1990 Ford Escort Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1990 Ford Escort, and owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1990 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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Ignition (electrical system)
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
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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.
101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1990 Ford Escort have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 42 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 79,893 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 41 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“While traveling on a freeway at the speed limit of 65 miles per hour, i ended up in a skid on dry pavement. I don't remember how i got into the skid due to head injuries received in the resulting acci”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 21, 2010 · Seat belts
“1990 ford escort with 1.9 l engine, throttle-body fuel inj, and man 5-speed transm. Approx 8 hwy miles from home, passing thru small town with 25-MPH limit, signal light, and rr crossing, the ford's e”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 23, 2010 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1990 Ford Escort (Escort Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–32 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–28 / 28–38 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
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 1990 Ford Escort
How do I know if my 1990 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 1990 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 89V174000).
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.