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1992 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1992 Ford Escort do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
162Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
152
1989101
1990327
1991162
1992379
1993279
1994576
1995
Compare all Escort years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
36Fuel System, Gasoline
35Seat Belts
28Vehicle Speed Control
22Engine And Engine Cooling
15
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
12Exterior Lighting
8Power Train
8Suspension
7Unknown Or Other
6Steering
4Visibility
4Fuel System, Other
3Tires
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Seats
2Child Seat
1Equipment
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Parking Brake
1

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: 11 of 162 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports17 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ENGINE HAD CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING. ALSO THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AT TIMES. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *YH THE SEAT BELTS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE REAR DISC BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE CABLE IS WORKING, BUT NOT NOT APPLYING PRESSURE, A…

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THE ENGINE HAD CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING. ALSO THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AT TIMES. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *YH THE SEAT BELTS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE REAR DISC BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE CABLE IS WORKING, BUT NOT NOT APPLYING PRESSURE, AND THE V/C IS LEAKING. (V/C PER INVOICE) THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE PROBLEM, SEEM TO BE COMING FROM THE IGNITION. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #567598

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

10/24/95 @ 22,823 MILES MACHINED ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS; 4/9/96 @ 25,506 MILES REPLACED ROTORS AND ANTI-RATTLE CLIPS; 3/31/00 @ 47,523 MILES MACHINED ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS; 11/7/00 @ 51,917 MILES REQUIRED MACHINE ROTORS AND REPLACE PADS FOR FOURTH TIME ON THIS LOW MILEAGE CAR. FRONT DISC BRAKES ARE STILL MAKING POPPING/CLIC…

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10/24/95 @ 22,823 MILES MACHINED ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS; 4/9/96 @ 25,506 MILES REPLACED ROTORS AND ANTI-RATTLE CLIPS; 3/31/00 @ 47,523 MILES MACHINED ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS; 11/7/00 @ 51,917 MILES REQUIRED MACHINE ROTORS AND REPLACE PADS FOR FOURTH TIME ON THIS LOW MILEAGE CAR. FRONT DISC BRAKES ARE STILL MAKING POPPING/CLICKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #742308

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKES AROUND THE CAR, STILL DOESN'T WANT TO STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740059

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

LOSS OF BRAKES, GONE TO STOP, PUSHED BRAKE PEDAL , NO BRAKES MECHANIC RAN VACCUM TEST, NOTICED IN GEAR AND ACCELERATED, NO ACCELERATON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819384

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605746

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. ( NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA ODI #513830

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ABS BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW/STOP ON WET PAVEMENT PEDAL TRAVELS TO FLOOR, ALSO EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE WEAR TO PADS AND DRUMS, RESULTING IN ROTOR DISTORTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #805457

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 1996
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #506463

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingParking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR-LOUD ENGINE NOISE. TT BOTH REAR MICHELIN TIRES, P175/70R13, DOT B3F253AX102 SHOWED SIGNS OF ABNORMAL WEAR. WARPED DISCS, DRUMS AND SHOES FOUND GLAZED, BRAKES SQUEAL AND CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE, BRAKES DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY UNDER EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATIONS. LOUD KNOCKING SOUND IN E…

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BRAKES GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR-LOUD ENGINE NOISE. TT BOTH REAR MICHELIN TIRES, P175/70R13, DOT B3F253AX102 SHOWED SIGNS OF ABNORMAL WEAR. WARPED DISCS, DRUMS AND SHOES FOUND GLAZED, BRAKES SQUEAL AND CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE, BRAKES DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY UNDER EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATIONS. LOUD KNOCKING SOUND IN ENGINE UPON COLD START UPS, DEALER REPLACED TIMING BELT, HOWEVER ON BOTH OCCASIONS SAME NOISE WAS HEARD AFTER REPAIRS. AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED 1/4 INCH HEX HEAD SCREW HOLDING THE COSMETIC COVER TO THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN CAUSED BUZZING SOUNDS. BEARING FAILURE. PARKING BRAKE CABLE STRETCHED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #974850

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

UPON APPLYING BRAKES, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR W/PROBABLE CAUSE BEING ROTORS FAILING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ODI #973946

Official recalls

2

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.

92V103000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Jul 13, 1992

THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES COULD INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN THE STOP LAMPS NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN FOLLOWING MOTORISTS NOT BEINGSIGNALED THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING, AND COULD RESULT IN A COLLISION.

Remedy: REPLACE THE FAULTY STOP LAMP SWITCHES.

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

1

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