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
What owners actually said
205 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2003
Electrical System
DEFECTIVE SPARK PLUG, ROBERT BOSCH CORP. AFTER A ROUTINE CHANGE OF SPARK PLUGS IN OUR 1996 FORD ESCORT, MY CAR QUIT RUNNING. THE BOSCH SPARK PLUG BLEW UP IN MY CAR. WE HAVE HAD THE TOP OF THE ENGINE REPAIRED FOR $900+ AND THE BOTTOM NEEDS REPAIR FOR $1000.+ WE HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND THEY IN FACT B…
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DEFECTIVE SPARK PLUG, ROBERT BOSCH CORP. AFTER A ROUTINE CHANGE OF SPARK PLUGS IN OUR 1996 FORD ESCORT, MY CAR QUIT RUNNING. THE BOSCH SPARK PLUG BLEW UP IN MY CAR. WE HAVE HAD THE TOP OF THE ENGINE REPAIRED FOR $900+ AND THE BOTTOM NEEDS REPAIR FOR $1000.+ WE HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND THEY IN FACT BLAME MY CAR!!!! WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE BEFORE THE INSTALLATION OF THE BOSCH SPARK PLUG. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND SINCE THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR, THE KNOCK IN THE ENGINE IS GETTING LOUDER, SHE CAN NOT DRIVE IT ON THE EXPRESSWAY, AND I HOPE WE CAN RESOLVE THIS MATTER BEFORE THE ENGINE QUITS ENTIRELY AND SOMEONE GETS HURT. PRECISION TUNE, WHO REPAIRED THE TOP OF THE ENGINE LAST YEAR SAID THAT THESE BOSCH PLATINUM SPARK PLUGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THEY HAVE SEEN THEM EXPLODE IN OTHER AUTOS (BOSCH PLATINUM SPARK PLUG HR9HP0). *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10021040
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2003
Unknown Or Other
PURCHASED A 1996 ESCORT AND MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE ORIGINAL GREEN PAINT JOB WAS NOT WORTHY OF THE CAR ITS ON. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10018816
106,359 miles · Apr 8, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER AS DESIGNED, THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB *SCC
NHTSA ODI #10015412
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…
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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 · Feb 19, 2003
Suspension
ABNORMAL RATE OF REAR SPRINGS ON LATE 90'S FORD ESCORT STATION WAGONS. I AM A MECHANIC WITH BROWNIES AUTO REPAIR IN WALKERSVILLE,MD. I PERSONALLY HAVE REPLACED THE REAR SPRINGS ON AT LEAST 8 ESCORT WAGONS. I HAVE CHECKED OTHER ESCORT WAGONS AND FIND MOST BROKEN IN THE SAME SPOT. COULD PUNCTURE TIRE.
NHTSA ODI #10007825
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2002
Seat Belts
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT HOLD THE DRIVER NEITHER THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
NHTSA ODI #8024000
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2002
Seat Belts
RESTRAIN BELTS AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FRONT SEAT DRIVING SIDE IS NOT WORK PROPERLY, DEALER HAS REPLACED TWICE AND STILL REOCCURRING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA ODI #8020871
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2002
Seat Belts
CONSUMER STATES THEN WHEN DRVR'S DOOR IS SHUT THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT FULLY RELEASE OR SECURE OCCUPANT. THE BELT WILL ONLY MOVE TO THE HALFWAY POINT ON THE TRACK. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE BELT WILL CONTINOUSLY CLICK AS IF TRYING TO MOVE BUT CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO ADJUST MANUALLY. NLM
NHTSA ODI #8020083
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2002
Suspension
I NEVER HAULED ANYTHING HEAVY IN THE BACK OF MY STATION WAGON. THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE HOLLOW NOT SOLID AND FAILED BECAUSE THEY RUSTED THROUGH AS A RESULT OF WATER COLLECTING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SUPPORT WHICH HOLDS THE BASE OF THE SPRING IN THE CORRECT POSITION. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT MANY TIMES WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THE BROK…
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I NEVER HAULED ANYTHING HEAVY IN THE BACK OF MY STATION WAGON. THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE HOLLOW NOT SOLID AND FAILED BECAUSE THEY RUSTED THROUGH AS A RESULT OF WATER COLLECTING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SUPPORT WHICH HOLDS THE BASE OF THE SPRING IN THE CORRECT POSITION. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT MANY TIMES WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THE BROKEN SPRING WILL TWIST AND PUNCTURE THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE THAT IT IS ADJACENT TO THE SPRING. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE SAME SPRING FAILURE OCCURS WITH ALL THE FORD ESCORT STATION WAGONS. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL THESE STATION WAGONS AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. NLM
NHTSA ODI #767203
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2002
Seat Belts
BOTH REAR SEATBELT RETRACTORS NO LONGER WORK, PARTS WERE REPLACED IN JULY 1997.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8016484
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.
1996 Ford Escort Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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