Ford Escort Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 35 safety recalls and 3,936 owner complaints across 23 model years of the Ford Escort (1981–2003). The most-complained-about year is 1995.
Pick your Ford Escort model year
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Ford Escort | 0 | 10 |
| 2002 Ford Escort | 0 | 33 |
| 2001 Ford Escort | 0 | 68 |
| 2000 Ford Escort | 1 | 98 |
| 1999 Ford Escort | 1 | 325 |
| 1998 Ford Escort | 0 | 375 |
| 1997 Ford Escort | 1 | 543 |
| 1996 Ford Escort | 0 | 205 |
| 1995 Ford Escort | 4 | 576 |
| 1994 Ford Escort | 1 | 279 |
| 1993 Ford Escort | 1 | 379 |
| 1992 Ford Escort | 2 | 162 |
| 1991 Ford Escort | 3 | 327 |
| 1990 Ford Escort | 2 | 101 |
| 1989 Ford Escort | 1 | 152 |
| 1988 Ford Escort | 2 | 143 |
| 1987 Ford Escort | 3 | 56 |
| 1986 Ford Escort | 2 | 45 |
| 1985 Ford Escort | 3 | 26 |
| 1984 Ford Escort | 3 | 21 |
| 1983 Ford Escort | 5 | 7 |
| 1982 Ford Escort | 5 | 4 |
| 1981 Ford Escort | 10 | 1 |
What Ford Escort owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 3,936 complaints with NHTSA. The 1995 model year has the most, with 576.
All Ford Escort recalls (35)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford Escort, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
On certain passenger vehicles, the integrated air bag monitor (iabm) can be contaminated with water or other liquids and could experience internal electrical shorting.
Remedy: Dealers will install the shield over the iabm and apply nyogel grease to the connector. Owner notification began february 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date…
Model years: 1997
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Seat belts
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and MINI vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began october 26, 2000. Owners who take…
Model years: 2000
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Shift pattern indicator (power train)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the s/r option. The s/r option includes, among other features, a 5-speed manual transmission. On these vehicles, the transmission shift pattern is not displayed in the occupant compartment in view of the driver. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 102,…
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an adhesive backed plaque containing the shift pattern, along with materials and instructions for locating and affixing the plaque to the vehicle center console, just forward of the shift…
Model years: 1999
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 1.9l engines, built at the hermosillo or wayne assembly plants and originally sold or currently registered in nevada, florida, hawaii, texas, california, louisiana, georgia, south carolina, mississippi, oklahoma, alabama and arkansas. Cracks can develop in the fuel tank near the heat…
Remedy: Dealers will remove the heat shield attachments. This will not affect heat shield location or function, as the attachments are intended to keep the shield in place until the fuel tank is installed in the vehicle. After…
Model years: 1995
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 1.9l engines, built at the hermosillo assembly plant and originally sold or currently registered in arizona. Cracks can develop in the fuel tank near the heat shield attachment resulting in fuel leakage if the cracks go through the fuel tank wall.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the heat shield attachments. This will not affect heat shield location or function, as the attachments are intended to keep the shield in place until the fuel tank is installed in the vehicle. After…
Model years: 1995
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Ignition (electrical system)
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
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Air bags: frontal
The driver side air bag module can have an inadequately welded inflator canister.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new air bag module.
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Air bags: frontal
Two bolts that attach the passenger side air bag supplemental restraint system module to the instrument panel are missing. In the event of a frontal impact, the module can come out of the instrument panel.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install and torque to specification the mounting bolts for the passenger side air bag.
Model years: 1995
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Seats
The lock plate of the driver side inboard seat track adjusters were manufactured with an unauthorized modification to the fabrication process which causes the seat not to fully engage in certain seating positions near the mid-point of the seat track travel.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver side inboard seat track.
Model years: 1993
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Electrical system: control module
The roll pins securing the ignition lock in the steering column housing can separate or move out of position.
Remedy: If one or both of the roll pins are missing or not fully inserted, the ignition lock housing will be replaced, along with the door-locks and the liftgate or deck-lid locks so that key compatibility is maintained. If…
Model years: 1991
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Fuel system, gasoline
Fatigue cracks can develop in the solder joint between the fuel return tube and the fuel pump sending unit located at the top of the fuel tank.
Remedy: Install a new fuel pump sending assembly.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
The stop lamp switches could intermittently malfunction resulting in the stop lamps not illuminating when the brakes are applied.
Remedy: Replace the faulty stop lamp switches.
Model years: 1992
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Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)
Interference occur between bolt that secures a fuel line shield to the lower portion of the dash panel and the accelerator pedal.
Remedy: Cut off extra length of bolt that protrudes above surface of weld nut to prevent interference.
Model years: 1991
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Seats
The forward outboard pedestal of the seat track of driver's seat may be susceptible to fatigue fracture.
Remedy: Install a reinforcement on all models and a new seat track as necessary
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Windshield (visibility)
Special primer that promotes the bonding of a urethane adhesive to the glass was not applied to the windshields before installation.
Remedy: Remove and properly install windshield using special primer.
Model years: 1990
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
External cracks above the number 3 cylinder (1984 models) or rocker arm cover gaskets splitting (1985 models) could allow oil to leak onto the exhaust manifold.
Remedy: Replace cracked cylinder heads (1984 models); replace rocker arm cover gaskets (1985 models).
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Fuel pump (fuel system)
The diaphragm material of the mechanical fuel pumps may deteriorate and allow the diaphragm to rupture.
Remedy: Install new mechanical fuel pumps with improved diaphragm material and revise wiring for electric fuel pump circuits.
Model years: 1983
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Remedy: Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
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Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)
Lug nuts could gall and possibly seize on the wheel studs without providing adequate clamping load on the wheels.
Remedy: Replace wheel lug nuts and if necessary, replace wheels and wheel studs.
Model years: 1987
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Seat belts: rear/other
Rear seat belt retractors may allow twisted webbing to enter the retractor housing and jam the retractor. Consequence of defect: a jammed retractor would interfere with webbing retraction and withdrawal. This will discourage seat belt usage.
Remedy: A clip will be inserted into the retractor housing webbing to prevent jamming.
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Vehicle speed control
The throttle lever may not return to idle position due to misalignment of the air conditioner shut off switch to the throttle lever pin. Consequence of defect: a jammed throttle could result in a loss of accelerator control, without prior warning, and an accident.
Remedy: Adjust shutoff switch and assure proper alignment to throttle lever pin.
Model years: 1985
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
The brake line may be positioned too close to an engine bracket. Normal engine movements may cause the bracket to rub against the brake line.
Remedy: The brake line will be inspected and rerouted if necessary.
Model years: 1984
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Seats
Screw that connects the seat back frame to the recliner mechanism may break.
Remedy: The attachment screw on the driver"s seat will be replaced by one of a larger diameter.
Model years: 1981
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Seats
Seat frame structure could sever front seat belts if vehicle is involved in an accident, depending on force of impact.
Remedy: Dealer will install a molded spacer between reinforcement plates and lower decorative plastic cover.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
The bolts that attach the d-shaped ring for the shoulder belt are inadequately supported by the material in which they are mounted. The attachment does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages".
Remedy: Dealers will install new attaching hardware to improve the strength of the mounting.
Model years: 1984
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
Door lock pillars could develop fatigue cracks from normal usage of door, at the point where door latch striker reinforcements are attached.
Remedy: Any damaged lock pillars will be repaired and reinforcements will be installed between the door latch striker and lock pillars.
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Seat belts
The portion of the roof above frame (rail) to which the shoulder belt is anchored may have a slot that can compromise the strength of the shoulder belt anchor under certain severe loads. (the suspect area is not visible.) consequently, some vehicles included in this recall may not meet the 3000 pound anchorage strength requirements of…
Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, reinforce the roof rail inner panel surrounding the drainage hole at no cost to owner.
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Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)
During a crash barrier test, the rubber hose connecting the fuel tank and the metal filler pipe vent tube was cut, resulting in fuel leakage. The involved vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity".
Remedy: Dealer will install a brace between the right side rear quarter panel and the body side rail to improve fuel tank impact resistance.
Model years: 1983
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Air conditioner (equipment)
On the involved vehicles, a thermal limiter in the blower motor resistor circuit of the air conditioner/heater assembly may not function as intended. If the blower motor becomes jammed when the system is operating in the medium-low blower speed, the resistor coils can overheat causing melting and possible ignition.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the resistor assembly with an improved version without charge to owner.
Model years: 1982
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Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)
Some of the involved vehicles have an electrically ungrounded fuel inlet. These vehicles are subject to static charge accumulation at the fuel filler pipe opening, which can occur if these vehicles are refueled from an electrically ungrounded dispensing nozzle.
Remedy: A grounding connection from the filler pipe inlet to the vehicle body and a static electricity suppression rod inside the filler pipe will be installed at no charge to owner.
Model years: 1981
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Vacuum (service brakes)
Some vehicles equipped with power brake boosters have front and rear shells that may have been improperly joined. Improperly joined booster shells may separate either partially or completely during brake application.
Remedy: All defective boosters will be replaced at no charge to owner.
Model years: 1981
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Vehicle speed control
Fuel may possibly travel through the speed control vacuum lines and into the speed control actuation device (serv0). The fuel can damage seals in the actuator servo and allow vacuum leaks. Such a leak could activate the speed control without any action on the part of the driver. This would cause the vehicle to gradually accelerate.
Remedy: The vacuum check valve and hose assembly will be replaced and the speed control servo will be replaced if it has been damaged.
Model years: 1981
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
On certain vehicles, metal fasteners that were used to secure the carpeting to the floor pan may have accidentally penetrated the top of the fuel tank. This would result in a slight fuel leak.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect vehicles for penetration of the fuel tank by carpet fasteners. Any leaking fuel tanks will be replaced and the floor pan will be sealed, without charge to owners.
Model years: 1981
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Electrical system: front underhood
Some of the involved vehicles were produced with an engine compartment wire assembly that may have been routed above the air conditioning suction hose. This hose may push up on the wiring harness causing it to contact the hood prop rod bracket attaching bolt. This could lead to penetration or chafing of the wiring insulation.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, correct the wiring harness routing at no charge to owner.
Model years: 1981
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Foundation components (service brakes)
On certain vehicles, the right and left hand rear brake backing plate attachment bolts may not have been tightened to the correct specifications. Backing plate bolts may not be able to withstand the loads experienced during truck shipment. If the bolts loosen from the spindle during operation, backing plate movement may result in…
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and tighten the bolts to the proper specifications. Rear brake tubes will be replaced, if necessary, at no charge to owner.
Model years: 1981
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.