1991 Ford Escort Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1991 Ford Escort, and owners have filed 327 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1991 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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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…
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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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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.
327 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1991 Ford Escort have filed 327 complaints with NHTSA; 20 describe a crash and 61 describe a fire. Reports cite 16 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 121,846 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 89 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“After filling up with gas and still beside the gas pumps i attempted to start the vehicle in park. The car kept cranking but not starting. Turned the ignition switch off and car kept cranking. Pulled”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 20, 2013 · Electrical system
“The accelerator stuck to the floor causing the vehicle to be in full throttle. This occurred while stopped at a traffic light. Fortunately it was a manual transmission and out of gear when the inciden”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 15, 2010 · Vehicle speed control
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1991 Ford Escort (Escort FS, Escort Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–30 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–27 / 27–37 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.8/1.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 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 1991 Ford Escort
How do I know if my 1991 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1991 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 90V076000).
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.