, IT WILL NOT START UNLESS IT IS JUMPED STARTED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20011221WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

REAL WHEELS CAN COME OFF VERY EASILY BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO HOLD LUGS: NUTS ON. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

20010515SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

STETCHING THAT HOLD BOTH SHOULDER HARNESS WEBBING TOGETHER HAVE WEATHERED AND FALLEN APART. I WOULD GUESS THAT THERE SHOULD BE OTHER SIMILAR CASES DUE THE POSITION AND THE UV/ SUN CONTAMINATION ON THE TREADS ( THE THREADS ARE COTTON AND NOT NYLON). *AK

20000821CrashWHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

THE SPINDLE NUT OF RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOOSE AND THE WHEEL DROP OUT.

20000705STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM REAR RIGHT WHEEL. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC SPINDLE KNUCKLE HAD FALLEN OUT. THE PROBLEM IS REPAIRABLE.*AK

19990909SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY ENGANGED IN THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE BUCKLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19990728SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT WILL NOTSTAY BUCKLED IN. *AK

19990504ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

DURING COLD WEATHER, NONE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKS. SIMILAR TO WHAT'S DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 90V045000, BUT THE WHOLE PANEL IS INOPERATIVE. RECURRING PROBLEM SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR.

19990316VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

STRUCTURAL FAILURE TO DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOUNT. DRIVER SIDE NOW HAS NO WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM.

19981207WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET THE WHEEL CAME OFF THE AUTOMOBILE DUE TO LUGS:NUTS AND BOLTS BREAKING OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN DOWN THE STREET TO CATCH IT. CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR SPINDLE DUST COVER PAN, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML

19961105FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, UNDER THE HOOD, ELECTRICAL SHORT, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH. *AK *SLC

19960702SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DOES NOT RETRACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

19960507SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

TAKATA BELT BUCKLE RECALL; KIRK FORD HANCOCK MD. GAVE OWNER HARD TIME W/APPOINTMENT AND REPLACED PASSENGER BUCKLE FROM JUNK YARD. DEALER NOT AWARE OF RECALL.*AK

19960507SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

FRONT SEAT BELTS; PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK

19960429SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HANDLE THE RECALL FOR SEA TBELT BUCKLES. PLEADE DESCRIBE. *AK

19960429SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HANDLE THE RECALL FOR SEA TBELT BUCKLES. PLEADE DESCRIBE. *AK

19960314SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS

BRAKE SHOE LINING SEPARATED FROM BRAKE SHOES. *AK

19960103SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

RECALL RELATED, 95V103011, INTERIOR SEAT BELT BUCKLE, IN FOR REPAIR BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY LATCHED. TT

19950828SEAT BELTS

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ALMOST CHOKED PERSON THAT WAS SITTING ON THAT SIDE . TT

Compare 1990FORDFESTIVA to Similar Vehicles

FESTIVA vs FORDF-150 → FESTIVA vs FORDEXPLORER → FESTIVA vs JEEPGRAND CHEROKEE → FESTIVA vs FORDESCAPE →

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen

Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up

PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen

Timing Belt Failure

DP25001Defect PetitionOpen

Underbody shields detachment

PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen

B-Pillar Trim Detachment

PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed

Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 FORD FESTIVA have?▼
The 1990 FORD FESTIVA has 22 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 FORD FESTIVA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 FORD FESTIVA is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1990 FORD FESTIVA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Understanding NHTSA Complaints → Vehicle Recalls Explained → Safest Car Brands 2026 → Most Reliable Used Cars → Lemon Law Guide →

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.