RoadVitals

1992 Ford Festiva Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jan 13, 2016
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1992 Ford Festiva, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical421.1%
  • Engine315.8%
  • Exterior lighting210.5%
  • Powertrain (other)210.5%
  • Interior & seats210.5%
  • Seat belts210.5%
  • Tires & wheels15.3%
  • Steering15.3%
  • Suspension15.3%
  • Fuel system15.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID 825195 · filed Jul 9, 1998

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE DIES OUT/STALLS/HESITATES. *AK

NHTSA ID 985491 · filed Jun 11, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE BACK END BECAUSE OF EXHAUST MUFFLER. *AK

NHTSA ID 985550 · filed Jun 12, 1996

ENGINE FIRE. *DSH

NHTSA ID 504235 · filed May 6, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER COULD NOT REPLACE PARKING LIGHT DUE TO INFERIOR DESIGN (NOT ENOUGH ROOM AND SPACE).

NHTSA ID 529891 · filed Feb 4, 1998

HEADLIGHT RELAY REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO HEADLIGHT FAILURES, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *SKD

NHTSA ID 482100 · filed Mar 13, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FAILURE OF LOW CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD END ,AND CV AXLES. *AK

NHTSA ID 10191198 · filed May 18, 2007

REAR AXLE MOUNT BROKE DUE TO MISSING BOLTS, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID 603463 · filed Jul 25, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 887052 · filed Apr 30, 2001

VEHICLES DRIVER SEAT BACK SNAPPED AND IS NOW INOPERATIVE.THIS OCCURED WHILE IN NORMAL USE. TT

NHTSA ID 970582 · filed Aug 16, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MANUAL LAP BELT SUDDENLY COMES UNHOOKED/RETRACT. *SD

NHTSA ID 504362 · filed May 9, 1996

HEADLIGHT RELAY REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO HEADLIGHT FAILURES, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *SKD

NHTSA ID 482100 · filed Mar 13, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 10820063 · filed Jan 13, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FAILURE OF LOW CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD END ,AND CV AXLES. *AK

NHTSA ID 10191198 · filed May 18, 2007

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FAILURE OF LOW CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD END ,AND CV AXLES. *AK

NHTSA ID 10191198 · filed May 18, 2007

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THERE IS A GAS SMELL PRESENT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID 969369 · filed Jul 25, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .