Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 56 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Ford Escort, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and steering categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 7 NHTSA investigations name it; and 24 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 2 | 2 |
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 4 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 6 |
| Apr 1996 | 8 | 14 |
| May 1996 | 8 | 22 |
| Jun 1996 | 2 | 24 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 25 |
| Sep 1996 | 4 | 29 |
| Oct 1996 | 2 | 31 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 32 |
| Dec 1996 | 2 | 34 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 35 |
| Apr 1997 | 1 | 36 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 37 |
| Jun 1997 | 1 | 38 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 39 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 40 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 41 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 42 |
| Jul 1999 | 1 | 43 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 44 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 45 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 46 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 47 |
| Jun 2001 | 2 | 49 |
| Jul 2001 | 2 | 51 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 52 |
| Dec 2001 | 1 | 53 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 54 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 55 |
| Jun 2009 | 1 | 56 |
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.
3 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.govSEATS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FUEL PUMP FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
SAFETY BELT D-RING
There is no summary currently available
FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINT
WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT
PASSIVE BELT FAILURE
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Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT A DEFECT INVESTIGATION BE DONE ON THE CRASH DATA REPORT. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN HIS 1987 FORD ESCORT WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A 2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE THAT HIT THE CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. A CRASH STUDY WAS PERFORMED ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CADILLAC WHEN IT HIT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH FASTER THAN HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY DIDN'T THE CADILLAC'S SDM NOT REGISTER AND RECORD THE FRONTAL CRASH IMPACT WITH THE ESCORT AS A DEPLOYMENT EVENT. *JB UPDATED 07/16/09.*JB UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF FORENSIC WITNESS REPORT RECEIVED. UPDATED 08/10/09. *JB
NAR 3-10-03 IN REFERENCE TO A PREVIOUS CLAIM, REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FROM NHTSA. HOWEVER, ACTION MADE WASN'T SATISFACTORY SO NOW THE CONSUMER IS THERE SEEKING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO EXPEDITE HIS CLAIM. *CB *JB
VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FIRE BY AN UNKNOWN SOURCE IN THE IGNITION COLUMN PER FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION. *TT
VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING SINCE 1992. *AK
TFI IGNITION MODULE HAD A DEFECT AND WAS AFFECTED IGNITION SWITCH. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
FORD SHOULD CARRY SEAT BELT PARTS FOR OLDER MODEL VEHICLES PERTAINING TO SAFETY OR HAVE ANOTHER MANUFACTURER WHERE PARTS COULD BE LOCATED. CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. *AK
CONSUMER STATES SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE, THIS IS FOURTH MODULE PART THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE MODULE GPD GOES OUT IT CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP NOT WILLING TO HONOR WARRANTY. *JB
WHEN DRIVING FOR 10-12 MILES VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT COMPLETELY , FEELS AS THOUGH TURNING OFF IGNITION. CONSUMER MUST WAIT ABOUT 45 MINUTES BEFORE CAN BE RESTARTED. CONSUMER CONTACTED A MECHANIC, AND REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER, BUT DEFECT OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER. WILL CONTACT MECHANIC AGAIN. *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONCERNS WITH PREMATURE FAILURE OCCURING ON THE 1.9L MOTORCRAFT REMANUFACTURED LONGBLOCK ASSEMBLY AND SHORTBLOCK ASSEMBLY DUE TO INGESTION OF FOREIGN OBJECTS REMAINING IN THE TRANSFERRED INTAKE SYSTEM FROM THE ORIGINAL FAILED ENGINE. *JB
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
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 |
| 1987Viewing | 56 | 3 | 7 | 75.1 |
| 1986 | 45 | 2 | 7 | 73.2 |
| 1985 | 26 | 3 | 9 | 73.4 |
| 1984 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 73.8 |
| 1983 | 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.