Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports18 fire reports2 injury reports

Equipment complaints

1 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1995

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

OIL LIGHT/AIR PUMP NEVER HOOKED UP. TT

NHTSA ODI #959033

Official recalls

89V170000 · Seats

Oct 13, 1989

THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LIMITED DEGREE OF ROCKING MOTIONOF THE DRIVERS SEAT ASSEMBLY UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT ON ALL MODELS AND A NEW SEAT TRACK AS NECESSARY

87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 4, 1987

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

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

EA88038 · Rear Safety Belt Fit

Opened Aug 29, 1988 · Closed May 11, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other

===

DP88007 · Rear Seat Belt Compliance

Opened Jan 11, 1988 · Closed Aug 24, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other

REAR SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE

EA87023 · Seat Tracks

Opened Sep 24, 1987 · Closed Nov 16, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

SUMMARY: A FRACTURED FRONT SEAT TRACK RECEIVED FROM AN ESCORT OWNER SHOWSTHAT METAL FATIGUE OCCURRED WHICH COULD CAUSE PARTIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT.ANOTHER OWNER SENT PICTURES SHOWING FRACTURE AT THE SAME LOCATION. TENOF THE EIGHTEEN ODI COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS.MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: FORD MADE TWO SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS TO THESEAT TRACK; ONE INCORPORATED A DOUBLE LATCH SYSTEM, LOCKING BOTH THE IN-BOARD AND OUTBOARD TRACK ASSEMBLIES, AND THE OTHER ADDED WEB DEPTH IN THEFRONT AND REAR OF THE SEAT TRACK.FORD PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 1,741 WARRANTY CLAIMS CONCERNING SEAT TRACKFAILURE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THEY BELIEVE THAT FRACTURE OF THE SEAT TRACK CAUSES A LIMITED ROCKINGMOTION AND IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM.PROPOSED ACTION: IR TO FORD SENT 10/9/87.TEST REQUEST SENT TO ETF10/21/87.

PE87028 · Stalling

Opened May 1, 1987 · Closed Jan 21, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===

PE87026 · Seat Track Failure

Opened Apr 28, 1987 · Closed Sep 24, 1987

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

SUMMARY: A FRACTURED FRONT SEAT TRACK RECEIVED FROM AN ESCORT OWNER SHOWSTHAT METAL FATIGUE OCCURRED WHICH COULD CAUSE PARTIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT.ANOTHER OWNER SENT PICTURES SHOWING FRACTURE AT THE SAME LOCATION. TENOF THE EIGHTEEN ODI COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS.MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: FORD MADE TWO SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS TO THESEAT TRACK; ONE INCORPORATED A DOUBLE LATCH SYSTEM, LOCKING BOTH THE IN-BOARD AND OUTBOARD TRACK ASSEMBLIES, AND THE OTHER ADDED WEB DEPTH IN THEFRONT AND REAR OF THE SEAT TRACK.FORD PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 1,741 WARRANTY CLAIMS CONCERNING SEAT TRACKFAILURE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THEY BELIEVE THAT FRACTURE OF THE SEAT TRACK CAUSES A LIMITED ROCKINGMOTION AND IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM.PROPOSED ACTION: CLOSE THIS PE, OPEN AN EA, AND SEND ANOTHER IR TO FORD.===

EA87005 · Fires

Opened Dec 1, 1986 · Closed Oct 31, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:THE ALLEGED FIRES RESULT FROMA VARIETY OF CAUSES.FIRE RATE REMAINS ABOUT THE SAME DESPITE MAJORCHANGES WITH 85-1/2 MODELS.IT BELIEVES THAT THE FIRE RATE IS LESS THANINDUSTRY AVERAGE.MFGR REQUEST COPIES OF SPECIFIC FIRE REPORTS FOR TRENDANALYSIS.ANALYSIS:SEVERAL AREAS OF FIRE ORIGIN ARE MENTIONED.ENGINE FIRESALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY LEAKAGE OF FLAMMABLE FLUIDS (OIL, GAS, TRANS FLUID).CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FREQUENTLY CITED AS OVERHEATING.CERTAIN MODELSARE REPORTED AT A GREATER FREQUENCY.EXP TURBO REPORTED MOST OFTEN ON APER UNIT BASIS.STATUS: IR SENT 2/19/88. AWAITING RESPONSE.===

EA86010 · Seatback Failure

Opened Mar 26, 1986 · Closed Jul 28, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1987 MODELSWILL BE PRODUCED WITH A LONGER M10 BOLT AND A NUT TO INCREASE AND MAIN-TAIN CLAMPING FORCE. BOLTS WERE FORMERLY SELF TAPPING. REPORTS LISTEDABOVE SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THE BOLT BROKE. NONE REFER SIMPLY TOSEAT BACK COLLAPSE ALONE.STATUS:FORD REPLY TO ODI IR DATED 2/2/87.FORD RECALLED 195,7321984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986 (86V-082). ANALYZING REPONSE,MONITORING CANADIAN PROGRESS. RESPONSE TO 4/6/87 LETTER TO FORDRECEIVED 7/15/87. WILL PROBABLY CLOSE AFTER CANADA COMPLETES THEIRACTIONS.===