IllustrationTHE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THE IGNIITON SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
1990 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 2 of 101 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 46 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 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports41 fire reports5 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
46 reportsTHE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. SOURCE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
IGNITION SHORT RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AUTO CUTS OFF-NO ACCIDENTS YET. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HWY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, WILL NOT RESTART BECAUSE OF IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OWNER NOTICED BURNING SMELL FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. FLAMES GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE THEN STOPPED. VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL NEW SWITCH INSTALLED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, THEN FLAMES FROM BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL, RESULT INTERIOR FIRE. *AK
IGNITION MODULE FAILED, RESULTING IN ENGINE CUT-OUT REPEATLY, REPLACED THE OLD MODULE. TT
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, UNDER THE HOOD, EA95-002 ACTIVE, DASH WAS COMPLETELY BURNED. TT
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.
89V174000 · Visibility:windshield
Oct 13, 1989
SPECIAL PRIMER THAT PROMOTES THE BONDING OF A URETHANE ADHESIVE TO THE GLASS WAS NOT APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELDS BEFORE INSTALLATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OMISSION OF THE PRIMER COULD CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD NOT TOBE PROPERLY ADHERED TO BODY, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 212.
Remedy: REMOVE AND PROPERLY INSTALL WINDSHIELD USING SPECIAL PRIMER.
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
3EA95002 · Fires In Steering Column
Opened Feb 24, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ELECTRICAL FIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
PE94089 · Front Brake Fires
Opened Nov 25, 1994 · Closed Mar 24, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE94078 · Fires In Steering Column
Opened Nov 4, 1994 · Closed Feb 24, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available