IllustrationOWNER STATES THAT THE ALTERNATOR IN HIS VEHICLE CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE.OWNER IS UNCERTAIN WHY. *AK
1987 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1987 Ford Escort do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.
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
All reported categories
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 56 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 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports26 fire reports3 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
28 reportsVEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM, RECALL'S ISSUED FOR SAME MAKE AND MODEL, HOWEVER VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER)
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION , THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS ON 2 OCCASIONS. *AK
DURING OPERATION CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING FRON THE DASH. AS A RESULT, THE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND AFTER SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND WITHIN (5) MINUTES AFTER THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AROUND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
VEHCILE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS AN ELERTRICAL FIRE. *AK
DROVE VEHICLE TO GAS STATION, KEY WAS HOT & COULD NOT START VEHICLE, HAD TOW HOME, GRANDSON CHECKED VEHICLE, KEY SWITCH & HARNESS WAS BURNED, TWICE REPLACED.*AK *JB
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD WHILE PARKED.*AK VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, CONSUMER GOT INTO VEHICLE AND STARTED IT, AND WAS DRIVING HOME WHICH IS ABOUT A MILE FROM THE PARKED STARTING POINT, CONSUMER THEN NOTICED A LIGHT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD, AS CONSUMER TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY THE HEADLIG…
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD WHILE PARKED.*AK VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, CONSUMER GOT INTO VEHICLE AND STARTED IT, AND WAS DRIVING HOME WHICH IS ABOUT A MILE FROM THE PARKED STARTING POINT, CONSUMER THEN NOTICED A LIGHT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD, AS CONSUMER TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, AND THEN THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKERING, AND THEN THE FIRE BEGAN, CONSUMER WENT TO GET WATER BUT DID NOT HELP.*JB
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
Official recalls
389V170000 · Seats
Oct 13, 1989
THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LIMITED DEGREE OF ROCKING MOTIONOF THE DRIVERS SEAT ASSEMBLY UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT ON ALL MODELS AND A NEW SEAT TRACK AS NECESSARY
87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 4, 1987
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
87V060000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Apr 27, 1987
LUG NUTS COULD GALL AND POSSIBLY SEIZE ON THE WHEEL STUDS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADEQUATE CLAMPING LOAD ON THE WHEELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WHEEL STUDS COULD FRACTURE CREATING A RISK OF A WHEELSEPARATING WITH LITTLE FOREWARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE WHEEL LUG NUTS AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE WHEELS AND WHEEL STUDS.
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
7PE91025 · Fuel Pump Failure
Opened Dec 17, 1990 · Closed Apr 10, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE90063 · Safety Belt D-RING
Opened Mar 21, 1990 · Closed Jul 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
EA90008 · Failed Passive Restraint
Opened Dec 27, 1989 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT
PE89143 · Passive Belt Failure
Opened Jul 18, 1989 · Closed Dec 27, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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EA88038 · Rear Safety Belt Fit
Opened Aug 29, 1988 · Closed May 11, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other
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PE88046 · Headlamp Switch Failure
Opened Apr 15, 1988 · Closed Jul 11, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
SUMMARY: HEADLAMP SWITCH RETAINING BEZEL CRACKS CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO REMAIN ON AND OCCASIONALLY FLICKER OFF. FORD HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, ARTICLE # 87-11-8, TO REPLACE THE FAULTY BEZEL WITH AN IMPROVED PART.CONCLUSIONS: THE PE SHOULD BE CLOSED IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND.===
DP88007 · Rear Seat Belt Compliance
Opened Jan 11, 1988 · Closed Aug 24, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other
REAR SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE