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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

Seat Belts complaints

71 reports
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107,000 miles · Apr 29, 2008
Seat Belts

MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS INOPERATIVE. LAP BELT DOES NOT RESTRAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226055

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2006
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

LOST CONTROL ON WET ROAD HIT TREE HEAD-ON AND SEAT BELT CAME OUT OF TRACK ALLOWED DRIVER TO BE DECAPITATED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156478

135,000 miles · Mar 3, 2004
Seat Belts

AUTOMATIC PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. MECHANISM JAMMED, AND HAD TO BE MANUALLY DISCONNECTED TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10057240

149,000 miles · Jan 29, 2004
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK TO THE LOCKING POSITION. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT PROPERLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056065

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2003
Seat Belts

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS, THE SEAT BELTS FAILED IN THE OPEN POSITION.*SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10032458

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2003
Seat BeltsCrash

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, AND DRIVER SIDE STRAP BROKE FROM THE FRAME OF THE SEAT BELT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026763

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2002
Seat Belts

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSITION AND IT COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO BE DEFECTIVE IN THE EVENT OF AND ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

NHTSA ODI #8023431

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2002
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SEAT BELTS ARE STUCK IN PLACE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8014103

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2001
Exterior LightingFuel System, GasolineSeat Belts

SEATBELTS: THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT STICK IN THE TRACK, USUALLY HALF WAY BETWEEN OPEN & CLOSE. NOW THEY WILL NOT OPERATE AT ALL. I TOOK ONE APART & THE PLASTIC COVERING THE CABLE IS DETERIORATING & CAUSING THE CABLE TO STICK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. YOU CAN HAVE MY SEATBELT ASSEMBLE FOR INSPE…

Read full complaint

SEATBELTS: THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT STICK IN THE TRACK, USUALLY HALF WAY BETWEEN OPEN & CLOSE. NOW THEY WILL NOT OPERATE AT ALL. I TOOK ONE APART & THE PLASTIC COVERING THE CABLE IS DETERIORATING & CAUSING THE CABLE TO STICK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. YOU CAN HAVE MY SEATBELT ASSEMBLE FOR INSPECTION, AS I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE FOR MY SPOUSE'S SAFETY. FUEL: THIS CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL #92S54, AS THE PRODUDUCTION DATE WAS TOO EARLY, BUT IT HAS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. I HAVE ALREADY CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM WITH A NEW FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. YOU MAY HAVE ACCESS TO THIS PART FOR YOUR INSPECTION AS WELL. LAST BUT NOT LEAST: HEADLIGHT: CLOUDY, YELLOW, AND DO NOT ALLOW LIGHT ON THE ROAD. VERY HAZARDOUS. I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS TYPICAL ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORD CARS & TRUCKS. I HAVE PURCHASED A SET FROM THE LOCAL WRECKING YARD, BUT DO NOT HAVE THE HEADLIGHT FOR YOU TO INSPECT. I THREW THEM AWAY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #754407

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2001
Seat Belts

RETRACTORS ON FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELTS HAVE GOTTEN STUCK AND NO LONGER FUNCTION. DEALER HAS REPAIRED DRIVER'S SIDE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #888736

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