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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

What owners actually said

205 reports
Mileage unknown · May 20, 1998
Seat Belts

RETRACTING MECHANISM FOR REAR LEFT SHOULDER STRAP FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #535765

Mileage unknown · May 18, 1998
Wheels

TWO OF THE FOUR LUGS:NUTS ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF AND TWO WERE LOOSE . THE LUGS:NUTS WERE TIGHTENED AND REPLACED BY THE OWNER. BUT THE LUGS:NUTS CONTINUE TO LOOSEN AND COME OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823412

Mileage unknown · May 14, 1998
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #535523

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1998
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPS AROUND WHEN SPEEDS OVER 50-55 MPH ARE REACHED. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING AN COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #534511

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 1998
Power TrainWheels

WHEELS OUT OF ROUND ON DELIVERY CAUSING VIBRATION.

NHTSA ODI #530270

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT DISC BRAKES LOCK UP ON SUDDEN STOPS, RESULTING IN FISHTAILING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #522870

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

BRAKES: INTERMITTENT BRAKE LOSS, BRAKES FAILED WHEN DRIVING AT 15MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES. LAST TIME A MASTER CYLINDER WAS PUT IN ,BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #817410

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR 8 TIMES/FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE DRUM AND THE ROTOR ON THE RIGHT REAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #817028

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

EGR SENSOR ASSEMBLY FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605388

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL GAUGE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603849

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.