IllustrationTHE DRIVER HEARD SOME SCRAPPING NOISE BUT WASN'T SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE OWNER HAD TO GO THROUGH INSPECTION WHICH HIS VEHICLE WAS REJECTED DUE TO THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BREAKING. HE IS ALSO AWARE OF SOMEONE ELSE WITH SIMILAR FAILURE. MRJLG
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escort years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
Suspension complaints
50 reportsREAR SPRING COILS BROKE WHILE DRIVING.*AK
WHILE A MECHANIC CHECKED TIRES NOTICED THAT REAR SPRING HAD COLLAPSED ON ITSELF. MECHANIC STATED VEHICLE COULD LOSE CONTROL IF SPRING BREAK OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS GETTING INSPECTED DISCOVERED THAT REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS LOW MILEAGE IN VEHICLE TO HAVE COIL SPRINGS REPLACED.*AK
WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED TECHNICIAN NOTICED LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. *JB
WHEEL BEARING FAILED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SHAKE AND SMOKE POOR OUT OF IT, CONSUMER ALSO HEARD SHREAKING SOUND. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COULD FEEL TIRE BUMPIING. THEN, CONSUMER SMELLED RUBBER BURNING. TOOK TO FIRESTONE, AND THEY SAID THAT SET OF THE CAMPER WAS WRONG AND HAS TO BE REMOVED. CONSUMER SAID RIGHT REAR TIRE ON THE INSIDE LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE. TOOK A KNIVE AND TRIED TO CUT A HOLE IN TIRE OFF THE WHEEL.*AK
FRONT END POPS. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T HEAR AND IF THEY DO HEAR IT NOTHING WRONG. MY WHOLE FAMILY CAN HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. NOW WHAT DO I DO?*AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT STEERING/ BRAKES SQUEAKED. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
1DP01001 · Air Bag NON-DEPLOYMENT
Opened Apr 19, 2001 · Closed Nov 1, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
No summary supplied.