IllustrationTIE ROD JOINT FAILED.
1990 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 2 of 101 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 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
Steering complaints
5 reportsA FEW MINUTES AFTER BEING PARKED, ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE . PLEASE DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAIL. *AK
ON ONE OCCASION THE SEAT TRACK BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
FRONT INNER TIE ROD BROKE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. TT
# EA95-002 WHEN DRIVING SMOKE CAUSED FROM THE STEERING CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE CAR WAS TOTALED . 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.
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
3EA95002 · 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