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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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Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1998
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION TRAVELING 20 TO 30 MPH, AND UPON IMPACT THE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO ENGAGE, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BE PUSHED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819958

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1998
Seat Belts

THE SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT RETRACT. THE BELT IS STUCK IN THE BACK POSITION AND WILL NOT COME FORWARD. THE OWNER REPLACED THE BELT 2 YEARS AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820634

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 1998
Seat BeltsInjury

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH BOTH DOORS OPENED, AND RIGHT SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT CAME BACK, TRAPPING 7-YEAR OLD CHILD, WHO SUSTAINED BRUISES ON HIS THROAT AND NECK. REAR BELT WAS REPLACED, BUT FAILED AGAIN WITHIN 6 MONTHS. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT GOT CAUGHT HALF WAY IN TRACK AND NO LONGER WORKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #533847

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 1998
Seat BeltsInjury

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER DURING A COLLISION. DRIVER'S CHEST HIT THE RIM OF THE STEERING WHEEL, RESULTING IN AN INJURY.

NHTSA ODI #533817

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 1997
Seat Belts

PASSIVE RESTRAINT SEAT BELTS FAILED 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #523477

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineSeat Belts

DESIGN OF VEHICLES EXHAUST SYSTEM ALLOWS EXHAUST CONDENSATION TO DRIP DIRECTLY ONTO THE TRAILER ARM, WHICH CAUSED THE TRAILING ARM TO RUST OUT.

NHTSA ODI #522028

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1997
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS JAMMED, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELTS FROM TRAVELING ALONG THE PATH FROM AN OPEN TO A CLOSED/SECURE POSITION. REPLACED THE MOTORIZED BELTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #518511

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1997
Seat Belts

VEHICLES FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT BELT WILL SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT THE SEAT BELT WILL STOP HALF WAY WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #815225

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 1997
Seat Belts

DRIVER PASSIVE RESTRAINTS: SEAT BELT ON DRIVER SIDE IS INOPERATIVE, MOTOR STOPPED WORKING BELT IS JAMMED. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND THEY SAY IT WAS JAMMMED AND THEY HAD TO REPALCE THE ENTIRE UNIT.

NHTSA ODI #813584

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1997
Seat Belts

THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE BELT IS STUCKED IN THE MIDDLE OF RETRACTOR. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #812697

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