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1996 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Escort years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Ford Escort are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
205Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
379
1993279
1994576
1995205
1996543
1997375
1998325
1999
Compare all Escort years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
77Engine And Engine Cooling
30Power Train
19Air Bags
18Electrical System
14
All reported categories
Suspension
13Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Steering
10Fuel System, Gasoline
8Unknown Or Other
6Vehicle Speed Control
5Seats
4Structure
4Tires
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Wheels
3Fuel System, Other
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1

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: 21 of 205 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 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports7 fire reports18 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

5 reports
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55,500 miles · Mar 18, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE. THE SOUND IS GETTING LOUDER AND CAN BE VERY ANNOYING. *JB WAS SHOCKED AND SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT LEFT REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LI…

Read full complaint

CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE. THE SOUND IS GETTING LOUDER AND CAN BE VERY ANNOYING. *JB WAS SHOCKED AND SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT LEFT REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CODE READS 1443. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AND SAID IT MIGHT HAVE A BEEN LOOSE GAS CAP. HE RESET THE LIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING 15 MILES, TOOK IT BACK TO SERVICE STATION AND GOT SAME CODE. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND HAS ASKED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR A SMOKE TEST.

NHTSA ODI #10010698

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed ControlInjury

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE BACKING OUT AND CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT. YH

NHTSA ODI #552671

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON THREE OCCASIONS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #840999

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

STARTED VEHICLE ON MORNING OF 1/28. REVVING AT EXTREMELY HIGH SPEED. THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING (THROTTLE?) WAS FROZEN. DROVE 2 MILES TO SERVICE STATION. TECH WORKED FOR 10 DAYS TRYING TO FIND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. TOWED TO DEALER ON 2/8/99. DEALER COULD FIGURE OUT WHERE PROBLEM IS. CAR STILL WITH DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #703345

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE LEAVING A PARKING STRUCTURE THE AUTO SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 50 MPH AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED, NOT EVEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKES STOPPED THE AUTO. CONSUMER PULLED KEY OUT OF IGNITION AND THEN THE AUTO CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #802916

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.