FaultScore

1996 Ford Escort electrical problems

19 of the 257 complaints about the 1996 Ford Escort are about the electrical system — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 51,367 miles.

F

19

Complaints

0

Crashes

10

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Wiring 10 52.6%
Electrical System 6 31.6%
Switch 2 10.5%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 5.3%

Electrical System across every Ford Escort year

1984 14 1.6%
1985 10 1.2%
1986 21 2.5%
1987 31 3.6%
1988 85 9.9%
1989 77 9.0%
1990 58 6.8%
1991 122 14.3%
1992 44 5.1%
1993 40 4.7%
1994 32 3.7%
1995 53 6.2%
1996 19 2.2%
1997 151 17.7%
1998 51 6.0%
1999 47 5.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 20,734 miles LOS Angeles, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE CORRECT SECTION TO FILE THIS IN. I AM BEING UNSUCCESSFUL IN A CONTINUED EFFORT TO CORRECT A MALFUNCTION IN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SENSOR. I HAVE DONE ALL I KNOW TO CORRECT THIS MATTER INCLUDING CHANGING THE LIGHT BULB WITH NO SUCCESS. THIS MALFUNCTION IS CONTINUING TO CAUSE ME NOT TO PASS A SIMPLE SMOG TEST. IS THERE ANY RECORD OF THERE BEING A MANUFACTURE DEFECT TO THIS PART.

NHTSA complaint #10231921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 82,000 miles Valley Stream, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPONTANEOUS VEHICLE COMBUSTION: Y 1996 FORD ESCORT WAS STUCK 3 HRS. IN TRAFFIC JAM ON MAJOR NASSAU COUNTY, NY ROUTE IN MIDDLE OF SNOW STORM. FIRE STARTED FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, SPREADING TO DASHBOARD. HAD FIRE DEPT. NOT QUICKLY ARRIVED ON SCENE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE, A CHAIN REACTION OF EXPLODING VEHICLES MIGHT HAVE ENSUED INVOLVING HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS. FIRE DEPT. DESCRIBED FIRE AS ELECTRICAL IN ORIGIN.

NHTSA complaint #10049439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlotte, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DEFECTIVE SPARK PLUG, ROBERT BOSCH CORP. AFTER A ROUTINE CHANGE OF SPARK PLUGS IN OUR 1996 FORD ESCORT, MY CAR QUIT RUNNING. THE BOSCH SPARK PLUG BLEW UP IN MY CAR. WE HAVE HAD THE TOP OF THE ENGINE REPAIRED FOR $900+ AND THE BOTTOM NEEDS REPAIR FOR $1000.+ WE HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND THEY IN FACT BLAME MY CAR!!!! WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE BEFORE THE INSTALLATION OF THE BOSCH SPARK PLUG. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND SINCE THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR, THE KNOCK IN THE ENGINE IS GETTING LOUDER, SHE CAN NOT DRIVE IT ON THE EXPRESSWAY, AND I HOPE WE CAN RESOLVE THIS MATTER BEFORE THE ENGINE QUITS ENTIRELY AND SOMEONE GETS HURT. PRECISION TUNE, WHO REPAIRED THE TOP OF THE ENGINE LAST YEAR SAID THAT THESE BOSCH PLATINUM SPARK PLUGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THEY HAVE SEEN THEM EXPLODE IN OTHER AUTOS (BOSCH PLATINUM SPARK PLUG HR9HP0). *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10021040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rohnert Park, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING, CONSUMER DISCONNECTED A FUSE TO STOP THE FIRE, WIRE IS BURNED FROM UNDER THE DASH BACK TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 05-4562-613. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #6900484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln, NE Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

FIRE STARTED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND BURNED THROUGH THE INSIDE, CLAIM 27-6082-040. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #6900485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rohnert Park, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND COULD SMELL THE ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING, CONSUMER DISCONNECTED A FUSE TO STOP THE FIRE, THE WIRE WAS BURNED FROM UNDER THE DASH BACK TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 05-4562-613. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #6900785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln, NC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FIRE STARTED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND BURNED THROUGH THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE, CLAIM 27-6082-040. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #6900786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harrisville, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATES AUTO CAUGHT FIRE , BURNING HIS BACK SEAT AND EVERYTHING IN THE BACK SEAT. CONSUMER STATES HE OBSERVED BURNED WIRES IN HIS TRUCK OF HIS AUTO.

NHTSA complaint #8009060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rohnert Park, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND COULD SMELL THE ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING, CONSUMER DISCONNECTED A FUSE TO STOP THE FIRE, THE WIRE WAS BURNED FROM UNDER THE DASH BACK TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 05-4562-613. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #6900785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln, NC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FIRE STARTED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND BURNED THROUGH THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE, CLAIM 27-6082-040. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #6900786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rohnert Park, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING, CONSUMER DISCONNECTED A FUSE TO STOP THE FIRE, WIRE IS BURNED FROM UNDER THE DASH BACK TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 05-4562-613. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #6900484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln, NE Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

FIRE STARTED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND BURNED THROUGH THE INSIDE, CLAIM 27-6082-040. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #6900485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yucaipa, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRING ASSEMBLY REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #603163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverside, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #603132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #602704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chatsworth, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER/STALLED AT ANY SPEED, CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN FOUND BY DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #809605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detroit, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING HEAD LIGHTS AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPOENTS TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. *AK WHILE DRIVING,

NHTSA complaint #984724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sobieski, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

HORN WILL BLOW ON ITS OWN DUE TO POOR GROUND WIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #982919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sobieski, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

HORN WILL BLOW ON ITS OWN DUE TO POOR GROUND WIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #982919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Ford Escort problems

← Full 1996 Ford Escort report