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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
205Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1996 Ford Escort

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 205 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Seat Belts: 77 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 30 reports
  • Power Train: 19 reports
  • Air Bags: 18 reports
  • Electrical System: 14 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    379
    1993    279
    1994    576
    1995    205
    1996    543
    1997    375
    1998    325
    1999
    Compare all Escort years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Seat Belts
    77    Engine And Engine Cooling
    30    Power Train
    19    Air Bags
    18    Electrical System
    14
    All reported categories
    Suspension
    13    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    10    Steering
    10    Fuel System, Gasoline
    8    Unknown Or Other
    6    Vehicle Speed Control
    5    Seats
    4    Structure
    4    Tires
    4    Latches/locks/linkages
    3    Wheels
    3    Fuel System, Other
    2    Equipment
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Fuel/propulsion System
    1    Interior Lighting
    1    Parking 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

    Steering complaints

    10 reports
    Clear category filter
    151,634 miles · Mar 26, 2004
    Steering

    WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BE RESOLVED. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10065056

    59,000 miles · Feb 17, 2004
    Steering

    TIE ROD FAILURE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE TIE RODS ON BOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. WHEN TAKEN IN TO THE SHOP THEY FOUND THE RIGHT SIDE WAS VERY BAD ALSO. THIS CAR HAS 59,000 MILES. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. PRETTY SCARRY STUFF...*JB

    NHTSA ODI #10058366

    Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2000
    SteeringCrash

    THE LEFT, OUTER TIE ROD BROKE, TRAVELING ON A STAIGHT, SMOOTH ROAD AT ABOUT 35 MPH. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE, IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND LEFT THE ROAD. IT CAME TO A STOP AGAINST A TREE, CAUSING SLIGHT BODY DAMAGE.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #738141

    Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2000
    Steering

    SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE (15,000), SECOND SPEEDOMETER HAS NOW FAILED(35800MI). *AK

    NHTSA ODI #726025

    Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1998
    Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

    THEERE IS A LOUD CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING GEAR. ALSO, CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWO TIMES. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #829798

    Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 1998
    Steering

    WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE HARMONIC BALANCER CAME OFF, CAUSING STEERING TO MAKE LOUD NOISES. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #826336

    Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1997
    Steering

    TIE ROD FAILED.

    NHTSA ODI #603162

    Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 1997
    Steering

    RACK AND PINION HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE AND THE VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND PULLING TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. *AK *JB

    NHTSA ODI #806732

    Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1996
    Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension

    DURING VEHICLE OPERATION A SEVERE PULL TO THE LEFT IS EXPERIENCED. THE RACK AND PINION, RIGHT FRONT SHOCKS, AND THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS A RESULT.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #802857

    Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 1996
    Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

    BRAKE FAILURE, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, LOSS OF COMPLETE EFFECTIVENESS. *AK WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. CV JOINT FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTER. *SLC

    NHTSA ODI #987058

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.