RoadVitals

1984 Ford Escort Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Apr 17, 2003
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1984 Ford Escort, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical1150.0%
  • Engine522.7%
  • Seat belts418.2%
  • Brakes14.5%
  • Fuel system14.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT JUST STOPPED RUNNING WITHOUTWARNING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE IGNITION. WHEN THE TFI OVERHEATED IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT CONNECT. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBACK BROKE AND WILL NOT GO UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID 896014 · filed Sep 7, 2001

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID 986412 · filed Jul 2, 1996
All 11 reports naming electrical →

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

NHTSA RECALL# 09V095000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 89S66. CONSUMER GOT A RECALL NOTICE ON VEHICLE, AND DEALER DIDN'T HAVE PARTS. ALSO, DEALER WILL PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, BUT CONSUMER HAD TO PAY 1300.00 OUT OF POCKET FOR EXHAUST THAT GOES WITH ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID 895921 · filed Sep 6, 2001

RECALL 89V095000; ENGINE GASKETS; WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED GILBERT TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO KENDALL MOTORS. KENDALL MOTORS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THER WAS NO PROBLEM. NOW THER IS A LEAKAGE COMING AND CAUSED BY THE RECALLED PART AND KENDALL MOTORS WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID 816851 · filed Oct 3, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE SEAT BELT BROKE, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS NEVER INFORMED.*JB

NHTSA ID 10009644 · filed Feb 28, 2003

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT JUST STOPPED RUNNING WITHOUTWARNING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE IGNITION. WHEN THE TFI OVERHEATED IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT CONNECT. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBACK BROKE AND WILL NOT GO UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID 896014 · filed Sep 7, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VACUUM PUMP (BRAKES) HOUSING IS BROKEN AND PUMP DOES NOT WORK. CONTACTED FORD IN SEPT 2001 BUT HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS IN THEM HELPING TO LOCATE THIS PART. NO SALVAGE YARD OR AUTO PARTS STORE HAS IT. CAR IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION BUT IT WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH BRAKES IN THIS CONDITION.

NHTSA ID 10002682 · filed Jan 14, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED THERE WAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER HAD TO SLAM ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE CARBONATED UP. *NLM

NHTSA ID 10016112 · filed Apr 17, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .