RoadVitals

1998 Ford Escort

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
375
Latest Sep 19, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jul 12, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
95
78 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 375 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Ford Escort, most frequently naming the airbags, engine and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 125 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
04E048000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

Jul 12, 2004
388 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT A NO-LOCK CONDITION WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.
TRW OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEMSView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP01001ClosedDefect Petition

AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT

Opened Apr 19, 2001
Closed Nov 1, 2001
AIR BAGS

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 375
Engine
Filed Sep 19, 2019
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,998. *AS

NHTSA ID
11256695
Incident
Sep 18, 2019
Mileage
144,998 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 26, 2019

I AM CONCERNED REGARDING REAR BUMPER COVER. THIS VERY IMPORTANT PAFT ON TBIS VEHICLE IS MADE TOTALLY OF FIBERGLASS OR A SIMILAR PRODUCT WHICH BECOMES MORE CRACKED WITH TIME AND THE MAIN ISSUE IS THAT IT HAS NO HARD METAL BAR FOR PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT . THIS BUMPER WHICH I HAD REMOVED TO RPLACED WHAT WAS LEFT OF IT HAS SOMETHING THAT APPEARS TO BE A BAR ATTACHED OR PART OF IT YET IT IS NOT ANY TYPE OF METAL THAT WOULD IN ANY WAY HELP ENDURE THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT. IN FACT I AM CONCERNED THAT IT CAN EASILY SERIOUSLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO REAR PASSENGERS IF NOT DEATH BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROTECTION WITH THIS BUMPER. BESIDES THIS AND MAKING IT MORE DANGEROUS , THE GAS TANK IS RIGHT NEXT TO THIS SAID BUMPER AND THIS MAKES IT MUCH MORE DANGEROUS . I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ITEM , I JUST WANT TO LET NHTSA KNOW THE SAFETY HAZARD THIS IS AND THE DANGER IT POSES TO THE REAR PASSENGERS AND REALLY ALL PEOPLE IN THIS VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT.

NHTSA ID
11172236
Incident
Jan 26, 2019
Mileage
80,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 6, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH KELLY SPRINGFIELD TIRE SIZE 185/65/14. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND HE HEARD A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR TIRES. THE CONTACT DETECTED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES HAD A DEFECT WITHIN THE INNER LINER AND THE CORDS WERE VISIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKING TO THE DEALER AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/31/13*CN

NHTSA ID
10542299
Incident
Jan 5, 2013
Mileage
40,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 20, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE TIRE BRAND WAS BRIDGE STONE INSIGNIA SL, TIRE SIZE WAS P175/65R14. THE DOT WAS UNKNOWN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 67 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE TIRES WERE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ON THE TIRES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATE 02/14/11

NHTSA ID
10371777
Incident
Dec 19, 2010
Mileage
150,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 18, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE IN 2003 AND WERE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A REPAIR SHOP GETTING AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 26,000. UPDATED 01/04/11*LJ UPDATED 01/10/11*JB

NHTSA ID
10360996
Incident
Oct 16, 2010
Mileage
26,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 26, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH BY WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO PARK BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT THEN ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE PASSENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE BRAKE FLUID IN THE VEHICLE BUT ENOUGH THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND EXHAUST/ GAS RECIRCULATION FLAW WERE DEFECTIVE AND POSSIBLY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 10/15/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. UPDATED 10/21/10*JB

NHTSA ID
10345410
Incident
Mar 10, 2010
Mileage
150,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 24, 2010

FAILURE OF THE REAR SPRINGS ON 1998 FORD ESCORT FIRST IN 2003 AT 12,195MILES AND THE REPLACEMENTS BOTH FAILED AGAIN IN 2009 AT 36, 000 MILES. FAILURE APPEARS DUE TO SALT CORROSION ENHANCEMENT DUE TO COVERED SPRING SURFACE. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE THEY WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. FAILURE RATES ARE VERY SHORT. VEHICLE WAS NEVER OVERLOADED AND IS GENTLY DRIVEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10313589
Incident
Mar 15, 2009
Mileage
12,195 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 23, 2009

DURING A STATE REQUIRED INSPECTION FOUND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN. FORD WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266456
Incident
Apr 17, 2009
Mileage
36,252 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

042107

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT

04V09

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. IS RECALLING CERTAIN SERVICE REPLACEMENT SEATBELT RETRACTORS (DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT RETRACTOR IN GRAY) MANUFACTURED IN DECEMBER 2002 AND SOLD AS A SERVICE REPLACEMENT PART BETWEEN DECEMBER 2002 AND JULY 2004. *TT

020901

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ROUGH IDLE, LOW POWER AND / OR STALL AT IDLE, A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0300 THROUGH P0304 STORED IN MEMORY. *TT

03181

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT

031515

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

IDLE VIBRATION ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L SPI OR ZETEC ENGINE ONLY. *TT

0398

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0442, P0455, P0456, P0457, P1442 OR CHECK FUEL CAP LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0457. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Escort by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003101037.7
2002331043.4
2001681047.6
2000982054.2
19993252161.5
1998Viewing3751155.2
19975432265.3
19962051047.7
19955765161.0
19942792056.7
19933793159.1
19921623159.4
19913274669.4
19901012370.2
19891521262.7
19881432571.7
1987563775.1
1986452773.2
1985263973.4
1984213673.8
1983753—
1982455—
19811104—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.