FaultScore report
Owners have filed 65 complaints about the 1987 Ford Escort with NHTSA between 1995 and 2009. The largest single group is the electrical system.
65
Complaints
1
Crashes reported
31
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 1 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
FUEL PUMP FAILURE
SAFETY BELT D-RING
FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINT
WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT
PASSIVE BELT FAILURE
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REAR SAFETY BELT FIT
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HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE
SUMMARY: HEADLAMP SWITCH RETAINING BEZEL CRACKS CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO REMAIN ON AND OCCASIONALLY FLICKER OFF. FORD HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, ARTICLE # 87-11-8, TO REPLACE THE FAULTY BEZEL WITH AN IMPROVED PART.CONCLUSIONS: THE PE SHOULD BE CLOSED IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND.===
REAR SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE
REAR SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
SEATS
THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LIMITED DEGREE OF ROCKING MOTIONOF THE DRIVERS SEAT ASSEMBLY UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Risk: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
LUG NUTS COULD GALL AND POSSIBLY SEIZE ON THE WHEEL STUDS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADEQUATE CLAMPING LOAD ON THE WHEELS.
Risk: WHEEL STUDS COULD FRACTURE CREATING A RISK OF A WHEELSEPARATING WITH LITTLE FOREWARNING.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Seats And Restraints
THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE. FRACTURE OF THIS PEDESTAL WOULD PERMIT A LIMITED DEGREE OF ROCKING MOTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT ASSEMBLY UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. BREAKAGE OF THE BRACKET COULD, POTENTIALLY, AFFECT THE DRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. CORRECTION: A REINFORCEMENT WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE SEAT TRACK OR THE SEAT TRACK WILL BE REPLACED IF FRACTURED.
Emissions
THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. THE CENTRAL FUEL INJECTOR (CFI) MAY OPERATE RICH DURING CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS. CORRECTION: IMPROVED CFI FUEL INJECTORS WILL BE INSTALLED AND IDLE SPEED WILL BE ADJUSTED.
Fuel System
ON VEHICLES WITH EFI OR CFI, THE SPRING-LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES TO THE EFI FUEL RAILS OR TO THE CFI THROTTLE BODIES AS WELL AS OTHER FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS NEAR THE DASH PANELS ON SOME VEHICLES, COULD DISENGAGE DURING VEHICLE USE. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, LOSS OF FUEL WILL RESULT, PROVIDING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE. CORRECTION: COUPLING RETAINER CLIPS WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. NOTE: ESCORT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH EFI AND CFI. LYNX VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH CFI ONLY. EFI - ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CFI - CENTRAL FUEL INJECTION
Suspension
BECAUSE OF THE FRICTIONAL HEAT GENERATED BY THE HIGH SPEED LUG NUT INSTALLATION PROCESS, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE STAINLESS STEEL NUTS TO GALL AND POSSIBLY SEIZE ON THE WHEEL STUDS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADEQUATE CLAMPING LOAD ON THE WHEELS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL STUDS TO FRACTURE IN SERVICE CREATING A RISK OF A WHEEL SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE WITH LITTLE FOREWARNING. CORRECTION: WHEEL LUG NUTS WILL BE REPLACED AND IF NECESSARY, WHEELS AND WHEEL STUDS WILL BE REPLACED.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
EQUIPMENT
CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT A DEFECT INVESTIGATION BE DONE ON THE CRASH DATA REPORT. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN HIS 1987 FORD ESCORT WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A 2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE THAT HIT THE CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. A CRASH STUDY WAS PERFORMED ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CADILLAC WHEN IT HIT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH FASTER THAN HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY DIDN'T THE CADILLAC'S SDM NOT REGISTER AND RECORD THE FRONTAL CRASH IMPACT WITH THE ESCORT AS A DEPLOYMENT EVENT. *JB UPDATED 07/16/09.*JB UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF FORENSIC WITNESS REPORT RECEIVED. UPDATED 08/10/09.
NHTSA complaint #10274512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NAR 3-10-03 IN REFERENCE TO A PREVIOUS CLAIM, REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FROM NHTSA. HOWEVER, ACTION MADE WASN'T SATISFACTORY SO NOW THE CONSUMER IS THERE SEEKING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO EXPEDITE HIS CLAIM. *CB
NHTSA complaint #10011771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FIRE BY AN UNKNOWN SOURCE IN THE IGNITION COLUMN PER FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION.
NHTSA complaint #564114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FIRE BY AN UNKNOWN SOURCE IN THE IGNITION COLUMN PER FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION.
NHTSA complaint #564114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM, RECALL'S ISSUED FOR SAME MAKE AND MODEL, HOWEVER VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER)
NHTSA complaint #525811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE, RECALL FOR COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO VIN #.
NHTSA complaint #507794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
EQUIPMENT
CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT A DEFECT INVESTIGATION BE DONE ON THE CRASH DATA REPORT. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN HIS 1987 FORD ESCORT WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A 2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE THAT HIT THE CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. A CRASH STUDY WAS PERFORMED ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CADILLAC WHEN IT HIT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH FASTER THAN HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY DIDN'T THE CADILLAC'S SDM NOT REGISTER AND RECORD THE FRONTAL CRASH IMPACT WITH THE ESCORT AS A DEPLOYMENT EVENT. *JB UPDATED 07/16/09.*JB UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF FORENSIC WITNESS REPORT RECEIVED. UPDATED 08/10/09.
NHTSA complaint #10274512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NAR 3-10-03 IN REFERENCE TO A PREVIOUS CLAIM, REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FROM NHTSA. HOWEVER, ACTION MADE WASN'T SATISFACTORY SO NOW THE CONSUMER IS THERE SEEKING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO EXPEDITE HIS CLAIM. *CB
NHTSA complaint #10011771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FIRE BY AN UNKNOWN SOURCE IN THE IGNITION COLUMN PER FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION.
NHTSA complaint #564114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FIRE BY AN UNKNOWN SOURCE IN THE IGNITION COLUMN PER FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION.
NHTSA complaint #564114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING SINCE 1992.
NHTSA complaint #8001226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
TFI IGNITION MODULE HAD A DEFECT AND WAS AFFECTED IGNITION SWITCH. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #897899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER STATES SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE, THIS IS FOURTH MODULE PART THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE MODULE GPD GOES OUT IT CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP NOT WILLING TO HONOR WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #561867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
FORD SHOULD CARRY SEAT BELT PARTS FOR OLDER MODEL VEHICLES PERTAINING TO SAFETY OR HAVE ANOTHER MANUFACTURER WHERE PARTS COULD BE LOCATED. CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #893086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN DRIVING FOR 10-12 MILES VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT COMPLETELY , FEELS AS THOUGH TURNING OFF IGNITION. CONSUMER MUST WAIT ABOUT 45 MINUTES BEFORE CAN BE RESTARTED. CONSUMER CONTACTED A MECHANIC, AND REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER, BUT DEFECT OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER. WILL CONTACT MECHANIC AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #890578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WHEN BEING IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP IS AWRE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #890573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE DIES IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS IGNITION MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #885984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH MODULE MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE TFI MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #878026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. ENGINE STOPPED AND WILL NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #873757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH STALLING DUE TO A ENGINE DISPLAY MOUNT PFI MODULE; REPLACEMENT WAS DONE ON TWO OCCASIN WITHIN THREE MONTH. UNABLE TO RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:
NHTSA complaint #869417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS RUSTED THROUGH WHICH COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #842491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
QUIT RUNNING ON HIGHWAY DURING WASH. DC RUSH HOUR / STALLS EVERY DAY (EVEN AFTER 5 REPAIRED FOR STALLING).
NHTSA complaint #707509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
QUIT RUNNING ON HIGHWAY DURING WASH. DC RUSH HOUR / STALLS EVERY DAY (EVEN AFTER 5 REPAIRED FOR STALLING. *AK)
NHTSA complaint #707509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINING MECHANISM FAILED, RESULTING IN INABILITY OF DRIVER TO SIT UP STRAIGHT WITHOUT CLINGING TO STEERING WHEEL WHEN ACCELERATING. TEETH ON RECLINING LEVER WHICH MESH WITH TEETH ON SEAT TRACK SEEM TO HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. ADDITIONALLY, BAD THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS CAUSED VERY HIGH IDLE SPEED MULTIPLE TIMES, PROBLEM IS WORST DURING RAIN/SNOW. AT TIMES, IDLE SPEED SET SO HIGH THAT BRAKING TO A STOP WOULD STALL THE VEHICLE. TPS REPLACED TWICE, PROBLEM PERSISTS DURING WET WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #703928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINING MECHANISM FAILED, RESULTING IN INABILITY OF DRIVER TO SIT UP STRAIGHT WITHOUT CLINGING TO STEERING WHEEL WHEN ACCELERATING. TEETH ON RECLINING LEVER WHICH MESH WITH TEETH ON SEAT TRACK SEEM TO HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. ADDITIONALLY, BAD THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS CAUSED VERY HIGH IDLE SPEED MULTIPLE TIMES, PROBLEM IS WORST DURING RAIN/SNOW. AT TIMES, IDLE SPEED SET SO HIGH THAT BRAKING TO A STOP WOULD STALL THE VEHICLE. TPS REPLACED TWICE, PROBLEM PERSISTS DURING WET WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #703928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM, RECALL'S ISSUED FOR SAME MAKE AND MODEL, HOWEVER VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER)
NHTSA complaint #525811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE, RECALL FOR COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO VIN #.
NHTSA complaint #507794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #507794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH HESITATION AND STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #537899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
STARTER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #537899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
IN WARM WEATHER THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS, CAUSING THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATORS TO COMPLETELY DISAPPEAR. THE THERMASTAT HAS BEEN REPLACE TWICE AND IT HAS MADE NO DIFFERENCE.
NHTSA complaint #827035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.