1989 Ford Escort problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 1989 Ford Escort have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1989 Ford Escort. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

Q: What gas mileage does the 1989 Ford Escort get?

The 1989 Ford Escort has U.S. EPA estimates of 25–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

1989 Ford Escort at a glance

Safety recalls1

Owner complaints174

Combined25–32 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1989 Ford Escort recalls 1

Electrical System:ignition NHTSA Campaign #96V071000 · 25/04/1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1989 Ford Escort common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 174 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

Seat Belts

Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

Fuel System

Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

Gasoline

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Exterior Lighting

Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

1989 Ford Escort MPG & running costs

Combined25–32 mpg

City24 mpg

Highway32 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$2,500

EPA size classCompact Cars

Transmission3 options

Passenger volume85 cu ft

Cargo volume18 cu ft

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1989 Ford Escort costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$12,500

Fuel only$12,500

Per mile$0.17

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length

168.9–169.3 in

Width

63.8–65.7 in

Height

53.5 in

Wheelbase

94.1 in

Curb weight

2,242–2,452 lb

Front track

55.5 in

Rear track

55.5 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1989 Ford Escort — ranges cover the 4 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 2

ENGINE STALLING Closed

ENGINE STALLING

NHTSA #DP91003 · Engine And Engine Cooling · opened Nov 1990 · closed Jan 1991

FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINT Closed

WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA #EA90008 · Seat Belts · opened Dec 1989 · closed Dec 1991

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 27

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 27.

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

Bulletin 01156 · Visibility · Aug 2001

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

Bulletin 01157 · Aug 2001

CONCERNS WITH PREMATURE FAILURE OCCURING ON THE 1.9L MOTORCRAFT REMANUFACTURED LONGBLOCK ASSEMBLY AND SHORTBLOCK ASSEMBLY DUE TO INGESTION OF FOREIGN OBJECTS REMAINING IN THE TRANSFERRED INTAKE SYSTEM FROM THE ORIGINAL FAILED ENGINE. *JB

Bulletin 00188 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2000

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS

Bulletin 0015 · Power Train · Jan 2000

SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT

Bulletin 99222 · Electrical System · Oct 1999

INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT

Bulletin 99196 · Equipment · Sep 1999

INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT

Bulletin 99152 · Power Train · Jul 1999

FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT

Bulletin 99816 · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 1999

FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC

Bulletin 98246 · Electrical System · Dec 1998

INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC

Bulletin 9888 · Power Train · Apr 1998

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the ESCORT. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 2

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1989 Ford Escort. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Electrical

A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED. CORRECTION: IGNITION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGN SWITCH.

Transport Canada #1995212 · Nov 1995

Emissions

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. CORRECTION: EXHAUST SYSTEM CATALYST WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Transport Canada #1994116 · Jul 1994

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Ford Escort

Ford Escort may refer to one of several vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company:Ford Escort (Europe), a vehicle manufactured by Ford Europe from 1968 to 2002 Ford Escort RS Cosworth, sports and rally version of the fifth generation European Escort Ford Escort WRC, a rally car based on the Ford Escort RS Cosworth Ford Escort, a compact car manufactured for the North American market from 1980 to 2003 Ford Escort (China), a Ford Focus-based compact car for the Chinese market from 2015 to 2023 Ford Escort, a variant of the Ford Squire built and marketed in the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1961

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1989 Ford Escort vehicles on record

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1989 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAKU13731

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Other Ford Escort model years

1989 Ford Escort — frequently asked questions

Does the 1989 Ford Escort have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1989 Ford Escort. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Ford Escort?

Across all 174 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, engine and engine cooling, seat belts.

What gas mileage does the 1989 Ford Escort get?

The 1989 Ford Escort has U.S. EPA estimates of 25–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.