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.
29
Latest Nov 11, 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.
5%
of 543 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.
17
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4
What this page shows
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 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
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
INITIAL PROBLEM WAS THAT HEATER BLOWER WOULD NOT OPERATE. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ELECTRICAL MELT-DOWN ON A COMPONENT AND STATED THAT WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD NOT HAD A FIRE. THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE MOTOR RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE WHEN I CHECKED FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING ESCORTS, THERE WERE MANY OTHERS THAT DID HAVE FIRES DUE TO WIRING/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *JB
NHTSA ID
10098670
Incident
Nov 10, 2004
Mileage
82,610 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 27, 2004
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH CONSUMER TURNED THE HEATHER ON TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES AND HEAVY SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK
NHTSA ID
10089893
Incident
Feb 22, 2004
Mileage
74,458 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 16, 2004
Fire reported
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHIC EVENTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL, AND STARTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ID
10080085
Incident
Jun 28, 2004
Mileage
72,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Dec 2, 2003
Fire reported
VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A LOCAL GARAGE.*MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF THE REMAINED ON. CONSUMER ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL AFTER SMELLING SMOKE. A TROOPER RECOMMENDED HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL GARAGE LOCKED UP WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED DUE TO THE HOT TEMPERATURE. THE FIRE DEPT. FOUND THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. *PH
NHTSA ID
10050222
Incident
Sep 21, 2003
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 6, 2003
Fire reported
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATES HIGHWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. SHE SMELLED SMOKE, AND LOOKED DOWN, AND THERE WERE FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. DASH BURNED UP. SHE HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, BUT HE DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, JUST SAID IT WAS THE DASHBOARD. *AK
NHTSA ID
10032318
Incident
Aug 6, 2003
Interior & seats
Filed May 3, 2003
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FUSE BLOWN ALONG WITH TAIL LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHT AND RADIO NOT FUNCTIONING. FOUND MELTED WIRES UNDER DASH BY THE FUSE BLOCK MAKING THE IGNITION BELL RING WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER DASH. SERVICE DEALER CLAIMS IT WILL BE IN EXCESS OF $2000.00 TO REPAIR.*JB
NHTSA ID
10016960
Incident
Apr 20, 2003
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 25, 2003
THE DRIVER'S SEAT REMAINS IN THE DOWN POSITION ONLY. *JB
NHTSA ID
10016503
Incident
Jan 10, 2003
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 3, 2002
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 12/1/2002 VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE NEAR DASHBOARD AREA. VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS PUSHED INTO NEARBY PARKING DECK. VEHICLE TOWED TO HOME THE NEXT DAY MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AREA HAD CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE IN DECK AND ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND WIRING SYSTEM COMPLETELY DESTROYED. FRONT WINDOW ALSO SUSTAINED MAJOR FIRE DAMAGE. DT
NHTSA ID
770398
Incident
Dec 1, 2002
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 27, 2002
Fire reported
WHILE BEING PARKED OVER NIGHT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE INTERNALLY. OWNER SAW WINDSHIELD BLACK, AND DASHBOARD MELTED. CAUSE OF FIRE WAS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
8017266
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 30, 2002
DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED. *AK
NHTSA ID
8015172
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 8, 2002
THE "WASP" DESIGN OF THE REAR DOOR LOCKS MAKE THE LOCKS EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO BREAKAGE. EXACT REPLACEMENTS ARE VERY HARD TO FIND. WHEN LOCL PLUNGER IS BROKEN OFF, THE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT ARE TRAPPED IN THE CAT UNTIL SOMEONE IN FRONT RELEASES THE ELECTRIC DOORLOCKS. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS AT ALL POSSIBLE TO GET BACK DOOR OPEN WITH MANUAL DOOR LOCKS.*AK
NHTSA ID
762834
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 31, 2001
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VENTS AREA, AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT, AND VEHICLE WOULD SMOKE AGAIN AND SPARKS COULD BE SEEN. THIS CAUSED DASHBORAD AND OTHER FRONT AREA OF THE VEHICLE TO BURN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
898604
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 1, 2001
Fire reported
THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM UNDER THE DASH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE WHEN IT WAS PARKED. *YH
NHTSA ID
563600
Incident
Jul 11, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 5, 2001
HOOD LATCH POPS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. HOOD DOES NOT COME UP/ LATCH DOES NOT STAY TIGHT. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
891992
Incident
Jun 5, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 9, 2001
Fire reported
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ID
882642
Incident
Mar 2, 2001
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Aug 8, 2000
Crash reportedFire reported
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASH PANEL WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THEN, NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS STILL FLASHING, AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. SHE HAD VEHICLE PARKED, THEN SHE GOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. TURNED VEHICLE ON, AND IT STARTED SMOKING. HAD MOVED THE PANEL, AND NOTICED THAT FIRE WAS COMMING FROM THERE. ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD A FRE EXTINGUISHER, AND PUT FIRE OUT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT IT WOULD TAKE $1300 75 TO FIX VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
867236
Incident
Aug 3, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 24, 2000
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, CAUSING A FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, AND DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA ID
865884
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 3, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported
MY SEATBACK BROKE DURING A CRASH W/SIDE IMPACT. *AK
NHTSA ID
723530
Incident
Jan 28, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 13, 2000
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND DIE OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND LINKED THE FIRE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
858369
EngineInterior & seats
Filed Dec 28, 1999
PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND WHILE WAITING FOR A SPACE HEARD LOUD BANGING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED CRANKSHAFT PULLY SYSTEM. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT CIRCUITED BEHIND FUSE BOX AND MELTED WIRING. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE STILL UNKNOWN. CAUSED DASHLIGHTING, TAIL LIGHTS, & REVERSE LIGHTS TO FAIL. *AK
NHTSA ID
716571
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 8, 1999
COMPUTER--FALSE WARNINGS.
NHTSA ID
609158
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 9, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
DURING A REAR IMPACT COLLISION THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK TWISTED AND THE PASSANGER SEAT BACK BROKE STRAIGHT BACK
NHTSA ID
707356
Incident
Jul 11, 1998
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 7, 1999
FRONT DOOR LOCK POSTS TOO SHORT, CAN ONLY BE OPENED WITH HANDLES AND HANDLES STICK
NHTSA ID
707284
Incident
Jun 7, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 24, 1998
DRIVER'S SEAT THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE SEAT TRACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO "ROCK" WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE METAL AROUND THE MOUNTING NUT FATIGUED AND BROKE OUT. *AK
NHTSA ID
831264
Incident
Nov 23, 1998
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 10, 1998
Crash reported
DURING REAR IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
826455
Incident
Jul 21, 1998
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