11 of the 206 complaints about the 1988 Ford Escort are about the steering — 5% of everything reported for this model year.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL RETAINER BOLT WILL WORK ITS WAY OUT, CAUSING STEERING COLUMN TO BE MOVEABLE. TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR REDESIGNED BOLT. CONSUMER FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO THIS DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #855315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING BELT FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #527929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #510563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #510563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE CRACKED, ALLOWING THE BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #509455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
INNER TIE RODS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #507969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #508053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE RACK AND PINION STEERING CAME LOSE .*AK CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS DRIVING AND THEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF TO VROSS THE STREET VEHICLE WOULD NOT FO ANYWHERE, CONSUMER CHECKED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT WAS DOWN SO SHE TRIED TO GIVE IT SOME GAS AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARD THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE RIGHT, FINALLY CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WERE TRUCKS COMING TOWARD HER, SO VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CONSUMER ALSO HAD TO GT STARTER REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #987264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE RACK AND PINION STEERING CAME LOSE . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #987264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE TURNING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDERNEATH. FLUID RAN ONTO HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SERVICE MANAGER STATES RACK AND PINION AND COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE. TT
NHTSA complaint #959227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
HORN IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO BRUSHES IN THE COLUMN OF STEERING WHEEL. TT
NHTSA complaint #958821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.