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1996 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Escort years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Ford Escort are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
205Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
379
1993279
1994576
1995205
1996543
1997375
1998325
1999
Compare all Escort years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
77Engine And Engine Cooling
30Power Train
19Air Bags
18Electrical System
14
All reported categories
Suspension
13Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Steering
10Fuel System, Gasoline
8Unknown Or Other
6Vehicle Speed Control
5Seats
4Structure
4Tires
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Wheels
3Fuel System, Other
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Interior Lighting
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: 21 of 205 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 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports7 fire reports18 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

77 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 20, 1998
Seat Belts

RETRACTING MECHANISM FOR REAR LEFT SHOULDER STRAP FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #535765

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 1997
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

DURING COLLISION THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ODI #514311

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherSeat Belts

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED; ALSO AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS LOCKED DURING DEPLOYMENT, INJURING DRIVER AND WIFE AND GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED, IS OFF BY AT LEAST 3 GALLONS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #513657

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1997
Seat Belts

AT TIMES THE DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR AND THE SEAT BELT ALSO BLOCKS THE DRIVER'S VISION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA ODI #807625

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 1996
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE LAP/SHOULDER BELT FAILURE, AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO CATCH ON THE SUNVISIER

NHTSA ODI #806794

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1996
Seat Belts

CAR WAS IN A FLOOD WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS BEGAN RATTLING ON BOTH SIDES AND OPERATED ERRATICALLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804058

Mileage unknown · Date not reported
Air BagsSeat Belts

NO DEPLOYEMENT OF AIR BAG IN AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURIES. 514311 DUP OF 515150; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

NHTSA ODI #515150

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.