IllustrationIGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL #98S28 ON 05-OCT-98. ON 19-NOV-98, CONSUMER HAD PARKED THE VEHICLE AFTER TRAVELING AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
1988 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Ford Escort do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escort years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 143 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports55 fire reports6 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
75 reportsVEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WHEN STARTED UP THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES AND SMOKE UNDER HOOD. POLICE OFFICER PUT THE FIRE OUT. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. NOT AWARE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, NO WARRANTY. *AK
DEFECT IN WIRING HARNESS, CAUSED HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO MELT AND FAIL.
VEHICLE PARKED; NEIGHBOR CAME & INFORMED OWNER VEHICLE ON FIRE. FLAMES COMING FROM GRILL AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. INFORMED OWNER FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR BATTERY CABLE AREA. *AK
AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR APPROX 45 MINUTES AND PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AUTOMOBILE CAUGHT AN FIRE AND BURNED UP. NO INJURIES, EVERYONE WAS IN THE HOUSE. *AK
ENGINE HESTITATES AND STALLS.
STARTER SOLENOID FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIR.
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WIRING MELTED, CAUSING LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS.
A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. FORD RECOMMENDS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGN.
Official recalls
296V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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
5PE90063 · Safety Belt D-RING
Opened Mar 21, 1990 · Closed Jul 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
EA90008 · Failed Passive Restraint
Opened Dec 27, 1989 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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
PE89143 · Passive Belt Failure
Opened Jul 18, 1989 · Closed Dec 27, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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EA88038 · Rear Safety Belt Fit
Opened Aug 29, 1988 · Closed May 11, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other
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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