RoadVitals

1990 Ford Escort Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
12
Latest Aug 23, 2002
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.
12%
of 101 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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017096
Incident
Aug 17, 2002
Engine
Filed Jan 28, 1999

KNOWN FAILURE OF VANE AIR FLOW METER CAUSE BUCKING OF CAR AT HIGHWAY AND STREET SPEEDS.SEE FORD TSB 94-23-8. CAR LOCKS FRONT WHEELS ON SNOWY CONDITIONS WHEN ENGINE BUCKS. THE TSB CALLS FOR KIT FOPZ-9K672-A AND VFMETER E9FZ-12B529-A. KIT DESIGNED IN 1994 WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NO NOTIFICATION ON TSB'S ACCORDING TO FORD POLICY. PLEASE SEND ADDRESS I CAN SEND MY DOCUMENTATION TO DATE, TO YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
702684
Incident
Jan 8, 1999
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 1998
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
534344
Incident
Mar 5, 1998
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 1998

SMOG TEST WAS ABORTED DUE TO HIGH RMPS.

NHTSA ID
528478
Engine
Filed Oct 14, 1997
Fire reported

AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE OWNER WENT TO A REST STOP. WHEN OWNER RETURNED VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE CAME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT.CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
817076
Engine
Filed Jan 23, 1997

THE RADIATOR MOUNTS DISCONNECTED FROM THE METAL RUBBER, ALLOWING THE RADIATOR TO LEAN BACK/ ROCK BACK AND FORTH, CAUSING A HOLE TO WEAR IN THE ALTERNATOR CASE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
806923
Incident
Dec 30, 1996
EngineTransmission
Filed Dec 30, 1996

CLUTCH FAILED.

NHTSA ID
513320
Incident
Dec 20, 1996
Engine
Filed Dec 16, 1996

PISTON ROD IS DETERIORATING, ENGINE CAN NOT FUNCTION SHOULD THE PISTON ROD MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID
512632
Engine
Filed Aug 14, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA ID
507466
Incident
Jul 11, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF HOUSE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY BLEW UP; MADE LOUD SOUND, SUDDENLY FIRE WAS EVERYWHERE. OWNER WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAILS; VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
983414
Incident
Nov 16, 1991
Engine
Filed Apr 22, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE PARKED FOUR HOURS AND THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
983188
Incident
Jun 22, 1995
Engine
Filed Apr 4, 1996

THE CAMSHAFT THAT HOLDS THE GEAR BROKE. PLEAS DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ID
982306

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical42Interior & seats11Seat belts10Fuel system9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .