1989 Ford Escort vs 1989 Mazda 323
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1989 Ford Escort | 1989 Mazda 323 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 152 | 38 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 27 | 5 |
| Investigations | 2 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 60 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–32 | 20–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escort | Mazda 323 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 64 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 19 | 23 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 2 |
| Power Train | 8 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 12 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 12 | 0 |
1989 Ford Escort
1989 Mazda 323
Compare all Ford Escort vs Mazda 323 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.