1991 Ford Festiva

1991 Ford Festiva

The 1991 Ford Festiva was a subcompact car available with a 1.3L engine and a 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission. It was known for its fuel efficiency and affordability, but it also had some reliability concerns.

Engine

• 1.3L
  • Blown head gasket
    • Description/Symptoms: Coolant leaking from the engine, overheating, white smoke from exhaust
    • Solution: Replace head gasket
    • Estimated Cost to Fix: $500 - $1000+
    • Recalls: None Found
  • Intake manifold gasket failure
    • Description/Symptoms: Coolant or oil leaking from intake manifold, engine overheating
    • Solution: Replace intake manifold gasket
    • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $400
    • Recalls: None Found
  • Timing belt failure
    • Description/Symptoms: Engine suddenly stops running, no compression
    • Solution: Replace timing belt and inspect for damage to valves
    • Estimated Cost to Fix: $300 - $600
    • Recalls: None Found

Transmission

• 5-speed manual
  • Difficulty shifting gears
    • Description/Symptoms: Hard to move shifter into gear, grinding noise
    • Solution: Adjust or replace shift linkage, replace synchronizers
    • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $500
    • Recalls: None Found
• 3-speed automatic
  • Slipping gears
    • Description/Symptoms: Transmission hesitates before engaging gears, slipping out of gear
    • Solution: Rebuild or replace transmission
    • Estimated Cost to Fix: $800 - $1500+
    • Recalls: None Found

Suspension

• Front suspension noise
  • Description/Symptoms: Clunking or rattling noise over bumps
  • Solution: Replace strut mounts, sway bar links
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $400
  • Recalls: None Found
• Rear suspension sag
  • Description/Symptoms: Rear of vehicle sits lower than the front
  • Solution: Replace rear springs or shocks
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $500
  • Recalls: None Found

Electrical

• Alternator failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Battery not charging, warning light on dashboard
  • Solution: Replace alternator
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $300 - $500
  • Recalls: None Found
• Starter failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Engine does not turn over when key is turned
  • Solution: Replace starter
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $400
  • Recalls: None Found

Exterior

• Rust
  • Description/Symptoms: Corrosion on body panels, especially around wheel wells
  • Solution: Remove rust and apply rust-resistant coating
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: Varies depending on severity
  • Recalls: None Found

Interior

• Dashboard cracking
  • Description/Symptoms: Dashboard begins to crack and peel, especially in hot climates
  • Solution: Replace dashboard or apply a dashboard cover
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $500
  • Recalls: None Found

Summary

The 1991 Ford Festiva had several common issues, including blown head gaskets, intake manifold gasket failure, timing belt failure, difficult shifting, slipping gears, suspension noise, rear suspension sag, alternator failure, starter failure, and rust. The severity of the issues varied, with some being relatively minor and inexpensive to fix, while others could be major and costly. It’s important to note that these issues are not guaranteed to occur on every Festiva, but they are some of the most commonly reported problems.