Complaints by model year
Federal complaints filed against each model year of the Ford Escort. Hover a bar for the count.
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Three most-complained-about yearsAll other years
Which years to avoid
Ranked from the same federal record. Click any year for its full file.
Years to look at twice
- 1997 Ford Escort - 729 complaints
- 1995 Ford Escort - 725 complaints
- 1993 Ford Escort - 480 complaints
Highest raw complaint counts. Counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Quieter years
- 1986 Ford Escort - 53 complaints
- 1987 Ford Escort - 65 complaints
- 2001 Ford Escort - 85 complaints
Fewest complaints among years with a meaningful record; the two newest model years are excluded because they have had little time to accumulate filings.
What fails, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Ford Escort | 13 | 0 |
| 2002 Ford Escort | 41 | 0 |
| 2001 Ford Escort | 85 | 0 |
| 2000 Ford Escort | 128 | 1 |
| 1999 Ford Escort | 413 | 1 |
| 1998 Ford Escort | 470 | 0 |
| 1997 Ford Escort | 729 | 1 |
| 1996 Ford Escort | 257 | 0 |
| 1995 Ford Escort | 725 | 4 |
| 1994 Ford Escort | 351 | 1 |
| 1993 Ford Escort | 480 | 1 |
| 1992 Ford Escort | 222 | 2 |
| 1991 Ford Escort | 413 | 3 |
| 1990 Ford Escort | 128 | 2 |
| 1989 Ford Escort | 199 | 1 |
| 1988 Ford Escort | 206 | 2 |
| 1987 Ford Escort | 65 | 3 |
| 1986 Ford Escort | 53 | 2 |
| 1985 Ford Escort | 31 | 3 |
| 1984 Ford Escort | 27 | 3 |
| 1983 Ford Escort | 7 | 5 |
| 1982 Ford Escort | 5 | 5 |
| 1981 Ford Escort | 2 | 10 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Recall repairs are free at the dealer.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02V323000 | 1997 | Air Bags | ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM) CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND COULD EXPERIENCE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORTING. |
| 00V228001 | 2000 | 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 |
| 99V276000 | 1999 | 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 TRANSMISS |
| 97V145000 | 1995 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 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 DEVELO |
| 97V144000 | 1995 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 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, |
| 96V071000 | 1988-1990 | Electrical System | THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. |
| 94V218000 | 1994-1995 | Air Bags | THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER. |
| 94V197000 | 1995 | Air Bags | 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 |
| 94V055000 | 1993 | 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 ENG |
| 93V057000 | 1991 | Electrical System | THE ROLL PINS SECURING THE IGNITION LOCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING CAN SEPARATE OR MOVE OUT OF POSITION. |
| 92V117000 | 1991-1992 | 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. |
| 92V103000 | 1992 | Exterior Lighting | THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES COULD INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN THE STOP LAMPS NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. |
| 90V076000 | 1991 | 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. |
| 89V174000 | 1990 | Visibility | SPECIAL PRIMER THAT PROMOTES THE BONDING OF A URETHANE ADHESIVE TO THE GLASS WAS NOT APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELDS BEFORE INSTALLATION. |
| 89V170000 | 1985-1987 | Seats | THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE. |
| 89V095000 | 1984-1985 | 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. |
| 88V193000 | 1983 | Fuel System, Gasoline | THE DIAPHRAGM MATERIAL OF THE MECHANICAL FUEL PUMPS MAY DETERIORATE AND ALLOW THE DIAPHRAGM TO RUPTURE. |
| 87V139000 | 1986-1988 | Fuel System, Gasoline | SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED. |
| 87V060000 | 1987 | Wheels | LUG NUTS COULD GALL AND POSSIBLY SEIZE ON THE WHEEL STUDS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADEQUATE CLAMPING LOAD ON THE WHEELS. |
| 85V067000 | 1982-1983 | Seat Belts | 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 RET |
| 85V054000 | 1985 | 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 CO |
| 84V123000 | 1984 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 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. |
| 84V085000 | 1981 | Seats | SCREW THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT BACK FRAME TO THE RECLINER MECHANISM MAY BREAK. |
| 84V071000 | 1981-1983 | Seats | SEAT FRAME STRUCTURE COULD SEVER FRONT SEAT BELTS IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DEPENDING ON FORCE OF IMPACT. |
| 83V134000 | 1984 | 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 REQUIREM |
| 83V063000 | 1981-1983 | 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. |
| 83V013000 | 1981-1982 | 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 |
| 82V088000 | 1983 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 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 W |
| 82V045000 | 1982 | 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 JA |
| 81V092000 | 1981 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 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 |