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1998 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Escort years

Owner complaints for the 1998 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 →
375Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

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

Inspection summary

1998 Ford Escort

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 375 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 1 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)

  • Air Bags: 75 reports
  • Suspension: 50 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 49 reports
  • Electrical System: 43 reports
  • Power Train: 43 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
    576
    1995    205
    1996    543
    1997    375
    1998    325
    1999    98
    2000    68
    2001
    Compare all Escort years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Air Bags
    75    Suspension
    50    Engine And Engine Cooling
    49    Electrical System
    43    Power Train
    43
    All reported categories
    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    32    Fuel System, Gasoline
    19    Seat Belts
    17    Steering
    17    Visibility
    16    Structure
    14    Vehicle Speed Control
    14    Equipment
    13    Unknown Or Other
    10    Seats
    9    Tires
    6    Fuel System, Other
    4    Exterior Lighting
    3    Latches/locks/linkages
    3    Parking Brake
    3    Child Seat
    2    Engine
    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: 57 of 375 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.

    • Air Bags. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Suspension. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    84 crash reports11 fire reports63 injury reports

    Child Seat complaints

    2 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2003
    Child Seat

    GRACO 8442 CYP CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *MR PH

    NHTSA ODI #10024186

    Mileage unknown · May 7, 2002
    Child Seat

    CHOOSING CHILD SAFETY SEAT ON THE MENU BROUGHT ME TO THIS FORM...ANYWAY, CHILD SAFETY SEATS THAT DO NOT HAVE A MEANS TO ADJUST THE STRAPS WITHOUT REMOVING THE SAFETY SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE ARE UNSAFE. MANY PARENTS WILL JUST PUT THEIR CHILD IN THINKING THE SEAT IS SAFELY INSTALLED AND THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT PROPER STRAP ADJUSTME…

    Read full complaint

    CHOOSING CHILD SAFETY SEAT ON THE MENU BROUGHT ME TO THIS FORM...ANYWAY, CHILD SAFETY SEATS THAT DO NOT HAVE A MEANS TO ADJUST THE STRAPS WITHOUT REMOVING THE SAFETY SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE ARE UNSAFE. MANY PARENTS WILL JUST PUT THEIR CHILD IN THINKING THE SEAT IS SAFELY INSTALLED AND THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT PROPER STRAP ADJUSTMENT IS A MAJOR PART OF THE CHILD'S SAFETY. I RECOMMEND A RECALL ON ALL SEATS THAT DON'T HAVE AN ADJUSTMENT LEVER AT THE FRONT OF THE SEAT. THIS TIME OF YEAR IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS, WHEN THE WEATHER ONE DAY WILL REQUIRE A WINTER COAT AND THE WEATHER THE NEXT IS SUMMER LIKE. AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNSAFE SEAT IS THE COSCO VENTURA. AN EXAMPLE OF A SAFE SEAT IS THE CENTURY BREVVERA.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #761617

    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

    1

    DP01001 · Air Bag NON-DEPLOYMENT

    Opened Apr 19, 2001 · Closed Nov 1, 2001

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

    No summary supplied.

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