IllustrationDRIVING VEHICLE, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF VEHICLE, PULLED VEHICLE OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND LOOKED UNDER HOOD, AFTER RAISING HOOD, SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE AREA OF ALTERNATOR, DRIVER SMOTHERED FLAMES W/SHIRT.*AK
1988 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 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: 1 of 143 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 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports55 fire reports6 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
75 reportsELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT, RESULTING IN A FIRE AND THE HEAD LIGHTS TO FAIL. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK INTHE IGNITIONS SWITCH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
THE RACK AND PINION STEERING CAME LOSE .*AK CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS DRIVING AND THEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF TO VROSS THE STREET VEHICLE WOULD NOT FO ANYWHERE, CONSUMER CHECKED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT WAS DOWN SO SHE TRIED TO GIVE IT SOME GAS AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARD THE LEFT AND THE VE…
Read full complaint
THE RACK AND PINION STEERING CAME LOSE .*AK CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS DRIVING AND THEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF TO VROSS THE STREET VEHICLE WOULD NOT FO ANYWHERE, CONSUMER CHECKED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT WAS DOWN SO SHE TRIED TO GIVE IT SOME GAS AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARD THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE RIGHT, FINALLY CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WERE TRUCKS COMING TOWARD HER, SO VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CONSUMER ALSO HAD TO GT STARTER REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.*JB
CAR CUT OFF AND CAUGHT ON FIRE . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
CONSUMER WAS PARKING CAR AND IT CAUSED A FIRE. *AK
LEAVING WORK, STOP AT BANK, FUNNY SMELLED COMING THRU VENT, PARKED VEHICLE/WENT IN BANK, LADY CAME IN BANK, INFORMED SOMEONE BLUE FORD ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE INGINTION STARTED TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. *AK
WIFE TOOK VEHICLE INTO WORK, PARKED, ABOUT 20 MINS. LATER WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK
Official recalls
296V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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.
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
5PE90063 · 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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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