IllustrationVEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS. OWNER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *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 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR COIL SPRINGS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSTANTLY WET CONDITION ON DRIVER SIDE FLOOR - DURING WET WEATHER. WATER COMING THROUGH THE FLOOR OR FIREWALL (NEAR THE FLOOR) AND FILLING THE FLOOR WITH WATER. *JB 1998 FORD ESCORT LX
EACH TIME WHEN VEHICLE SPLASHES IN A PUDDLE OF WATER THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF. *AK
WHILE THE STATE INSPECTION STATION WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE INSPECTOR INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK
THE PAINT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT PANEL WAS STRIPED OFF IN A CAR WASH. AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE CARS HAS NOT BEEN REPAINTED. WELL... NOT WHILE I'VE OWNED IT. I AM HAVING THE CAR REPAINTED. *NM
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK AND MADE NOISE. THEN, SUDDENLY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK CAR SHOOK AND MADE NOISES. THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START OR MOVE AFTER IT SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TC UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB
AFTER STRIKING A VEHICLE IN FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. HOWEVER, NO RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED. *AK
WHILE HAVING MY OIL CHANGED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT THE RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION SPRING WAS BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM. THE BROKEN SPRING DID NOT PERCEIVABLY ALTER THE FUNCTION OF THE CAR NOR DID IT MAKE NOISE. IT WAS CLARIFIED TO ME THAT THE SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE I FEEL IT…
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WHILE HAVING MY OIL CHANGED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT THE RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION SPRING WAS BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM. THE BROKEN SPRING DID NOT PERCEIVABLY ALTER THE FUNCTION OF THE CAR NOR DID IT MAKE NOISE. IT WAS CLARIFIED TO ME THAT THE SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE I FEEL IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE BOTH SPRING REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $400. *JB
THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPRINGS AND STRUTS ON VEHICLE. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT SHE HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH CRACKED SPRINGS DURING A MAINTENANCE CHECK. *SC *JB
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.