Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
45
Latest Aug 4, 2008
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.
20
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 12, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 45 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Ford Escort. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 45 · page 1 of 2
Engine
Filed Aug 4, 2008
Fire reported1 death reported
I AM WRITING YOU TODAY ABOUT A SITUATION THAT OCCURRED JULY 3RD 1986 IN MORTON GROVE ILLINOIS AT 11:52P.M. I AM THE MOTHER OF A 2 YEAR OLD THAT WAS BURNED TO DEATH IN A 1986 FORD ESCORT THAT WAS NOT ON IN THE PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE. YES IT HAS BEEN OVER 20 YEARS, BUT DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TIME I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYONE TO LISTEN TO MY STORY. WELL, THIS PARTICULAR CAR WAS A RENTAL FROM BUDGET RENTAL IN GLENVIEW ILLINOIS AND WE WERE ON A FAMILY OUTING. ALL WAS WELL AND THEN WE STOPPED OFF TO GET SOME FIRE WORKS. I COULD ONLY AFFORD SMOKE BOMBS AND SPARKLES. NEEDLESS TO SAY WHEN THIS HORRIFIC EVENT OCCURRED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE REASON THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THAT IS NOT TRUE. YOU CAN'T START A FIREWORK WITHOUT A LIGHTER. THE RENTAL CAR DID NOT HAVE A CIGARETTE LIGHTER OR THERE WERE NO MATCHES. I FOUND A NEWS ARTICLE DATE IN THE VIRGINIAN PILOT, APRIL 18, 1996, TEN YEARS LATER STATING THAT THERE WAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM IN CARS DATED AS FAR BACK AS 1984. PLEASE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH THIS MINI MOVIE PLAYING IN MY HEAD OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH NO RESOLUTION. THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY OR FAME. MY CHILD DIED BEFORE HE COULD SEE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE WITH HIS FAMILY. HERE IS A COPY OF THE ARTICLE. I NEED HELP. THIS INCIDENT HAS CRUSHED MY FAMILY. MY OLDEST SON AND I HAD TO WITNESS THIS UNABLE TO HELP MY BABY. YOU WONDER WHY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO WRITE THIS LETTER, IT IS VERY HARD FOR ME TO DO THIS NOW. I NEED CLOSURE. EVERY YEAR ON THIS DATE, I SIT AT HIS GRAVE SITE AND WONDER WHAT WENT WRONG. I RENT CARS ALL THE TIME AND I AM IN FEAR OF ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. BUT IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN FACT OF A PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGED 10 YEARS LATER, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. YOUR COMPANY HAS IMPROVED DURING TRIAL AND ERROR, HOWEVER, DID MY SON HAVE TO DIE DURING THE ERROR PART. *TR
NHTSA ID
10236821
Incident
Jul 3, 1986
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 2004
CONSUMER BECAME ILL FROM THE FUMES THAT EMITTED FROM THE HEATER/AC SYSTEM. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE HEATER/RADIATOR SYSTEM HOWEVER THE CONSUMER REMAINED ILL. *NM
NHTSA ID
10068586
Electrical
Filed Jun 4, 2002
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET IT STARTED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ID
8011043
Incident
Jul 17, 1996
Filed Aug 17, 2001
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED THAT ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON AND STAY ON THROUGH OUT TRAVEL .DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, TECHNICIAN CUT INDICATION LIGHT OFF 4 TIME WITH COST TO CUSTOMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
894595
Filed Oct 15, 2000
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ID
734369
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 14, 2000
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE ENGINE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESURFACES AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. A CALIFORNIA JUDGE HAS ORDERED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COMPLY UNLESS THE NHTSA ORDERS THEM TO DO SO. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS TO NOT ENDANGER MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734328
NHTSA ID
10007035
Incident
Oct 12, 2000
Mileage
80,150 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 14, 2000
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESURFACES AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. A CALIFORNA JUDGE HAS ORDERED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COMPLY UNLESS THE NHTSA ORDERS THEM TO DO SO. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS TO NOT ENDANGER MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
734328
Incident
Oct 12, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 2000
IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 3 YEARS, CAR WAS STALLING AT LOW SPEED. THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RETURNING.
NHTSA ID
734155
Incident
Dec 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Oct 11, 2000
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT IGNITION WENT BAD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL . IGNITION WAS REPLACED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.*AK
NHTSA ID
872737
Incident
Sep 18, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Jul 26, 1999
THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS PREMATURLEY RUSTED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
843411
Incident
Jun 8, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 21, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, AND VEHICLE WENT DOWNHILL. FRONTAL IMPACT, ONE INJURY TO DRIVER. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, NO RECALL LISTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
829286
Incident
Sep 18, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Sep 9, 1998
QUARTER PANEL OVER REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAS WEAKENED TIRE IS BENT IN SLIGHTLY FROM HOLE DEVELOPED RIGHT NEXT TO SHOCK WITHIN INCHES.
NHTSA ID
539774
Body & structure
Filed Oct 3, 1997
LEFT REAR UNIBODY IS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS NOTHING IS HOLDING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ON VEHICLE.
NHTSA ID
523513
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Fuel system
Filed Nov 22, 1996
CARBURETOR FAILED.
NHTSA ID
602281
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Sep 12, 1996
RUST DEVELOPED IN SUSPENSION OFF THE WELL, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF.
NHTSA ID
802319
Incident
Sep 12, 1996
Engine
Filed Jun 10, 1996
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VENTS, THEN SUDDENLY VEHICLE INTERIOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ID
985468
Engine
Filed May 30, 1996
ENGINE FIRE.
NHTSA ID
504877
Incident
Apr 20, 1995
Electrical
Filed May 24, 1996
Fire reported
DRIVEN ON FRWY, PARKED IN PARKING LOT, TOOK VEHICLE OFF PARKING LOT, ABOUT 1/4 MILE LATER SAW FLAMES COMING FROM HOOD, FIRE DEPT ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. *AK
NHTSA ID
984819
Incident
May 2, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 13, 1996
Fire reported
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, TURNED IGNITION ON AND VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
NHTSA ID
984351
Incident
Jan 1, 1990
Electrical
Filed May 10, 1996
Fire reported
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR THREE MINUTES AND THEN IT WENT UP IN FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
984372
Incident
Jul 12, 1993
Exterior lighting
Filed May 6, 1996
TURN SIGNALS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES YET. *AK
NHTSA ID
984067
Transmission
Filed May 3, 1996
PLASTIC GOVERNOR IN TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601574)
NHTSA ID
503868
Incident
Apr 24, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 30, 1996
Fire reported
WAS DRIVING TO A MEETING, PARKED HIS VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, WENT TO MEETING, RETURNED, SAW FIRE DEPT., SAW VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK
NHTSA ID
983780
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 1996
Fire reported
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
983612
Electrical
Filed Apr 25, 1996
Fire reported
AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED IN FIRE. *DSH
NHTSA ID
503803
Incident
Jan 1, 1986
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.
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