IllustrationWHEN YOU TRY TO STOP THE CAR TAKE LONG TIME TO STOP,WATER LEAK FROM WINDSHELD,TRUNK,FRONT END LEFT SIDE MAKE LOUD NOISE,CAR MAKE NOCKING NOISE,WHEN HIT SPEED BUMB STARIO CHANGE ON IT'S OWNE TO TAPE,FRONT DRIVER DOOR LEAK& MORE.
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
Visibility complaints
16 reportsHEATING SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF CABLE CONNECTING DIAL TO CONTROL PANEL. YH
POWER WINDOWS FAILED. *YC
WIPER CONTROL TOO NEAR STEERING WHEEL DUE TO DESIGN.
THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER, BUT THE REAR DEFROSTER IS INOPERABLE WHICH CAUSES VISUAL PROBLEMS IN THE REAR, MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A KNOCK WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, AND DRIVING AT 60 MPH, ALSO ENGINE IS CONSUMING 4 QUARTS OF OIL, ALSO VEHI…
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER, BUT THE REAR DEFROSTER IS INOPERABLE WHICH CAUSES VISUAL PROBLEMS IN THE REAR, MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A KNOCK WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, AND DRIVING AT 60 MPH, ALSO ENGINE IS CONSUMING 4 QUARTS OF OIL, ALSO VEHICLE OVERHEATED.*JB
VEHICLE EMITING ODOR/FUMES INSIDE CAR AS WELL AS OUTSIDE CAUSING PASSENGER TO FEEL SICK AND ONE TO PASSOUT.
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.