IllustrationIGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP WITH KEY IN IT, WOULD NOT RELEASE KEY. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 509613, 601627)
1982 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escort years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports
Steering complaints
2 reportsVEHICLE PARKED AND SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK
Official recalls
585V067000 · Seat Belts:rear/other
May 21, 1985
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 RETRACTION AND WITHDRAWAL. THIS WILL DISCOURAGE SEAT BELT USAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: A CLIP WILL BE INSERTED INTO THE RETRACTOR HOUSING WEBBING TO PREVENT JAMMING.
84V071000 · Seats
Jun 15, 1984
SEAT FRAME STRUCTURE COULD SEVER FRONT SEAT BELTS IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DEPENDING ON FORCE OF IMPACT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A MOLDED SPACER BETWEEN REINFORCEMENT PLATES AND LOWER DECORATIVE PLASTIC COVER.
83V063000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: ANY DAMAGED LOCK PILLARS WILL BE REPAIRED AND REINFORCEMENTS WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE DOOR LATCH STRIKER AND LOCK PILLARS.
83V013000 · Seat Belts
Feb 17, 1983
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 LOADS. (THE SUSPECT AREA IS NOT VISIBLE.) CONSEQUENTLY, SOME VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL MAY NOT MEET THE 3000 POUND ANCHORAGE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REINFORCE THE ROOF RAIL INNER PANEL SURROUNDING THE DRAINAGE HOLE AT NO COST TO OWNER.
82V045000 · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner
May 11, 1982
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 JAMMED WHEN THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING IN THE MEDIUM-LOW BLOWER SPEED, THE RESISTOR COILS CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING MELTING AND POSSIBLE IGNITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE RESISTOR ASSEMBLY WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5DP85009 · Failure Of Seat Back Securing Bolts
Opened Jan 29, 1985 · Closed Feb 27, 1985
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
FAILURE OF SEAT BACK SECURING BOLTS
DP84017 · Stalling And Carburetor Malfunctions
Opened May 30, 1984 · Closed Sep 10, 1984
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
STALLING AND CARBURETOR MALFUNCTIONS
DP84009 · Timing Chain Failure
Opened Jan 16, 1984 · Closed Jul 17, 1984
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE
EA83013 · Front Seatback Failure
Opened Mar 23, 1983 · Closed Jan 26, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
STATUS: DISCUSSING WITH CANADA.===
DP83004 · Fumes And Dust In Passenger Compartment
Opened Nov 9, 1982 · Closed Mar 10, 1983
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
FUMES AND DUST IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT