IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 40-45MPH HAD FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. NO PRIOR PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *AK *ML
1998 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Escort years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Ford Escort are substantially higher than 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: 57 of 375 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
84 crash reports11 fire reports63 injury reports
What owners actually said
375 reportsALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR 2 DAYS. DEALERSHIP INSISTED ONLY LOSE CLAMP, TRANS OK. ON 4/30/00 BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH 1ST GEAR. HAD TO HAVE COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF TRANSMISSION. *AK
RADIO AND CD FAILURE. UNCLEAR RADIO SIGNAL AND NO CD PLAYING CAPABILITY. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT STEERING/ BRAKES SQUEAKED. *AK
SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE OF MY FORD ESCORT SEDAN, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK AND INSPECT THE VIBRATION SOUND OF THE VEHICLE IN WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING, I FEEL THE VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. SECONDLY THE STEERING WHEEL SQUEAKS WHEN TURNING IT TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT, ESP…
Read full complaint
SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE OF MY FORD ESCORT SEDAN, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK AND INSPECT THE VIBRATION SOUND OF THE VEHICLE IN WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING, I FEEL THE VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. SECONDLY THE STEERING WHEEL SQUEAKS WHEN TURNING IT TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT, ESPECIALLY AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT AND RIGHT TURN. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND IS AT THE NORMAL LEVEL. THIRDLY, I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3000 MILES AND HAVE NOTICE TWICE THAT THE MOTOR BURNS UP ALMOST A QUART OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES, I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THE VEHICLE TAKE 5 QUARTS OF OIL. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 4 CYLINDER, SO IT SHOULD TAKE 4 QUARTS. HOWEVER, THEY TELL ME TO CHECK AGAIN. I HAVE A FORD ESCORT WAGON 1982, AND I NEVER HAD THE PROBLEMS THAT THIS FORD ESCORT 1998 IS HAVING. PLEASE ADVICE ME WHAT TO DO AND SEND ME ANY INFORMATION ON RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE FORD ESCORT SEDAN, 4 DOORS WHITE, VIN NUMBER [XXX] . SEMPER FI. [XXX] USMC RETIRED. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHEN VEHICLE REAR ENDED A SUV WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 69MPH HOOD ATTEMPTED TO POP & WAS CAUGHT BY A SECONDARY LATCH. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE LATCH, AND IT WOULD NOT RELEASE BY PULLING CABLE. BUT COULD PULL IT UP BY HAND. DEALER WILL REPAIR HOOD AT CONSUMER'S COST & DEDUCTIBLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE REMAINED OPEN AND WAS STUCK. ENDED UP HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO HIT A TREE & A POLE. TRIED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL & VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. FINALLY SHUT VEHICLE OFF. SOMETIME LATER, RESTARTED VEHICLE & IT WAS STILL RUNNING AT FULL THROTTLE. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
THIS VEHICLE WAS IN A REAR END ACCIDENT WERE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME TOTALLY DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE DIED. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH AND WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY, RESULTING IN SEVERAL MINOR PROBLEMS. CONSUMER HAS NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
1DP01001 · Air Bag NON-DEPLOYMENT
Opened Apr 19, 2001 · Closed Nov 1, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
No summary supplied.