Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports41 fire reports5 injury reports

Seats complaints

5 reports

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Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2000

Electrical SystemSeatsVisibility

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AFTER I PURCHASED MY FORD ESCORT, THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THE WINDSHIELD MADE NOISE AS I WOULD DRIVE, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS POPPING OUT OF THE CAR,AND THEN THE WINDSHEILD CRACKS AT THE TOP SEAM OF THE CAR . I CALLED FORD TO BE TOLD THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. NEXT MY IGNITION STARTS MALFUNCTIONING, SOMETIMES THE KEY WONT GO IN, OTHER TIMES THE IGNITION WILL TURN ON WITHOUT A KEY , THE KEY IS TORN UP, THE IGNITION UNIT RECENTLY WONT TURN THE KEY IN IT , I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN STUCK IN PUBLIC CAUSE THE IGNITION WOULD NOT WORK. I REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY? BUT BOTH MY BUCKET SEATS IN THE CAR BREAK AT THE SAME TIME? I'M DRIVING THE CAR, AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW IS THAT I'M LAYING IN MY DAUGHTERS LAP IN THE BACK SEAT., THIS WAS A VERY, SCARY EXPERIENCE. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT, ARE THE SEATS SUPPOSED TO MALFUNCTION IN THIS WAY? LAST MY HATCHBACK RATTLES , IT ACTS LIKE THE HINGES AT THE TOP ARE BREAKING , AND THE HATCHBACK LOCK STOP UNLOCKING THE HATCHBACK, I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD SEND ME INFORMATION, BUT THIS NEVER HAPPENED. CAN YOU HELP ME?

NHTSA ODI #730174

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 1997

Seats

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT JUST BROKE OFF THE BRACKETS WITHOUT AN OCCUPANT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #812944

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1997

Latches/locks/linkagesSeat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT, VEHICLE HIT TREE, OWNER NOTES THAT THE REAR SFETY BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME LOOSE AND SON WA STHROEN OUT OF HIS SEAT BEFORE VEHICLE HIT TREE. ALSO, SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND HATCHBACK CAME OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809302

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1996

Seats

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE, SEAT TRACK AND ANCHORS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #802118

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 1996

Seats

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK FRAME BROKE, SEAT FULLY RECLINED BACKWARDS. TT

NHTSA ODI #978271

Official recalls

96V071000 · 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.

89V174000 · Visibility:windshield

Oct 13, 1989

SPECIAL PRIMER THAT PROMOTES THE BONDING OF A URETHANE ADHESIVE TO THE GLASS WAS NOT APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELDS BEFORE INSTALLATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OMISSION OF THE PRIMER COULD CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD NOT TOBE PROPERLY ADHERED TO BODY, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 212.

Remedy: REMOVE AND PROPERLY INSTALL WINDSHIELD USING SPECIAL PRIMER.

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

EA95002 · Fires In Steering Column

Opened Feb 24, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1996

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

ELECTRICAL FIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN.

PE94089 · Front Brake Fires

Opened Nov 25, 1994 · Closed Mar 24, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE94078 · Fires In Steering Column

Opened Nov 4, 1994 · Closed Feb 24, 1995

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

There is no summary currently available