IllustrationHORN WENT OFF ON ITS OWN,. DEALER REPLACED HORN ASSEMBLY. IN JUNE 2002, HORN SOUNDED AGAIN ON ITS OWN, HAD TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME.*AK
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES THE AIR CONDITIONER IS LETTING IN FUMES FROM THE OUTSIDE WHILE DRIVING.*JB DEALER REPLACED THE RELAY MODULE. *TT
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 DRIVING 30-40 MPH DRIVESHAFT WAS FORCED INTO ENGINE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO STOP OPERATING. FEEL FREEE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE IGNITION MODULE HAD CAUSED A SURGE OF ELECTRICAL POWER THAT IMPACTED THE ALTERNATOR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID. *JG
CHOOSING CHILD SAFETY SEAT ON THE MENU BROUGHT ME TO THIS FORM...ANYWAY, CHILD SAFETY SEATS THAT DO NOT HAVE A MEANS TO ADJUST THE STRAPS WITHOUT REMOVING THE SAFETY SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE ARE UNSAFE. MANY PARENTS WILL JUST PUT THEIR CHILD IN THINKING THE SEAT IS SAFELY INSTALLED AND THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT PROPER STRAP ADJUSTME…
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CHOOSING CHILD SAFETY SEAT ON THE MENU BROUGHT ME TO THIS FORM...ANYWAY, CHILD SAFETY SEATS THAT DO NOT HAVE A MEANS TO ADJUST THE STRAPS WITHOUT REMOVING THE SAFETY SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE ARE UNSAFE. MANY PARENTS WILL JUST PUT THEIR CHILD IN THINKING THE SEAT IS SAFELY INSTALLED AND THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT PROPER STRAP ADJUSTMENT IS A MAJOR PART OF THE CHILD'S SAFETY. I RECOMMEND A RECALL ON ALL SEATS THAT DON'T HAVE AN ADJUSTMENT LEVER AT THE FRONT OF THE SEAT. THIS TIME OF YEAR IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS, WHEN THE WEATHER ONE DAY WILL REQUIRE A WINTER COAT AND THE WEATHER THE NEXT IS SUMMER LIKE. AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNSAFE SEAT IS THE COSCO VENTURA. AN EXAMPLE OF A SAFE SEAT IS THE CENTURY BREVVERA.*AK
FRAME BROKE FROM UNDER PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT. CAN'T MOVE SEAT UP OR BACKWARDS. FRAME RUSTED OUT FROM UNDER SEAT. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
ACCELERATOR CAN EASILY BE MASHED DOWN DUE TO BRAKE PEDAL BEING SMALL. ALSO, BECAUSE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT SIT HIGH OVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT IS CAUSING SOME DRIVING DIFFICULTIES. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION. *AK
THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 35 MPH COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OF SIMILAR SIZE AND SUSTAINED MASSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE HOWEVER NEITHER AIRBAG IN THIS VEHICLE DEPLOYED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES FRONT TIE ROD END ON BOTH SIDE WORE EXCESSESIVELY. NLM
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.