Complaints over time
Complaints about the 1981 Ford Escort peaked in 1997, with 1 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Model year
1981 Ford Escort
Hatchback, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Feb 11, 1997 to Feb 11, 1997.
Recall campaigns covering this model year101.38M vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints1Close to the median 1981 hatchback
Severity index0.0Crash, fire, injury or death per 100
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Components
100% of complaints about the 1981 Ford Escort name seats
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls
10 recall campaigns cover the 1981 Ford Escort
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84V-085 | Jul 18, 1984 | Screw that connects the seat back frame to the recliner mechanism may break | Seats | 80,034 | Part replacement |
| 84V-071 | Jun 15, 1984 | Seat frame structure could sever front seat belts if vehicle is involved in an accident, depending on force of impact | Seats | 261,400 | Repair or modification |
| 83V-063 | Jun 22, 1983 | Door lock pillars could develop fatigue cracks from normal usage of door, at the point where door latch striker reinforcements are attached | Latches and locks | 610,000 | Repair or modification |
| 83V-013 | Feb 17, 1983 | 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… | Seat belts | 245,000 | Inspection |
| 81V-092 | Jul 22, 1981 | Some of the involved vehicles have an electrically ungrounded fuel inlet | Fuel system | 112,000 | Repair or modification |
| 81V-084 | Jul 7, 1981 | Some vehicles equipped with power brake boosters have front and rear shells that may have been improperly joined | Brakes | 4,338 | Part replacement |
| 81V-045 | Apr 6, 1981 | Fuel may possibly travel through the speed control vacuum lines and into the speed control actuation device (serv0) | Speed control | 21,000 | Part replacement |
| 80V-142 | Nov 4, 1980 | On certain vehicles, metal fasteners that were used to secure the carpeting to the floor pan may have accidentally penetrated the top of the fuel tank | Fuel system | 11,500 | Part replacement |
| 80V-133 | Oct 15, 1980 | Some of the involved vehicles were produced with an engine compartment wire assembly that may have been routed above the air conditioning suction hose | Electrical system | 7,000 | Inspection |
| 80V-134 | Oct 3, 1980 | On certain vehicles, the right and left hand rear brake backing plate attachment bolts may not have been tightened to the correct specifications | Brakes | 27,000 | Part replacement |
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 1981 Ford Escort
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
1 complaint on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Feb 11, 1997Miami, FLSeats
THE SPRING THAT SUPPORT THE SEAT CUSHIONS WERE CUTTING THROUGH THE MATERIAL AROUND THEIR ATTACHMENT HOLES.
NHTSA complaint 602875
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations
4 NHTSA investigations on file
- DP85009 Defect petition, Seats
FAILURE OF SEAT BACK SECURING BOLTS
Opened Jan 29, 1985, closed Feb 27, 1985 - DP84017 Defect petition, Speed control
STALLING AND CARBURETOR MALFUNCTIONS
Opened May 30, 1984, closed Sep 10, 1984 - DP84009 Defect petition, Engine and cooling
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE
Opened Jan 16, 1984, closed Jul 17, 1984 - EA83013 Engineering analysis, Seats
FRONT SEATBACK FAILURE
Opened Mar 23, 1983, closed Jan 26, 1989 · led to a recall
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins
6 manufacturer communications cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- 01157 Aug 6, 2001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC - 98246 Dec 7, 1998 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC - 9888 Apr 27, 1998 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC - RC INDEX Feb 1, 1983 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
UNKNOWN - 97511 Mar 3, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD - 95161 Aug 1, 1995 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
SHEET METAL-ROOF PANEL AND DRIP RAIL REPLACEMENT- SEAM SEALER APPLICATION PROCEDURE.*SD
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.