IllustrationRIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM BROKE DUE TO CORROSION. *AK
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
327 reportsELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
BULB IN PLASTIC HOUSING OF HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT CAUGHT FIRE.
VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE GAS FUMES WITH CAUSE STILL UNDETECTED EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS PART CHANGES BY AREA DEALERSHIP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE STARTER WAS SMOKING AND THE ENGINE COOLING FAN WAS RUNNING AND THE VEHICLE TURNED ON WITHOUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION.*AK
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE CAR USED, THE RECALL HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE HAND. NOW THE CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THAT RECALL 92V117000. *AK *SLC
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE DASH AREA WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.*AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE TURNED IGNITION OFF AND REMOVED KEY, ENGINE STILL CONTINUED TO RUN, KEY WAS PLACED BACK IN IGNITION IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN IT OFF, VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE HOOD, IGNITION SWI…
Read full complaint
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE TURNED IGNITION OFF AND REMOVED KEY, ENGINE STILL CONTINUED TO RUN, KEY WAS PLACED BACK IN IGNITION IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN IT OFF, VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE HOOD, IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. *SLC
LEAK IN FUEL SYSTEM SENDING UNIT. *AK
Official recalls
393V057000 · 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
6EA94002 · 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