IllustrationWHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AUTO CUTS OFF-NO ACCIDENTS YET. *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
What owners actually said
101 reportsWHILE 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
THE CAMSHAFT THAT HOLDS THE GEAR BROKE. PLEAS DESCRIBE . *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TO WORK PARKED CAR STARTED TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE . TT
IGNITION MODULE FAILED, RESULTING IN ENGINE CUT-OUT REPEATLY, REPLACED THE OLD MODULE. TT
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK FRAME BROKE, SEAT FULLY RECLINED BACKWARDS. TT
FRONT INNER TIE ROD BROKE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. TT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD, PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT HAS FAILED. 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