Model line

Ford Escort

Every Ford Escort model year on file, 1981 to 2003. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years3,9361,037 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years231981 to 2003
Recall campaigns38Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins1,105Summed across model years
By model year

The 1995 model year drew the most complaints, 576

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

0200400600198119831985198719891991199319955761997199920012003
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Electrical system leads the Ford Escort complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Electrical system
737
Seat belts
634
Engine and cooling
496
Airbags
466
Fuel system
402
Powertrain
311
Suspension
297
Brakes
258
Speed control
205
Steering
163
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each Ford Escort model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

Ford Escort by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2003Coupe1010.087103
2002Coupe3315.22061024
2001Sedan6825.03091027
2000Coupe9823.54902035
1999Sedan32528.31,4772195
1998Sedan37528.01,56311125
1997Sedan54330.82,85822150
1996Wagon20516.11,0251090
1995Wagon57617.27,6805181
1994Wagon27925.43,4882081
1993Hatchback37915.02,1063182
1992Hatchback16216.78103165
1991Hatchback32726.61,6354659
1990Hatchback10147.53612330
1989Hatchback15246.11,3821227
1988Hatchback14344.11,7882525
1987Hatchback5650.08003724
1986Hatchback4544.41,2862725
1985Hatchback2638.58673922
1984Wagon2138.17003613
1983Hatchback742.9700538
1982Hatchback475.0200558
1981Hatchback10.01001046
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the Ford Escort

  • 06E-026 Mar 23, 2006
    Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above
    Lighting · 62k vehicles
  • 04E-048 Jul 12, 2004
    Certain trw driver's side seat belts manufactured on december 6 and 9, 2002, for use as replacement equipment for 1997 ford escort 4-door and…
    Seat belts · 388 vehicles
  • 02V-323 Dec 9, 2002
    On certain passenger vehicles, the integrated air bag monitor (iabm) can be contaminated with water or other liquids and could experience internal…
    Airbags · 396k vehicles
  • 00V-228-001 Aug 18, 2000
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies
    Seat belts · 144k vehicles
  • 99V-276 Oct 12, 1999
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the s/r option
    Powertrain · 106 vehicles
  • 97V-145 Sep 3, 1997
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 1.9l engines, built at the hermosillo assembly plant and originally sold or currently…
    Fuel system · 600 vehicles
  • 97V-144 Sep 3, 1997
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 1.9l engines, built at the hermosillo or wayne assembly plants and originally sold or…
    Fuel system · 64k vehicles
  • 96V-071 Apr 25, 1996
    Ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit
    Electrical system · 7.9M vehicles
  • 94V-218 Nov 10, 1994
    Driver side air bag module can have an inadequately welded inflator canister
    Airbags · 240 vehicles
  • 94V-197 Oct 11, 1994
    Two bolts that attach the passenger side air bag supplemental restraint system module to the instrument panel are missing
    Airbags · 29k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.