IllustrationMileage unknown · Oct 2, 2002
Power Train
TS
NHTSA ODI #768000
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
What owners actually said
375 reportsTS
VEHICLE HIT A TREE AT 45 MPH AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD AND BROKE ARM. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN.*AK
WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT HEARD GRINDING NOISE AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN CRANKSHAFT SLID OFF, AND WENT INTO STEEL FRAME OF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
HARMONIC BALANCER FOR THE KING PIN BROKE.*AK CONSUMER STATES WHILE EXITING PARKWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END, THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS HITTING INTO THE WALL OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMERS HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, HIS HAND SLIPPED AND GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BELT AND T…
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HARMONIC BALANCER FOR THE KING PIN BROKE.*AK CONSUMER STATES WHILE EXITING PARKWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END, THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS HITTING INTO THE WALL OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMERS HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, HIS HAND SLIPPED AND GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BELT AND THE BALANCER, RESULTING IN HIS FINGER HAVING TO BE AMPUTATED. *SLC
REAR SPRING COILS BROKE WHILE DRIVING.*AK
WHILE DRIVING HIT THE HORN AND IT STUCK. HAD TO UNPLUG FUSE TO CUT HORN OFF. DEALER CONTACTED. TARGO SWITCH INSIDE STEERING WHEEL PAD BROKE.*AK
MY ESCORT'S ROTORS GET HOT AND OUT OF ROUND, CONSEQUENTLY I NEED MY THIRD BRAKE JOB IN 26000 MILES. *AK
VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION REPAIRED IN AUGUST OF 2001. SOON THEREAFTER, IT STARTED TO HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH SHIFTS. NOW, THE VEHICLE GRINDS GOING INTO 5TH GEAR / REFUSE TO GO INTO 5TH AND WILL ACTUALLY FORCE ITSELF OUT OF 5TH GEAR WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO / DRIVE ON DC HIGHWAYS. T…
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VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION REPAIRED IN AUGUST OF 2001. SOON THEREAFTER, IT STARTED TO HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH SHIFTS. NOW, THE VEHICLE GRINDS GOING INTO 5TH GEAR / REFUSE TO GO INTO 5TH AND WILL ACTUALLY FORCE ITSELF OUT OF 5TH GEAR WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO / DRIVE ON DC HIGHWAYS. TOOK IT TO A DEALER ON MAY 30TH, WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO SAME DEALER ON JULY 5TH, RODE WITH SHOP MANAGER WHO RECREATED THE PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS FOR REPAIR. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO HAD IT ALL WEEK, REPAIRED SOME COMPONENT, BUT PROBLEM RESURFACED ON TRIP HOME FROM DEALERSHIP. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED THAT I COULD DRIVE A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION ON THE HIGHWAY FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, THEN BRING IT IN. I AM TEACHING IN ANOTHER STATE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, SO I AM IN AN URGENT NEED OF A FUNCTIONAL VEHICLE.*AK
THE SEALING LINES ON THE LOWER OUTSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE VEHICLE IS BEING PULLED APART BY THE HUMIDITY AND HEAT. *TT *SCC
THE FUEL PUMP INITIALLY FAILED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY KIP KILLMON'S TYSONS FORD IN TYSONS CORNER, VA IN JULY 2001. IN JANUARY 2002 THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN FAILED, AND THE SAME DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP FOR A SECOND TIME. FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE DID NOT O…
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THE FUEL PUMP INITIALLY FAILED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY KIP KILLMON'S TYSONS FORD IN TYSONS CORNER, VA IN JULY 2001. IN JANUARY 2002 THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN FAILED, AND THE SAME DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP FOR A SECOND TIME. FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, BUT RESULTED IN THE CAR FAILING TO START. HAD THE PUMP FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. THE FACT THAT THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHIN 6 MONTHS ON THE SAME WELL-MAINTAINED CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE, INDICATES TO ME THAT THIS MAY BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE PART AND/OR THE CAR. FORD HAD NO INTEREST IN ADDRESSING MY CONCERNS WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION.*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.