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.
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 campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView 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
Compare all Escort years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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.
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect 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.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.