RoadVitals

1985 Ford Escort Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest May 14, 2001
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
35%
of 26 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1985 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectricalSeat belts+1 more
Filed May 14, 2001

SEAT BELT LATCH INCORPORATES A PLASTIC SPACER WHICH HOLDS METAL BAR IN POSITION, THE METAL BAR HOLDS THE SEAT BELT WEBBING IN PLACE, THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND NO LONGER HOLDS THE BAR IN POSITION, ALLOWING THE SEAT BELT NOT TO STAY FASTENED, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SELL PLASTIC PART, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE HIM TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. *JB

NHTSA ID
561204
Electrical
Filed Feb 8, 2001

DRIVING AT ROAD SPEED AND CAR STALLS OUT 'IT WILL ONLY START AFTER THE CAR SETS FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES THIS HAS HAPPEND SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
740631
Incident
Jul 15, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 4, 1996

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA ID
508204
Incident
Apr 15, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 12, 1996
Fire reported

FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION COLUMN, TOTALLY BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID
985580
Incident
Jun 11, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 9, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH

NHTSA ID
504259
Incident
Jan 1, 1991
Electrical
Filed May 8, 1996
Fire reported

EXPERIENCED FIRE UNDERHOOD. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
984262
Incident
Feb 3, 1992
Electrical
Filed May 3, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA ID
503874
Incident
Feb 12, 1996
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Feb 13, 1996
Fire reported

EXPERIENCED FIRE UNDERHOOD. *TT CONSUMER STATES FIRE STARTED IN THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL,VEHICLE ALSO STARTED BY ITSELF.*JB

NHTSA ID
979180
Incident
Feb 12, 1996
Electrical
Filed Feb 12, 1996

FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH BAD SMELL FROM THE IGNITION. TT

NHTSA ID
979070
Incident
Oct 9, 1995

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 .