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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.

About this comparison →
375Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
576
1995205
1996543
1997375
1998325
199998
200068
2001
Compare all Escort years →

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

What owners reported most

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

49 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 18, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

I HAVE HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS RELATING TO CAR FUEL PUMP OR TRANSMISSION SHOPS COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS BUT THE DRIVABLITY OF MY 98 ESCORT ZX2 COST ME MORE MONEY IN PROBLEM SOLVING, 1,500 PLUS IN RECENT REPAIRS INCLUDING EMERGENCY AND REPEAT REPAIRS AND FAULTY REPAIRS. MY FUEL ECONOMY IS 160 MILES PER TANK TO ALMOST 200 MILES. NO…

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I HAVE HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS RELATING TO CAR FUEL PUMP OR TRANSMISSION SHOPS COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS BUT THE DRIVABLITY OF MY 98 ESCORT ZX2 COST ME MORE MONEY IN PROBLEM SOLVING, 1,500 PLUS IN RECENT REPAIRS INCLUDING EMERGENCY AND REPEAT REPAIRS AND FAULTY REPAIRS. MY FUEL ECONOMY IS 160 MILES PER TANK TO ALMOST 200 MILES. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM(S). LARGE THUNKING IN REAR TRUNK (SCARY)WHEN IM TAKING OFF AND REACHING A STEADY SPEED. TAKE THE CAR TO MAJOR FORD DEALERSHIPS, TO NO AVAIL. CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS "GO" FROM A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC,THIS HAS CAUSED QUITE A SCARE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR HELPING AND MAKING NOTE OF MY ACCOUNT. DEBBIE

NHTSA ODI #10157775

81,000 miles · May 8, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED HOWEVER THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED NO PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ODI #10156961

65,000 miles · Sep 6, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

DT: 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTICED THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN , APPROXIMATELY 1 TURNS FROM THE TOP. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THE PART WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN NO NOTICEAB…

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DT: 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTICED THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN , APPROXIMATELY 1 TURNS FROM THE TOP. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THE PART WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS.*AK THE CAPLIPERS WERE REPLACED DUE THEM BEING FROZEN. THE CRANK PULLEY AND SERPENTINE BELT WERE REPLACE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10132258

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE'S BELT TENIONER ASSEMBLY BROKE 3 TIME. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE HOUSING FOR WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT TENIONER AND MICO V BELT. *BF *NM

NHTSA ODI #10111441

85,000 miles · Dec 6, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

EACH TIME WHEN VEHICLE SPLASHES IN A PUDDLE OF WATER THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10103206

135,000 miles · Oct 1, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK AND MADE NOISE. THEN, SUDDENLY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK CAR SHOOK AND MADE NOISES. THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START OR MOVE AFTER IT SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TC UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10091650

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART, THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10089303

156,000 miles · Jun 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT 123,00MI I NOTICED WATER LEAKING FORM BEHIND WATER PUMP TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP HOUSING PART #F8RZ-8501-EN IT HAD ERODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT RESULTING IN A PINHOLE LEAK I ALSO HAD THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT REPLASED JUST IN CASEAT A COST OF 625 DOLLARS. 13 MONTHS AND 33,000MI LATER SAME …

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AT 123,00MI I NOTICED WATER LEAKING FORM BEHIND WATER PUMP TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP HOUSING PART #F8RZ-8501-EN IT HAD ERODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT RESULTING IN A PINHOLE LEAK I ALSO HAD THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT REPLASED JUST IN CASEAT A COST OF 625 DOLLARS. 13 MONTHS AND 33,000MI LATER SAME PROBLEM WITH WATER PUMP HOUSING ERODING FOR INSIDE OUT OF CORSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE TIMING BELT WAS FAILING DO TO A SEIZED IDLER COST TO REPAIR 700 DOLLARS. THE IDLER YOU CAN CHALK UP TO BAD LUCK THE HOUSING ON THE OTHER HAND IS RIDICULOUS IT HAS NO MOVING PARTS OTHER THAN ANTIFREEZE RUNNING THROUGH IT AND THE MECHANICS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. I DON'T CARE TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY EVERY YEAR FOR SOME BAD CASTING ON FORDS PART 1 YEAR OR 12,00 MI SHOULD NOT APPLY TO APART THAT SHOULD LAST A WHOLE LOT LONGER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10074856

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. PARTS HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10039831

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE IS FAILING PREMATURELY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10031558

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

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.