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: 81 of 576 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.
Seat Belts. Review the 152 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
75 crash reports19 fire reports53 injury reports
What owners actually said
576 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1998
Seat Belts
SOME TIME IN MID SEPTEMBER 1998 THE TRACKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT BROKE. ABOUT 4 WEEKS LATER THE MOTOR FOR THE SEATBELT WENT. THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT STARTED JAMMING IN IT'S TRACKS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY SERVICE REP, AND HE SAID HE WOULD TALK TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER. WHEN I CONTACTED HIM…
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SOME TIME IN MID SEPTEMBER 1998 THE TRACKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT BROKE. ABOUT 4 WEEKS LATER THE MOTOR FOR THE SEATBELT WENT. THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT STARTED JAMMING IN IT'S TRACKS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY SERVICE REP, AND HE SAID HE WOULD TALK TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER. WHEN I CONTACTED HIM AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CORP ON TO SEPERATE OCCATIONS. I'M TOLD THE COST TO REPLACE MY SEATBELTS (BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) WILL BE $760.00, AND THAT IT IS MY RESPONSBILITY. I STATED THAT THIS WAS A BASIC SAFTEY FEATURE AND THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD BY ALL THOSE THAT I CONTACTED, THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS UP THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA ODI #700861
Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1998
Seat Belts
IE 98074, THE DRIVER'S MOTORIZED SEAT BELT GETS STUCK IN MIDDLE OF THE SEATBELT TRACK WHICH WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. REPLACED THE DRIVER SEATBELT ONCE. SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #831119
Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1998
Steering
SYMPTOM: NOISE LIKE A MUFFLER BRACKET FAILURE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS. STEERING NOT CHANGED. DEALER REPORTED TIE ROD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. PART REPLACED OUT OF WARRANTY 1/2 COST COVERED BY FORD. DEALER REPORTS NO ACTUAL ROAD FAILURES OF ESCORT TIE ROD ENDS BUT SEVERAL (INCLUDING THIS ONE) HAVE BEEN A…
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SYMPTOM: NOISE LIKE A MUFFLER BRACKET FAILURE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS. STEERING NOT CHANGED. DEALER REPORTED TIE ROD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. PART REPLACED OUT OF WARRANTY 1/2 COST COVERED BY FORD. DEALER REPORTS NO ACTUAL ROAD FAILURES OF ESCORT TIE ROD ENDS BUT SEVERAL (INCLUDING THIS ONE) HAVE BEEN AT THE POINT OF FAILURE (PRINCIPALLY HELD TOGETHER BY THE RUBBER MOUNTING IN THE TIE ROD END). TIE ROD FAILURE IS VERY SERIOUS SINCE THE DRIVER LOSES ALL STEERING CONTROL.
NHTSA ODI #700730
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 1998
Seat BeltsInjury
AUTOMATIC DRIVER-SIDE SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONED AND IS NOT COVERED BYT WARRANTY ACCORDING TO FORD DEALERSHIP. I FEEL THIS IS A VALID SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED A NO CHARGE TO MYSELF. ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $350. FOR A NEW MOTOR. I AM WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT THE SHOULDER HARNESS.
NHTSA ODI #700593
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1998
Seat Belts
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE REAR SHOULDER BELTS INSTEAD OF RESTRAINING THE PASSENGERS DID NOT HOLD, AND THE LATCHES DID NOT RETRACT. CONSUMER STATES THE BELTS ARE DEFECTIVE., DEALER CONTACTED,AND STATED WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED ,AND BELTS WERE NOT COVERED. REPAIRS MUST BE MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #830618
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1998
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD HEAR CLICKING NOISES. VEHICLE WOULD ALSO VIBRATE WITH NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE TORQUE CONVERTOR/THE GEARS & PINS CAME LOOSE & BOUNCED AROUND TRANSMISSION. WAS POORLY DESIGNED. *AK.
NHTSA ODI #830114
Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
WHILE DRIVING THE OXYGEN SENSOR INSULATION WHICH IS TAPED TORE OFF UNTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #829900
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline
GAS TANK SPLIT AT SEAM RESULTING IN GAS LEAK.
NHTSA ODI #542027
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1998
Parking Brake
TWO BOLTS THAT SUPPORT THE BRACKET TO THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE CABLE CAME OFF, CAUSING THE BRACKET TO SHEAR THROUGH THE BRAKE LINE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ARIZONA. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE WELD SEAM CAN SEPARATE, CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO FAIL TO DEPLOY PROPERLY AND HOT GASES TO BE EXPELLED FROM THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY FROM THE HOT GASES AND THE AIR BAG FAILURE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG MODULE.
TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM MODULE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MISSING. IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE MODULE CAN COME OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS WOULD NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER AND WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL AND TORQUE TO SPECIFICATION THE MOUNTING BOLTS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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