IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
12 reportsKNOWN FAILURE OF VANE AIR FLOW METER CAUSE BUCKING OF CAR AT HIGHWAY AND STREET SPEEDS.SEE FORD TSB 94-23-8. CAR LOCKS FRONT WHEELS ON SNOWY CONDITIONS WHEN ENGINE BUCKS. THE TSB CALLS FOR KIT FOPZ-9K672-A AND VFMETER E9FZ-12B529-A. KIT DESIGNED IN 1994 WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NO NOTIFICATION ON TSB'S ACCORDING …
Read full complaint
KNOWN FAILURE OF VANE AIR FLOW METER CAUSE BUCKING OF CAR AT HIGHWAY AND STREET SPEEDS.SEE FORD TSB 94-23-8. CAR LOCKS FRONT WHEELS ON SNOWY CONDITIONS WHEN ENGINE BUCKS. THE TSB CALLS FOR KIT FOPZ-9K672-A AND VFMETER E9FZ-12B529-A. KIT DESIGNED IN 1994 WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NO NOTIFICATION ON TSB'S ACCORDING TO FORD POLICY. PLEASE SEND ADDRESS I CAN SEND MY DOCUMENTATION TO DATE, TO YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU. *AK
ENGINE FIRE.
SMOG TEST WAS ABORTED DUE TO HIGH RMPS.
AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE OWNER WENT TO A REST STOP. WHEN OWNER RETURNED VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE CAME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT.CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
THE RADIATOR MOUNTS DISCONNECTED FROM THE METAL RUBBER, ALLOWING THE RADIATOR TO LEAN BACK/ ROCK BACK AND FORTH, CAUSING A HOLE TO WEAR IN THE ALTERNATOR CASE. *AK *JB
CLUTCH FAILED.
PISTON ROD IS DETERIORATING, ENGINE CAN NOT FUNCTION SHOULD THE PISTON ROD MALFUNCTION.
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF HOUSE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY BLEW UP; MADE LOUD SOUND, SUDDENLY FIRE WAS EVERYWHERE. OWNER WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAILS; VEHICLE TOTALED. *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.
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