RoadVitals

1996 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.
8
Latest Apr 6, 2011
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.
4%
of 205 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 Apr 6, 2011

1996 FORD ESCORT, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. UNIT 1'S HOOD OPENED AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. UNIT 1 CONTINUED ON TO THE NEXT EMERGENCY PULL OFF TO FILE THE REPORT. BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0142-90)*JB UPDATED 04/22/11 *BF

NHTSA ID
10395048
Incident
Feb 22, 2011
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 6, 2005

I DO NOT HAVE ANY EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONSISTED OF MY SEAT BACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SNAPPING AT THE BASE. AFTER PULLING THE SEAT COVER OFF I NOTICED THAT THE STAINLESS STEEL FRAME ON THE SEAT COMPLETELY BROKE/SNAPPED ALLOWING THE SEAT TO FALL BACK UNCONTROLLABLY. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND ALMOST WRECKED. I REPLACED THE SEAT WITH A LIKE SEAT FROM A USED VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10138928
Incident
Sep 27, 2005
Mileage
154,000 mi
EngineInterior & seats
Filed Jun 19, 2002

WHEN TALKING TO A MACHINE SHOP THERE IS A TECH BULLETIN STATING THAT FORD ON 94-97 WHEN THEY BAKED THE POWDER METAL FOR THEIR INTAKE SEATS SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND THAT ALL SEATS IN HEAD SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE PEOPLE AT THE MACHINE SHOP SAID THEY HAD TO EVEN REPLACE ALL THE PISTONS IN THE MOTORS DUE TO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE SEATS. AND IT IS ALL A FORD ERROR AND THEY KNOW IT

NHTSA ID
763259
Incident
Jun 14, 2002
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 4, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
730088
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 7, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY A VAN, UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE IN HALF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
854791
Incident
Jul 26, 1996
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 29, 1997

DOOR HANDLE OR LOCK BROKEN, OWNER HAS TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE.

NHTSA ID
603536
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 28, 1997

DRIVER'S SIDE MAP LIGHT HAS LITTLE OR NO USE.

NHTSA ID
603761
Incident
Dec 1, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 26, 1996

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. YOU HAVE TO GET OUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.

NHTSA ID
800064
Incident
Jul 26, 1996

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

Seat belts77Engine30Airbags18Electrical15Suspension13Powertrain (other)13Fuel system11Brakes11Steering10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .