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1991 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Escort years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Ford Escort are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 14 of 327 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 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports61 fire reports14 injury reports

Power Train complaints

30 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2002
Power Train

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STICK IN PARK AND WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023400

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2001
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER CABLE IS LEAKING FLUID AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. OPERATION OF SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER SAID, THE FIRST RPLACEMENT WAS TRADED BACK IN FOR ANOTHER REPLACEMENT DUE TO IT NOT WORKING. THE SECOND REPLACEMENT IS IN THE VEHICLE NOW STILL ALLOWS IT TO LEAK. *YH

NHTSA ODI #890446

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2001
Power Train

CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK POSTION ON AN INCLINE, CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. GEAR SHIFT WAS STILL IN PARK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886185

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2000
Power Train

CAR WOULDN'T STAY IN PARK SOMETIMES, IT WAS SLIPPING WHEN IT SHIFTED AND FINALLY QUIT, WITH TRANS. FLUID RUNNING OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #733149

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2000
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IF THIS IS A RECALLED ITEM IS THERE A PARTICULAR PROCEDURE FOR GETTING IT REPAIRED. AND IF WE GET IT REPAIRED OTHER THAN AT A FORD SERVICE CENTER CAN WE BE REIMBURSED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SEEMED TO GO INTO NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH IT'S AUTOMATIC. THE FUEL GAUGE IS BROKEN AS WELL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #711187

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFire

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL & THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHORT CUTTED FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP KNEW VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE BEFORE, BUT NEVER INFORMED PRESENT OWNER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852124

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1998
Power Train

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON STREET, STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, LIGHT CHANGED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE./ REPAIRMAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A PART IN TRANSMISSION WORE OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828447

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1998
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #540066

Mileage unknown · May 5, 1998
Power Train

WHILE DRIVIG SOMETHING INVOLVING THE GEAR SLIPPED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WHICH BROKE THE CASE AND THE SHAFT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED IN THE ROAD, AND THAT IS A SAFTY DEFECT. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AND WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823081

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 1997
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, ALSO REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #523946

Official recalls

3

93V057000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module

Apr 15, 1993

THE ROLL PINS SECURING THE IGNITION LOCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING CAN SEPARATE OR MOVE OUT OF POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER MAY DISENGAGE FROM THESTEERING COLUMN HOUSING WHICH COULD CAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK UP,RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: IF ONE OR BOTH OF THE ROLL PINS ARE MISSING OR NOT FULLY INSERTED, THE IGNITION LOCK HOUSING WILL BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE DOOR-LOCKS AND THE LIFTGATE OR DECK-LID LOCKS SO THAT KEY COMPATIBILITY IS MAINTAINED. IF BOTH PINS ARE PRESENT AND FULLY INSERTED, A PLASTIC SNAP-ON SLEEVE WILL BE INSTALLED AS A PRECAUTION TO PREVENT THE ROLL PINS FROM COMING OUT.

92V117000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Aug 19, 1992

FATIGUE CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN TUBE AND THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHOULD A CRACK DEVELOP, FUEL VAPOR CAN ESCAPE FROM THETANK WHEN THE TANK IS FULL, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACK.FUEL LEAKS CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy: INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP SENDING ASSEMBLY.

90V076000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Apr 17, 1990

INTERFERENCE OCCUR BETWEEN BOLT THAT SECURES A FUEL LINE SHIELD TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK AT THE WIDE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION AND RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL WITH THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: CUT OFF EXTRA LENGTH OF BOLT THAT PROTRUDES ABOVE SURFACE OF WELD NUT TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE.

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

6

EA94002 · Fuel Pump Wiring Shortage

Opened Jan 28, 1994 · Closed Jan 31, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE93076 · Fuel Pump Wiring Shortage

Opened Sep 3, 1993 · Closed Jan 28, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

EA93007 · Inadvert. Steering Lockup

Opened Feb 26, 1993 · Closed Apr 26, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

PE92082 · Inadver. Steering Lockup

Opened Oct 6, 1992 · Closed Feb 26, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

EA92012 · Fuel Tank Leakage

Opened Apr 15, 1992 · Closed Sep 17, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE91150 · Fuel Tank Leakage

Opened Dec 3, 1991 · Closed Apr 15, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available