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: 81 of 576 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.
Seat Belts. Review the 152 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
75 crash reports19 fire reports53 injury reports
What owners actually said
576 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2002
Seat Belts
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHACEING THE CAR. THE REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AND PULL UP THE TENSION OF THE BELTS. THESE BELTS WILL NOT PROTECT THE REAR PASSENGERS FROM INJURY. FORD STATES THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BELTS AND IT WILL COST ALMOST $5…
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BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHACEING THE CAR. THE REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AND PULL UP THE TENSION OF THE BELTS. THESE BELTS WILL NOT PROTECT THE REAR PASSENGERS FROM INJURY. FORD STATES THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BELTS AND IT WILL COST ALMOST $500.00 TO FIX THEM FOR US. THE FORD DEALER IN EL PASO, TX (ON MONTANA STREET) LET MY WIFE DRIVE AWAY WITH REAR SEATBLETS THAT WILL NOT HOLD OUR CHILDREN IN THIER SEATS IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE, THEY SAID THAT IF WE HAD COME TO THEM BEFORE 48,000 MILES THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED THEM AT NO CHARGE. I EXPECTED THEM TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELTS AT NO CHARGE (AND STILL DO).
NHTSA ODI #756726
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2002
Power Train
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY AND IGNITION SWITCH CONTINUOUSLY. CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA ODI #8001569
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2002
Power Train
WHEN VEHICLE GOT 37000 MILES SPEEDOMETER STARTED FLUCTUATING BACK AND FORTH. CONSUMER HAD SPEEDOMETER REPLACED. ALSO, AT 38000 MILES REPLACED SPEEDOMETER, STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. CONSUMER COULDNOT TELL SPEED VEHICLE WAS GOING. CONTACT DEALER AND DEALER WANTED TO CHECKOUT VEHICLE WITH A CHARGE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8001500
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER HAD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, THE ENGINE BLEW UP WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.*AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #8001370
Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2001
Seat Belts
THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS IN MY ESCORT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AND ONE OF THEM HAS NOT FOR OVER A YEAR. I PAID AROUND $120 TO GET A NEW PART TO FIX THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IN 2000 AND IT BROKE AGAIN 8 MONTHS LATER, WE RETURNED IT TO FORD BECAUSE IT HAD A YEAR WARRANTY AND THEY UNWILLINGLY GAVE A REPLACEMENT BUT INFORMED US THAT I…
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THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS IN MY ESCORT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AND ONE OF THEM HAS NOT FOR OVER A YEAR. I PAID AROUND $120 TO GET A NEW PART TO FIX THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IN 2000 AND IT BROKE AGAIN 8 MONTHS LATER, WE RETURNED IT TO FORD BECAUSE IT HAD A YEAR WARRANTY AND THEY UNWILLINGLY GAVE A REPLACEMENT BUT INFORMED US THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL A YEAR FROM THE ORIGINAL PARTS PURCHASE DATE (4 MORE MONTHS). IT STILL DOESNT WORK ALL THE TIME. THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT IS STUCK ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK SO IT CAN NOT BE USED AT ALL. THERE IS ONLY LAP BELT RESTRAINT THERE NOW. I DONT THINK I NEED TO KEEP PAYING TO FIX AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THESE CARS. MY SISTER HAD A 1994 ESCORT A YEAR NEWER THAN MINE AND SHE HAD TO REPLACE HER AUTO. SEATBELT ONCE IN THE 2 YEARS SHE OWNED IT. SO I KNOW IT CANT JUST BE A FLUKE IN MY CAR.
NHTSA ODI #756259
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2001
Electrical System
WHEN PUTTING KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION SWITCH KEY GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CYLINDER. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #6900588
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHEN TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH, EVERYTHING WILL SHUT DOWN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #899954
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
DOOR TO GARAGE WAS OPENED AND THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL.SAW A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND THAT HAD LEAKED FROM VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED FUEL TANK HAD DEVELOPED A HOLE IN IT THAT CAUSED THE LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #899703
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY CAR WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO. FORD MAINTENAINCE PUT NEW TIMING BELT ON ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND IT HASN'T BEEN STARTING RIGHT SINCE *AK
NHTSA ODI #754603
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2001
Suspension
I COULD NOT PUT AN ACCURATE DATE OR MILEAGE BECAUSE I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 100,000 MILE CHECK UP. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (VARSITY FORD) TOLD ME THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. HOWEVER, I HAD NO INDICATION THEY WERE BROKEN (THE CAR STOPS BOUNCING AT LESS THAN 2.5 BOUNCES). I HAVE NOW TAKEN IT TO A LOCAL SHOP, ILLI'S AUTO IN ANN AR…
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I COULD NOT PUT AN ACCURATE DATE OR MILEAGE BECAUSE I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 100,000 MILE CHECK UP. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (VARSITY FORD) TOLD ME THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. HOWEVER, I HAD NO INDICATION THEY WERE BROKEN (THE CAR STOPS BOUNCING AT LESS THAN 2.5 BOUNCES). I HAVE NOW TAKEN IT TO A LOCAL SHOP, ILLI'S AUTO IN ANN ARBOR, MI, AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE FRACTURED. SINCE I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, IT MAKES NO SENSE. THE REPAIR BILL IS $963.00. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO HAD TO HAVE THE REAR SPRINGS (MOUNTS AND STRUTS) REPLACED FOR THE SAME REASON. FURTHERMORE, THE REPAIR PLACE MY FRIEND TOOK HIS ESCORT TO SAID THAT REPLACING THE REAR SPRINGS HAS BECOME A "STANDARD REPAIR". THIS SHOULD NOT BE. MY OFFICE-MATES 1995 FORD CONTOUR HAD FRONT SPRINGS THAT BROKE. THEY DID A RECALL ON THOSE. YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED.*AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ARIZONA. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE WELD SEAM CAN SEPARATE, CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO FAIL TO DEPLOY PROPERLY AND HOT GASES TO BE EXPELLED FROM THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY FROM THE HOT GASES AND THE AIR BAG FAILURE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG MODULE.
TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM MODULE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MISSING. IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE MODULE CAN COME OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS WOULD NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER AND WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL AND TORQUE TO SPECIFICATION THE MOUNTING BOLTS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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