RoadVitals

1991 Ford Escort Interior & seats Problems

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

Data refreshed

Interior & seats 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.
11
Latest Jul 30, 2004
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.
3%
of 327 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.
7
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 seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 interior

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

Interior & seats
Filed Jul 30, 2004
Fire reported

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A 1991 FORD ESCORT IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH WHEN SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD BEHIND THE SPEEDOMETER SECTION. SHE PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE CAR AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE SMOKE CEASED AND A POLICE OFFICER STOPPED BY TO ASSIST. HE REMAINED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK CAME TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO MY HOUSE. THE VEHICLE HAS LIABILITY INSURANCE ONLY. I WAS NOT ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE FOR A FEW DAYS. I NEEDED MORE INFORMATION IN HOW TO GET BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. UPON OPENING THE DASHBOARD, I FOUND THE WIRING BUNDLE LEADING TO THE DASHBOARD METERING WAS MELTED INTO A BUNDLE AND THE WIRES WERE NOT DISTINGUISHABLE IN COLOR ANY MORE. THE MELTED SECTION OF WIRING WAS FURTHER FOUND IN LEADING INTO THE LARGER BUNDLE GOING DEEPER INTO THE DASHBOARD AND INTO THE ENGINE WELL. I CONTACTED FORD CONCERNING THIS AND WAS REFERED BY THEM TO MY INSURANCE AGENT. THE CONSUMER SAFETY COMMISSION SENT ME IN YOUR DIRECTION. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO BESIDES TRASH THE CAR?*AK

NHTSA ID
10082982
Incident
May 17, 2004
Mileage
136,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 11, 2002
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED COMPLETELY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8007428
Incident
May 15, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH TO HOME NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING FROM DASH AREA. VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A FIRE BROKE OUT FROM A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NO RECALL WAS FOUND ON THAT VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
897017
Incident
Sep 24, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 29, 1999
Fire reported

NONE

NHTSA ID
715386
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
Driver assistanceInterior & seatsTransmission
Filed Jan 14, 1997

TRANSMISSION SLIPS.

NHTSA ID
513974
Incident
Mar 3, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 26, 1996

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD WHICH RESULTED IN THE OWNER BEING AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE IN FEAR OF HAVING A COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID
805630
Incident
Sep 25, 1996
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 24, 1996
Fire reported

THE WIRES MELTED BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
987263
Incident
Jul 22, 1996
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 24, 1996

DRIVER'S SEAT BACK REST IS BROKEN, WON'T LOCK UPRIGHT, BACK REST LAYS BACK. TT

NHTSA ID
978134
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 4, 1996
Fire reported

WIRING HARNESS CORRODED; SHORTED OUT; CAUSED ELECTRICAL FIRE. TT

NHTSA ID
977440
Incident
Dec 21, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 8, 1995
Fire reported

WIRING UNDER REAR SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. TT

NHTSA ID
974846
Incident
Oct 12, 1995
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Oct 26, 1995

HORN FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID
487339
Incident
Sep 19, 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical97Seat belts71Fuel system61Transmission24Driver assistance19Engine17Brakes17Steering12Suspension9Exterior lighting8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .