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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

What owners actually said

327 reports
120,000 miles · Apr 2, 2003
Suspension

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. THERE WAS A RECALL 94E019000 WHICH DESCRIBED THE EXACT PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015009

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2003
Electrical System

THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS STUCK IN ONE POSITION. POSSIBLY RELATED TO RECALL 93V057000.*JB *TS

NHTSA ODI #10007387

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 · 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

210,100 miles · Nov 14, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT GAS HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE FUEL LINE WHICH CONNECTED TO THE TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. THE FUEL TANK AND PUMP WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8022735

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 · Jul 15, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING THE SMELL OF GAS IS VERY STRONG.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SMELL GETS STRONGER WHEN CAR WAS ACCELERATING. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8013923

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2002
Electrical System

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #764170

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2002
WheelsCrash

HUB CAPS NEVER STAYED ON THE RIMS ALWAYS FELL OFF DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #763613

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002
SeatsCrash

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED COMPLETELY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8007428

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