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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

    Fuel System, Other complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    102,000 miles · Aug 6, 2003
    Fuel System, OtherCrashInjury

    ON AUGUST 5, 2003, I WAS REARENDED WHILE DRIVING A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE AUTO KILL SWICH NEVER KILLED THE ENGINE. LUCKILY THE GAS TANK STAYED INTACT. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE FIRE PERSONELL AT THE SCENE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE KILL SWITCH WAS NOT TRIPPED. BOTH BACK DOORS WERE JAMMED WITH MY 6 YEAR OLD …

    Read full complaint

    ON AUGUST 5, 2003, I WAS REARENDED WHILE DRIVING A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE AUTO KILL SWICH NEVER KILLED THE ENGINE. LUCKILY THE GAS TANK STAYED INTACT. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE FIRE PERSONELL AT THE SCENE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE KILL SWITCH WAS NOT TRIPPED. BOTH BACK DOORS WERE JAMMED WITH MY 6 YEAR OLD TRAOOED IN THE BACK.

    NHTSA ODI #10030899

    Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1999
    Air BagsFuel System, OtherCrashInjury

    NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, AND SHUT OFF VALVE FAILED DURING ACCIDENT RESULTING IN HEADACHES FROM HITTING HEAD ON MIRROR, NECKACHES AND UPPER BACK PROBLEMS. NLM

    NHTSA ODI #549111

    Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 1999
    Electrical SystemEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

    RADIO DOES NOT WORK.

    NHTSA ODI #546113

    Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
    Fuel System, Other

    FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED.

    NHTSA ODI #607995

    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.