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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2002
Steering
STEERING WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY LOCKS UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE IDLING OR TRAVELING 40 MPH AROUND A LONG CURVE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM, AND WAS NOT SHOWING THIS VEHICLE BEING INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 93V057000 (IGNITION: ANTI-THEFT). PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITION…
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STEERING WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY LOCKS UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE IDLING OR TRAVELING 40 MPH AROUND A LONG CURVE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM, AND WAS NOT SHOWING THIS VEHICLE BEING INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 93V057000 (IGNITION: ANTI-THEFT). PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8001632
Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2001
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #755533
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…
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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 · Oct 24, 2001
Suspension
CONSUMER PUT GROCERY IN THE BACK OF VEHICLE, AND NOTICED REAR END RIDING LOW, AND WAS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK A LOOK UNDERNEATH AND NOTICED REAR SPRING BROKE AND SHIFTED INWARD OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER FOUND OUT FROM JUNKYARD THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ESCORTS. *AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #898109
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2001
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH TO HOME NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING FROM DASH AREA. VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A FIRE BROKE OUT FROM A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NO RECALL WAS FOUND ON THAT VEHICLE. FEEL FRE…
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WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH TO HOME NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING FROM DASH AREA. VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A FIRE BROKE OUT FROM A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NO RECALL WAS FOUND ON THAT VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #897017
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2001
Exterior Lighting
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #752667
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2001
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY, CONSUMER FEELS A FULL RECALL IS NEEDED AND STATES THAT VEHICLE COULD STALL IN TRAFFIC. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #563266
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001
Electrical SystemFire
ENGINE HAD BEEN CUT OFF ABOUT 15 MINUTES. SOMEONE TOLD CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS SMOKING. IGNITION AREA AND DASHBOARD WERE BURNING. CONSUMER HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL OF THE DASH AREA AROUND THE IGNITION WAS DESTROYED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #894862
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK HAD NOTICED A FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE. ALSO, AFTER DRIVING FOR WHILE COULD STILL SMELL FUEL. DECIDED TO CHECK UNDER VEHICLE, AND FOUND A FUEL LEAK IN TANK THAT SHOWED A CRACK ABOVE MUFFLER. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #894567
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
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.
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.
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
1991 Ford Escort Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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