1993 Ford Festiva Problems: Seat belts (19 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1993 Ford Festiva is Seat belts (37% of 19 owner reports). There are 1 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Seat belts — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 19 complaints · 1 recalls

What problems show up on the 1993 Ford Festiva?

7 of 19 filings named Seat belts (37% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Suspension (6 reports).

There are 1 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Suspension. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1992 has 13 reports on file; this year has 19. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1993 Ford Festiva

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 1 campaigns on file below.
  2. Seat belts. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed.
  3. Suspension. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues.
  4. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Seat belts. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Seat belts 7 complaints · 36.8% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 0
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 1
  • Deaths 0
All Ford Festiva years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) appears in 7 of 19 owner complaints (36.8%) in this vehicle snapshot. Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 7 complaints, 36.8% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 7 · 36.8% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 6 complaints, 31.6% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 6 · 31.6% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 2 complaints, 10.5% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 · 10.5% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 5.3% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 · 5.3% Engine (ENGINE): 1 complaints, 5.3% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 · 5.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 5.3% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 · 5.3% Tires (TIRES): 1 complaints, 5.3% of reports Tires (TIRES) 1 · 5.3% Wheels (WHEELS): 1 complaints, 5.3% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 1 · 5.3% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 12 complaints, 63.2% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 12 · 63.2% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 7 36.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 6 31.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 10.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 5.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 1 5.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 5.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 1 5.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 1 5.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 12 63.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Jun 1996. 1995-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1995-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1995-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1995-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 1997-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 1995 Oct 2007 Recall campaign 96E017000 ◆ Recall campaign 96E017000
  • Campaign 96E017000 was reported 444 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 1
1995-Q2 Owner reports 2
1995-Q3 Owner reports 1
1995-Q4 Owner reports 1
1996-Q4 Owner reports 4
1997-Q2 Owner reports 2
1999-Q2 Owner reports 1
1999-Q3 Owner reports 1
2000-Q3 Owner reports 1
2002-Q1 Owner reports 1
2004-Q4 Owner reports 1
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 96E017000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (1)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Suspension.

  1. Recall campaign 96E017000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    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 CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    MOOG WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECTLY PACKAGED ASSEMBLIES WITH CORRECT BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 19 complaints · page 1 of 1
2007-12-19Suspension (SUSPENSION)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10212325
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD FESTIVA. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL SUSTAINED A DENT IN THE METAL COVERING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPAIR. SOON AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, HE LEARNED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96E017000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT:CONTROL ARM). THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,628. UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
2006-01-06Suspension (SUSPENSION)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10147116
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE LEFT FRONT DOUBLE WHEEL ASSEMBLY FELL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED BOTH CONTROL ARMS, BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND THE LEFT AXLE SEAL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 96E017000 REGARDING THE SUSPENSION.*AK UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB
2005-10-14Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10139708
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD FIESTIVA . THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COULD CATCH ON FIRE. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE DEALER SHOULD MAKE THESE PARTS AGAIN SO THIS PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED.*AK 11/02/05. *JB
2004-11-30Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10100809
CrashFireInjuryDeath
!993 FORD FESTIVA ENVOLVED IN A NEAR MISS/ AVOIDANCE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH CUT INTO MY LANE. GOING 45 MPH AND HIT CURB A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT BROKE APART WHERE ATTACHES TO MOVING DOOR ATTACHEMENT. THE STITCHING BROKE COMPLETLY APART. DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF STICHING ABOUT TO BRAKE AND/OR LOOSE. PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK INJURY. *AK
2002-02-14Tires (TIRES)
NHTSA ODI 564298
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, HE THEN PULLED OVER AND SAW NOT ONLY DID HE HAVE ONE FLAT TIRE, BUT THE OTHER FRONT TIRE WAS ALSO FLAT, CAUSE UNKNOWN, NO TIRE INFO GIVEN.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT# 10-91-682)*JB
2000-07-27Suspension (SUSPENSION)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 726128
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT ON ONE SIDE OF THIS FORD FESTIVA FELL OUT (IT DIDN'T BREAK, BUT BACKED ITSELF OUT). WE HAVE 6 OTHER FESTIVAS ('91-'93) WHICH WE CHECKED, BUT NONE OF THEM HAD THE LOOSE BOLT - NEVERTHELESS, WE REPLACED ALL THESE BOLTS IN ALL 7 CARS, AND TORQUED THEM TO THE FACTORY SETTING. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT AN ASTUTE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET THIS CAR UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD ADVISE YOU IN THE EVENT THERE HAVE BEEN ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *AK
1999-07-23Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 709039
CrashFireInjuryDeath
SINCE I PURCHASED THIS AUTO IN MAR 1996, THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE REBUILDED. THREE REBUILDED TRANSMISSIONS AND LESS THAN 25,000 MILES IN THREE YRS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME AND CONTACT ME SOON. THANKS D.V. WILLIAMS
1999-06-23Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
NHTSA ODI 840967
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHEN EVER THE SEAT BELTS ARE IN USE & INDIVIDUAL WOULD MOVE, THE BELTS WOULD LOCK UP. ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING. SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN ONLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
1997-04-09Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 808418
CrashFireInjuryDeath
GAS TANK FILLER NECK HAD RUSTED. HAD TANK REPLACED BUT PROBLEM REEMERGED; RUSTED OUT AT SAME EXACT PLACE AS FIRST TIME/REPLACED GAS TANK FILLER NECK. *AK
1997-04-03Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 809669
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THERE IS NO TENSION ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S LAP BELTS, MAKING THEM USELESS. *AK

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1993 Ford Festiva?

Owners named Seat belts most often — 7 of 19 reports (37%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1993 Ford Festiva?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Suspension. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1993 Ford Festiva?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources