Model year record

1993 Ford Festiva recalls & problems

The 1993 Ford Festiva has 1 safety recall and 20 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (7 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints20filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

SuspensionJun 24, 1996

Front › Control arm

Recall 96E01700094 vehicles

Problem: EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM MANUFACTURED BY MOOG INDUSTRIES. DUE TO MISPACKAGING, CERTAIN BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES WERE INCORRECTLY PLACED IN THE WRONG BOXES.
Risk: 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.
Fix: MOOG WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECTLY PACKAGED ASSEMBLIES WITH CORRECT BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1993 Ford Festiva 2-DR. HB.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Festiva

33mpg combined

City / highway	30 / 38 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,050/year to fuel

Festiva

28mpg combined

City / highway	27 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Seat beltsRear/other; Front › Webbing	7	1	—
SuspensionFront › Wheel bearing; Multiple axle	6	0	—
Tires	3	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Clutch assembly	3	0	—
Fuel system, other	1	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	0	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer	1	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap	1	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Suspension › Front › Control arm
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
Mar 15, 2006 · 113,628 miles
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
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
Dec 30, 2005 · 113,000 miles
Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
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
Aug 1, 2005
Seat belts › Front › Webbing1 injury
!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
Nov 30, 2004 · 118,321 miles
Tires
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
Nov 9, 2001
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
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
Jul 11, 2000
Power train › Automatic transmission
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
Jul 22, 1999
Seat belts
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.
Apr 29, 1998

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.