Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1983 Ford Escort, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and fuel system categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 8 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 1996 | 2 | 2 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 3 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 4 |
| Mar 1998 | 1 | 5 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 6 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 7 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
5 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
SEATS
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
STALLING
STALLING
SEATBACK FAILURE
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1987 MODELSWILL BE PRODUCED WITH A LONGER M10 BOLT AND A NUT TO INCREASE AND MAIN-TAIN CLAMPING FORCE. BOLTS WERE FORMERLY SELF TAPPING. REPORTS LISTEDABOVE SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THE BOLT BROKE. NONE REFER SIMPLY TOSEAT BACK COLLAPSE ALONE.STATUS:FORD REPLY TO ODI IR DATED 2/2/87.FORD RECALLED 195,7321984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986 (86V-082). ANALYZING REPONSE,MONITORING CANADIAN PROGRESS. RESPONSE TO 4/6/87 LETTER TO FORDRECEIVED 7/15/87. WILL PROBABLY CLOSE AFTER CANADA COMPLETES THEIRACTIONS.===
STALLING AND CARBURETOR MALFUNCTIONS
STALLING AND CARBURETOR MALFUNCTIONS
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE CAR PURCHASED WAS FOR 1800 AND THE MECHANIC WHERE PURCHASED FROM TOLD ERIC THAT THE CAR WAS FULLY INSPECTED AND READY FOR THE ROAD. HIS GIRLFRIEND TEST DROVE THE CAR AND TOLD GREG THAT THE BRAKES DIDNT WORK HE SAID HE'D HAVE THEM LOOKED AT. HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AFTER HE SUPPOSEDLY RE-CHECKED THEM AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO MONRO MUFFLER TO BE RE-CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE WHOLE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WAS RUSTED AND ROTTED STRAIGHT THROUGH. THE CAR IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND GREG REFUSES TO RETURN THE MONEY TO THE CONSUMER. IF YOU COULD PLEASE HELP US OUT THAT WOULD BE GREAT. PHONE ME AT 860-589-9445
POSSIBLE CARBURATOR FAILURE MAY HAVE CAUSED VEHICLE TO HESITATE WHILE DRIVING. NLM
ELECTRIC SEAT BELTS FAILED.
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURIES.( NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601624, 601627)
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OWNER SMELLED SMOKE. DRIVER LIFTED HOOD AND WIRING HARNESS WAS ON FIRE NEAR FIREWALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER RIPPED LOOSE FROM FIREWALL DUE TO METAL FATIGUE, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE/LOSS OF CONTROL. *SD
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD
STRUCTURE:BODY
SHEET METAL-ROOF PANEL AND DRIP RAIL REPLACEMENT- SEAM SEALER APPLICATION PROCEDURE.*SD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC; STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
UNKNOWN
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 37.7 |
| 2002 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 43.4 |
| 2001 | 68 | 1 | 0 | 47.6 |
| 2000 | 98 | 2 | 0 | 54.2 |
| 1999 | 325 | 2 | 1 | 61.5 |
| 1998 | 375 | 1 | 1 | 55.2 |
| 1997 | 543 | 2 | 2 | 65.3 |
| 1996 | 205 | 1 | 0 | 47.7 |
| 1995 | 576 | 5 | 1 | 61.0 |
| 1994 | 279 | 2 | 0 | 56.7 |
| 1993 | 379 | 3 | 1 | 59.1 |
| 1992 | 162 | 3 | 1 | 59.4 |
| 1991 | 327 | 4 | 6 | 69.4 |
| 1990 | 101 | 2 | 3 | 70.2 |
| 1989 | 152 | 1 | 2 | 62.7 |
| 1988 | 143 | 2 | 5 | 71.7 |
| 1987 | 56 | 3 | 7 | 75.1 |
| 1986 | 45 | 2 | 7 | 73.2 |
| 1985 | 26 | 3 | 9 | 73.4 |
| 1984 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 73.8 |
| 1983Viewing | 7 | 5 | 3 | — |
| 1982 | 4 | 5 | 5 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 10 | 4 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.