1983 Ford Escort Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 1983 Ford Escort, and owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 1983 Ford Escort
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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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.
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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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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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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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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.
7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1983 Ford Escort have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The car purchased was for 1800 and the mechanic where purchased from told eric that the car was fully inspected and ready for the road. His girlfriend test drove the car and told greg that the brakes”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 28, 2003 · Unknown or other
“Possible carburator failure may have caused vehicle to hesitate while driving. Nlm”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 7, 1999 · Fuel system, gasoline
Compare Ford Escort model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Escort model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 Ford Escort | 10 | 1 |
| 1982 Ford Escort | 5 | 4 |
| 1983 Ford Escort | 5 | 7 |
| 1984 Ford Escort | 3 | 21 |
| 1985 Ford Escort | 3 | 26 |
| 1986 Ford Escort | 2 | 45 |
| 1987 Ford Escort | 3 | 56 |
| 1988 Ford Escort | 2 | 143 |
| 1989 Ford Escort | 1 | 152 |
| 1990 Ford Escort | 2 | 101 |
| 1991 Ford Escort | 3 | 327 |
| 1992 Ford Escort | 2 | 162 |
| 1993 Ford Escort | 1 | 379 |
| 1994 Ford Escort | 1 | 279 |
| 1995 Ford Escort | 4 | 576 |
| 1996 Ford Escort | 0 | 205 |
| 1997 Ford Escort | 1 | 543 |
| 1998 Ford Escort | 0 | 375 |
| 1999 Ford Escort | 1 | 325 |
| 2000 Ford Escort | 1 | 98 |
| 2001 Ford Escort | 0 | 68 |
| 2002 Ford Escort | 0 | 33 |
| 2003 Ford Escort | 0 | 10 |
Checking a specific 1983 Ford Escort
How do I know if my 1983 Ford Escort has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 1983 Ford Escort; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 82V088000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
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.