RoadVitals

1989 Ford Escort Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Mar 5, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 152 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 5, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
758978
Incident
Oct 2, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 8, 1998

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND SAT THERE UNTIL THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON TWO HOURS LATER. CONSUMER HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE HE BOUGHT THE CAR WHICH WAS BRAND NEW . *AK

NHTSA ID
832017
Incident
Nov 5, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 7, 1998

HEADLAMPS GO OFF WHEN USED FOR A EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. IT NOW HAS HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THIS HAS HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID
701176
Incident
Jul 10, 1991
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 30, 1998

MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND SIGNAL SWITCH TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, REPLACED MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH 9 TIMES. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED TO CONSUMER MOTHER'S 1987 FORD ESCORT GT. FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICES WAS NON-COOPERATIVE WHEN CONTACTED WITH A FULL HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE. THE FACT THAT ANOTHER ESCORT DISPLAYED THE SAME SYMPTOMS RECEIVED THE ATTENTION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER TO PURSUE THE ISSUE BY HIRING A PRIVATE ATTORNEY. IN ADDITION, REPLACED BATTERY 3 TIMES/LED PANEL, AND STATOR WITHIN ALTERNATOR ALSO FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
701019
Incident
May 28, 1991
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 7, 1998

FRONT HEADLIGHTS OPERATE DIM WHEN USED. ALSO HIGH BEAMS ARE DEFECTIVE. BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
825103
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 20, 1997

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED TO WORK DUE TO FUSE BLOW OUT.

NHTSA ID
526854
Incident
Oct 1, 1997
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 20, 1997

HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA ID
526853
Incident
Oct 1, 1995
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 3, 1995

WATER THAT BUILDS IN THE LIGHT HOUSING WHEN HITTING A BUMP WATER BLOWS OUT THE BULB AND HAVE TO REPLACE . TT

NHTSA ID
972813
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Mar 8, 1995

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN STEERING COLUMN, SMOKE CAME OUT AND COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE. TT

NHTSA ID
961523
Incident
Jun 1, 1994

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical59Engine22Seat belts19Interior & seats13Fuel system12Driver assistance9Transmission8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .