Complaints by model year
Distinct federal complaints filed against each model year of the Ford Escort, to date. Hover a bar for the count. Older years have had longer to accumulate filings; the rankings below correct for that.
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Highest totals within an 8-year windowAll other years
Model years compared
Ranked from the same federal record on an equal exposure window. Click any year for its full file.
Highest complaint totals
- 1997 Ford Escort - 514 complaints in its first 8 years (543 to date)
- 1995 Ford Escort - 486 complaints in its first 8 years (576 to date)
- 1998 Ford Escort - 361 complaints in its first 8 years (375 to date)
Ranked on distinct complaints filed within eight years of the model year, so old and new years get the same exposure window. Not adjusted for sales volume; a best-selling year files more complaints at the same failure rate.
Lowest totals among mature years
- 2002 Ford Escort - 31 complaints in its first 8 years (33 to date)
- 2001 Ford Escort - 62 complaints in its first 8 years (68 to date)
- 1990 Ford Escort - 77 complaints in its first 8 years (101 to date)
Same eight-year window, among model years old enough to have completed it and with at least 25 complaints in it. Model years before 1990 are excluded because the federal file begins in 1995. A low total is not proof of reliability.
What owners report, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints to date | Within 8 years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Ford Escort | 10 | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 Ford Escort | 33 | 31 | 0 |
| 2001 Ford Escort | 68 | 62 | 0 |
| 2000 Ford Escort | 98 | 91 | 1 |
| 1999 Ford Escort | 325 | 298 | 1 |
| 1998 Ford Escort | 375 | 361 | 0 |
| 1997 Ford Escort | 543 | 514 | 1 |
| 1996 Ford Escort | 205 | 189 | 0 |
| 1995 Ford Escort | 576 | 486 | 4 |
| 1994 Ford Escort | 279 | 253 | 1 |
| 1993 Ford Escort | 379 | 330 | 1 |
| 1992 Ford Escort | 162 | 134 | 2 |
| 1991 Ford Escort | 327 | 251 | 3 |
| 1990 Ford Escort | 101 | 77 | 2 |
| 1989 Ford Escort | 152 | 103 | 1 |
| 1988 Ford Escort | 143 | 86 | 2 |
| 1987 Ford Escort | 56 | 4 | 3 |
| 1986 Ford Escort | 45 | 0 | 2 |
| 1985 Ford Escort | 26 | 0 | 3 |
| 1984 Ford Escort | 21 | 0 | 3 |
| 1983 Ford Escort | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| 1982 Ford Escort | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 1981 Ford Escort | 1 | 0 | 10 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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,... |
| 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. |
| 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... |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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... |