1987 Ford Escort Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 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
- Electrical2745.8%
- Engine1220.3%
- Steering35.1%
- Suspension35.1%
- Seat belts35.1%
- Interior & seats35.1%
- Other / unspecified35.1%
- Fuel system23.4%
- Transmission11.7%
- Driver assistance11.7%
- Heating & air conditioning11.7%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING SINCE 1992. *AK
ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WHEN BEING IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP IS AWRE OF PROBLEM. *AK
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT TIE ROD SEPERATED AND FRONT WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO STEERING. *AK
TWO INNER TIE RODS FAILED. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS RUSTED THROUGH WHICH COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE HYDROPLANES ON WET PAVEMENT.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT SOMETIMES WILL NOT WORK, DOESN'T ADJUST ON THE SHOULDER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINING MECHANISM FAILED, RESULTING IN INABILITY OF DRIVER TO SIT UP STRAIGHT WITHOUT CLINGING TO STEERING WHEEL WHEN ACCELERATING. TEETH ON RECLINING LEVER WHICH MESH WITH TEETH ON SEAT TRACK SEEM TO HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. ADDITIONALLY, BAD THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS CAUSED VERY HIGH IDLE SPEED MULTIPLE TIMES, PROBLEM IS WORST DURING RAIN/SNOW. AT TIMES, IDLE SPEED SET SO HIGH THAT BRAKING TO A STOP WOULD STALL THE VEHICLE. TPS REPLACED TWICE, PROBLEM PERSISTS DURING WET WEATHER.
FRONT BUCKET SEAT LATCH BROKE, BACK SEAT IS HOLDING UP FRONT SEAT, THE CONSUMER CAN'T FIND ANY RELIEF FROM THE DEALER UNLESS HE SPENDS 1,000.00. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
WHEEL BROKE WHERE ITS BOLTED TO ROTOR.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
QUIT RUNNING ON HIGHWAY DURING WASH. DC RUSH HOUR / STALLS EVERY DAY (EVEN AFTER 5 REPAIRED FOR STALLING). *AK
ENGINE FIRE STARTED AT FUEL LINE. *DH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINING MECHANISM FAILED, RESULTING IN INABILITY OF DRIVER TO SIT UP STRAIGHT WITHOUT CLINGING TO STEERING WHEEL WHEN ACCELERATING. TEETH ON RECLINING LEVER WHICH MESH WITH TEETH ON SEAT TRACK SEEM TO HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. ADDITIONALLY, BAD THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS CAUSED VERY HIGH IDLE SPEED MULTIPLE TIMES, PROBLEM IS WORST DURING RAIN/SNOW. AT TIMES, IDLE SPEED SET SO HIGH THAT BRAKING TO A STOP WOULD STALL THE VEHICLE. TPS REPLACED TWICE, PROBLEM PERSISTS DURING WET WEATHER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
BLOWER MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .