FaultScore report
Owners have filed 206 complaints about the 1988 Ford Escort with NHTSA between 1995 and 2003. The largest single group is the electrical system.
206
Complaints
6
Crashes reported
66
Fires reported
6
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.
1 crashes, 0 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
2 crashes, 0 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.
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
===
REAR SAFETY BELT FIT
===
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.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Electrical
A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED. CORRECTION: IGNITION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGN SWITCH.
Emissions
NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY RELEASE CARBON MONOXIDE EXHAUST EMISSIONS WHICH EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF C.M.V.S.S 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. CORRECTION: EXHAUST SYSTEM CATALYST ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
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.
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
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #761274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
RADIATOR COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE, AND BLOW THE FUSEABLE LINK THAT SHUTS FUEL PUMP OFF. THIS COMPLETELY CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #871994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
RADIATOR COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE, AND BLOW THE FUSEABLE LINK THAT SHUTS FUEL PUMP OFF. THIS COMPLETELY CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #871994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
RADIATOR COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE, AND BLOW THE FUSEABLE LINK THAT SHUTS FUEL PUMP OFF. THIS COMPLETELY CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #871994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER HAD RECALL REPAIR OF THE IGNITION SWITCH (95S28) PERORMED BUT EXPERIENCED AN IGNITION SWITCH FIRE AFTER RECALL REPAIR. NLM
NHTSA complaint #527929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF CONSUMER'S HOUSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SCENE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #831474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR HAS BEEN STALLING REGARDLESS OF SPEED. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. MECHANIC HAS (SO FAR) IDENTIFIED BAD HEAD GASKET. I AM SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAS ONLY 67,000 MILES ON IT. VERY FEW MILES FOR AN EXPENSIVE HEAD GASKET REPAIR!!
NHTSA complaint #10041201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM MY UNCLE WHEN IT WAS 3 YEARS OLD WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. IT BEGAN STALLING A YEAR OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I HAD IT IN TO BOTH A FORD AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WITH A VARIETY OF REASONS GIVEN FOR IT STALLING. I REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES ON MY OWN ON A HUNCH THAT IT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MOTH BALLED THE CAR FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF DRIVING AROUND HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT IT STOPPING ON ME. I DIDN'T SELL IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO PAWN THE PROBLEM, OFF ON SOMEONE ELSE AND BESIDES I REALLY LIKED THE CAR OTHERWISE. AFTER HEARING OF THE CALIFORNIA RECALL ORDER, EVERYTHING FELL INTO PLACE. I BELIEVE THAT THE POOR ENGINEERING ON PLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION MODULE ON THE VEHICLE IS THE PROBLEM. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I FEEL TRAPPED BUT I AM HOPING THAT THE RECALL WILL EVENTUALLY IMPACT ME IN MINNESOTA. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. SINCERELY, JOHN HELLAND. *AK *SCC **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734334
NHTSA complaint #10007031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM MY UNCLE WHEN IT WAS 3 YEAR OLD WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. IT BEGAN STALLING A YEAR OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I HAD IT IN TO BOTH A FORD AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WITH A VARIETY OF REASONS GIVEN FOR ITS STALLING. I REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES ON MY OWN ON A HUNCH THAT IT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MOTHBALLED THE CAR FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF DRIVING AROUND HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT IT STOPPING ON ME. I DIDN'T SELL IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO PAWN THE PROBLEM OFF ON SOMEONE ELSE AND BESIDES I REALLY LIKED THE CAR OTHERWISE. AFTER HEARING OF THE CALIFORNIA RECALL ORDER, EVERYTHING FELL INTO PLACE. I BELIEVE THAT THE POOR ENGINEERING ON PLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION MODULE ON THIS VEHICLE IS THE PROBLEM. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I GUESS I FEEL TRAPPED BUT AM HOPPING THAT THE RECALL WILL EVENTUALLY IMPACT ME IN MINNESOTA. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. SINCERELY, JOHN HELLAND.
NHTSA complaint #734334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #761274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
CONSUMER STATES WHILE HAVING VEHICLES OIL CHANGED THE MECHANIC NOTICED HIM THE LOWER ARM SHAFT WAS RUSTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8006571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON TAILLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. WHEN MOVING SWITCH TAIL LIGHTS WILL WORK, BUT HEADLIGHTS WII NOT. THIS IS THE THIRD SWITCH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WILL REPLACE SWITCH AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #6900676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH
WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON TAILLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. WHEN MOVING SWITCH TAIL LIGHTS WILL WORK, BUT HEADLIGHTS WII NOT. THIS IS THE THIRD SWITCH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WILL REPLACE SWITCH AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #6900676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED, HAS STALLED 4 TIMES. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED IGNITION MODULE 4 TIMES.*AK
NHTSA complaint #898484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE TRAVELING, VEHICLE BOUNCED TO LEFT OR TO RIGHT DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR OF TIRES. *AK FRONT END CAN NOT BE ALIGNED PROPERLY TO SPECIFICATION PER DEALER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL AND MODULE 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #897052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
WHILE TRAVELING, VEHICLE BOUNCED TO LEFT OR TO RIGHT DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR OF TIRES. *AK FRONT END CAN NOT BE ALIGNED PROPERLY TO SPECIFICATION PER DEALER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL AND MODULE 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #897052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE BEGAN - DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED NOISE PROBABLY DUE TO BENT ROD. KNOCK SEEMS TO LESSEN DURING COLD WEATHER AND WHEN OIL IS SERVICED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP INTERMITTENTLY DURING OPERATION. REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR - PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #746535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE BEGAN - DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED NOISE PROBABLY DUE TO BENT ROD. KNOCK SEEMS TO LESSEN DURING COLD WEATHER AND WHEN OIL IS SERVICED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP INTERMITTENTLY DURING OPERATION. REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR - PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #746535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME AND ANY SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #885964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #742322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE MAY NOT START AT TIMES. SOMETIMES FUEL PUMP WON'T WORK, IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY, AND SOMETIMES SWITCH STICKS IN ON POSITION INSTEAD OF RETURING TO RIGHT POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #877083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE MAY NOT START AT TIMES. SOMETIMES FUEL PUMP WON'T WORK, IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY, AND SOMETIMES SWITCH STICKS IN ON POSITION INSTEAD OF RETURING TO RIGHT POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #877083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN DRIVING CAR WILL STOP WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #874487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
WHILE CHILD IS IN CHILD SEAT SEAT BELTS BECOME UNDONE . CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER/ DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #873938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM MY UNCLE WHEN IT WAS 3 YEAR OLD WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. IT BEGAN STALLING A YEAR OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I HAD IT IN TO BOTH A FORD AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WITH A VARIETY OF REASONS GIVEN FOR ITS STALLING. I REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES ON MY OWN ON A HUNCH THAT IT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MOTHBALLED THE CAR FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF DRIVING AROUND HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT IT STOPPING ON ME. I DIDN'T SELL IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO PAWN THE PROBLEM OFF ON SOMEONE ELSE AND BESIDES I REALLY LIKED THE CAR OTHERWISE. AFTER HEARING OF THE CALIFORNIA RECALL ORDER, EVERYTHING FELL INTO PLACE. I BELIEVE THAT THE POOR ENGINEERING ON PLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION MODULE ON THIS VEHICLE IS THE PROBLEM. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I GUESS I FEEL TRAPPED BUT AM HOPPING THAT THE RECALL WILL EVENTUALLY IMPACT ME IN MINNESOTA. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. SINCERELY, JOHN HELLAND
NHTSA complaint #734334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
RADIATOR COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE, AND BLOW THE FUSEABLE LINK THAT SHUTS FUEL PUMP OFF. THIS COMPLETELY CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #871994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
RADIATOR COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE, AND BLOW THE FUSEABLE LINK THAT SHUTS FUEL PUMP OFF. THIS COMPLETELY CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #871994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
RADIATOR COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE, AND BLOW THE FUSEABLE LINK THAT SHUTS FUEL PUMP OFF. THIS COMPLETELY CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #871994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
FORD ADMITTED TO NEWSPAPER COLUMIST THAT BALL JOINTS ON MANY ESCORTS AND TEMPOS WERE DEFECTIVE. MISSOURI REQUIRED ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTIONS WHICH CAUGHT MANY OF THESE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS BUT MANY STATES DID NOT REQUIRE INSPECTIONS. FORD COVERED THIS PROBLEM UP, SO THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MANY ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY FAILED BALL JOINTS.
NHTSA complaint #732351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
RECALL PERFORMED ON IGNITION SWITCH. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. DEALER STATED THAT IT COULD NOT NOT BE RELATED. THE FORD TECH THAT DID THE REPLACEMENT DISTURBED OTHER AREAS IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE FAILURE. HE/SHE FAILED TO CONNECT EVERYTHING IN THE COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #731791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
LEFT FRONT MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #781999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.