Total Complaints
21 filings
FORD FESTIVA · model year
1992 FORD FESTIVA
21 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992FORDFESTIVA carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 3 fires, 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 1992 FESTIVA is seats:front assembly:recliner with 2 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights:switch (1) and electrical system:horn (1). 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 1992 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.
21
Complaints
5
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20160113TIRES
DELTA AKURET GRIP PLUS STUDDED SNOW TIRES 74S 145/75/12 . THE STUDS IN THESE SNOW TIRES WORE THE INTERIOR OF THE TIRE AWAY AND CAUSED A SWIFT LEAK, AS DOCUMENTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. TIRE WENT FLAT REPEATEDLY, AND WAS INFLATED TO PROPER PSI SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY. TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEAK WAS OCCURRING BETWEEN TWO SEPARATE TIRE STUDS. THEY WERE BOTH LEAKING AIR WHERE THEY HAD WORN THE INTERIOR OF THE TIRE AWAY. THIS RESULTED IN THE REMOVAL OF TWO TIRE STUDS, AND PATCHES BEING REINSERTED INTO RESULTING HOLES. NO GUARANTEE IS POSSIBLE AS TO HOW LONG THIS REPAIR IS GOOD FOR. TIRES WERE OTHERWISE ROADWORTHY, SHOWING NO SIGNS OF UNEVEN WEAR OR ROUGH USE, AND HAD GOOD TREAD DEPTH REMAINING, AS DOCUMENTED BY REPAIR FACILITY. COST OF THE REPAIR EXCEEDED WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FULL REPLACEMENT COST OF A NEW TIRE. DELTA/AKURET WAS CONTACTED-THEY REFUSE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
Mileage: 250,000
20070518CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
FAILURE OF LOW CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD END ,AND CV AXLES. *AK
Mileage: 157,000
20070518CrashSTEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
FAILURE OF LOW CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD END ,AND CV AXLES. *AK
Mileage: 157,000
20070518CrashPOWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
FAILURE OF LOW CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD END ,AND CV AXLES. *AK
Mileage: 157,000
20010430CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM REAR BY A TOW TRUCK, CAUSING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TO TWIST AND BREAK. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS NOT SAFE, FOR SEAT TO GO BACK AND BREAK.*AK *SLC
20010430CrashSEATS
CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM REAR BY A TOW TRUCK, CAUSING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TO TWIST AND BREAK. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS NOT SAFE, FOR SEAT TO GO BACK AND BREAK.*AK *SLC
19990217FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. *AK
19980323EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CONSUMER COULD NOT REPLACE PARKING LIGHT DUE TO INFERIOR DESIGN (NOT ENOUGH ROOM AND SPACE).
19970814POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
REAR AXLE MOUNT BROKE DUE TO MISSING BOLTS, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
19960612FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE BACK END BECAUSE OF EXHAUST MUFFLER. *AK
19960611ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE DIES OUT/STALLS/HESITATES. *AK
19960601FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. *DSH
19960601SEAT BELTS:FRONT
MANUAL LAP BELT SUDDENLY COMES UNHOOKED/RETRACT. *SD
19960509ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
OWNER HEARD WEIRD CRACK AND VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING OVER HEATING. IGNITION SWITCH NOW SEEMS TO AFFECT COOLANT FAN AND OTHER COMPONENTS ON SAME LINE. *AK
19950816SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLES DRIVER SEAT BACK SNAPPED AND IS NOW INOPERATIVE.THIS OCCURED WHILE IN NORMAL USE. TT
19950725FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THERE IS A GAS SMELL PRESENT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19950608EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEADLIGHT RELAY REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO HEADLIGHT FAILURES, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *SKD
19950608ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN FAILED.
19950608SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED.
19950608ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
COOLING FAN MOTOR AND RELAY REPLACED DUE TO BEING INOPERABLE/RUNNING CONSTANTLY.
Compare 1992FORDFESTIVA to Similar Vehicles
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
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1992 FORD FESTIVA have?▼
The 1992 FORD FESTIVA has 21 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 FORD FESTIVA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 FORD FESTIVA is SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN.
Is the 1992 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
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.