IllustrationSTEERING 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. *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
Steering complaints
9 reportsCONSUMER HAD RECALL REPAIR OF THE IGNITION SWITCH (95S28) PERORMED BUT EXPERIENCED AN IGNITION SWITCH FIRE AFTER RECALL REPAIR. NLM
INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS FAILED.
LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE CRACKED, ALLOWING THE BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
MISALIGNMENT OF VEHICLE.
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 VE…
Read full complaint
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.*JB
WHILE TURNING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDERNEATH. FLUID RAN ONTO HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SERVICE MANAGER STATES RACK AND PINION AND COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE. TT
HORN IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO BRUSHES IN THE COLUMN OF STEERING WHEEL. TT
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