Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Fuel system 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.
23
Latest May 18, 2006
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.
6%
of 375 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.
3
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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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 fuel system
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Body & structureEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed May 18, 2006
I HAVE HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS RELATING TO CAR FUEL PUMP OR TRANSMISSION SHOPS COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS BUT THE DRIVABLITY OF MY 98 ESCORT ZX2 COST ME MORE MONEY IN PROBLEM SOLVING, 1,500 PLUS IN RECENT REPAIRS INCLUDING EMERGENCY AND REPEAT REPAIRS AND FAULTY REPAIRS. MY FUEL ECONOMY IS 160 MILES PER TANK TO ALMOST 200 MILES. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM(S). LARGE THUNKING IN REAR TRUNK (SCARY)WHEN IM TAKING OFF AND REACHING A STEADY SPEED. TAKE THE CAR TO MAJOR FORD DEALERSHIPS, TO NO AVAIL. CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS "GO" FROM A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC,THIS HAS CAUSED QUITE A SCARE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR HELPING AND MAKING NOTE OF MY ACCOUNT. DEBBIE
NHTSA ID
10157775
Incident
Apr 26, 2006
Fuel system
Filed Feb 29, 2004
1998 ESCORT NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS INTO THE ENGINE. CHANGED FUEL FILTER, HAD FUEL INJECTORS LOOKED AT, GOT PREMIUM GAS, NO LUCK. THE CAR IDLES EXTREMELY ROUGHLY AND SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. IT FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL AND BUCKS WHEN IDLING AND EVEN WHILE DRIVING. THE IDLE IS BECOMING WORSE AND WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS USED TO HAPPEN PERIODICALLY, NOW SHAKES AND BUCKS EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE CAR. I AM A POOR COLLEGE STUDENT AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC. *JB
NHTSA ID
10060061
Incident
Feb 28, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Aug 6, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
ON AUGUST 5, 2003, I WAS REARENDED WHILE DRIVING A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE AUTO KILL SWICH NEVER KILLED THE ENGINE. LUCKILY THE GAS TANK STAYED INTACT. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE FIRE PERSONELL AT THE SCENE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE KILL SWITCH WAS NOT TRIPPED. BOTH BACK DOORS WERE JAMMED WITH MY 6 YEAR OLD TRAOOED IN THE BACK.
NHTSA ID
10030899
Incident
Aug 5, 2003
Mileage
102,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Oct 23, 2002
THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED 20,000 MILES AGO; DEALER WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY. DT
NHTSA ID
768783
Incident
Oct 22, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Oct 23, 2002
NO SUMMARY. DT
NHTSA ID
768773
Incident
Oct 22, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Jun 26, 2002
THE FUEL PUMP INITIALLY FAILED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY KIP KILLMON'S TYSONS FORD IN TYSONS CORNER, VA IN JULY 2001. IN JANUARY 2002 THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN FAILED, AND THE SAME DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP FOR A SECOND TIME. FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, BUT RESULTED IN THE CAR FAILING TO START. HAD THE PUMP FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. THE FACT THAT THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHIN 6 MONTHS ON THE SAME WELL-MAINTAINED CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE, INDICATES TO ME THAT THIS MAY BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE PART AND/OR THE CAR. FORD HAD NO INTEREST IN ADDRESSING MY CONCERNS WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION.*AK
NHTSA ID
763529
Incident
Jul 16, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Sep 9, 2001
WHEN FILLING GAS TANK, FUEL PUMP STOPS CONSTANTLY AND THEN SPILLS FUEL ON THE GROUND. *AK
NHTSA ID
751966
Fuel system
Filed Jun 6, 2001
WIRES THAT POWER FUEL PUMP SHORT ACROSS EACH OTHER. THIS PUMP AND WIRING IS IN THE FUEL TANK. CAR IS BEING REPAIR OUTSIDE OF A FORD DEALERSHIP SO FORD DOES NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED. DEALER WAS SHOWN THE DEFECTIVE PART AND WAS CONCERNED BUT REGIONAL SERVICE REP DID NOT CARE TO EVEN SEE PART. CALLED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE BUT THEY WERE NOT INTRESTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
746493
Incident
May 17, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Apr 18, 2001
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FUELTANK GAS WILL SPEW OUT OF TANK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ID
886167
Fuel system
Filed Mar 15, 2001
FUEL PUMP FAILS EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT BUT THEY SAY NO PROBLEM KNOW OF OTHER FAILURES ON AT LEAST 3 AUTO IN OUR AREA ALONE. *AK
NHTSA ID
742503
Incident
Mar 15, 2001
AirbagsFuel system
Filed Feb 27, 2001
Crash reported
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH ON DRY ROADS ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT TRYING NOT TO HIT VEHICLE. CONSUMER HIT TWO PARKED CARS INSTEAD. AIRBAGS IN FRONT DIDN'T DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER REFERRED CONSUEMR TO A FORD DEALER. VEHICLE HAS A FUEL INJECTION SWITCH THAT CUT VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP. *AK
NHTSA ID
881512
Incident
Feb 24, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Feb 22, 2001
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING, CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT VEHICLE WHO FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING FUEL, THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP, ALSO 2 WIRES, A POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE, HAD SOLDERED TOGETHER AND HAD BARE SPOTS THAT WERE TOUCHING, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COULD HAVE BLOWN UP, FORD WILL NOT ASSIST CONSUMER AT ALL IN THIS MATTER. *SCL
NHTSA ID
881134
Incident
Feb 17, 2001
Fuel systemTires & wheels
Filed Dec 18, 2000
TIRES (NO MAKE OR SIZE) WILL NOT HOLD AIR ADEQUATELY, CONSUMER ADDS AIR ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, TIRE PRESSURE IS AS LOW AS 20. *SLC
NHTSA ID
558511
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Dec 12, 2000
ENGINE VIBRATES, AND HAS A HIGH IDLE. ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND SHAKES. ENGINE SURGES AND HESITATES. CAR STALLS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS SAME REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE OF IT. THE MECHANICS HAVE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, FUEL GUAGE, FUEL FILTER, VALVE IDLE AIR CONTROL, VAPOR MANAGEMENT, MOTOR MOUNTS. THE DEARLERSHIP IN HILLSBOROUGH REPLACED A CABLE SOMETHING (THE SERVICE MANGER QUIT AND A TICKET WAS NOT FOUND FOR THIS REPAIR.) THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT BEING TOTALLY FIXED. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR STALLING, THE REPAIR WAS DONE, BUT THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR CONTINUED TO STALL. AS OF THIS DATE, I AM TAKING THE CAR IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. PLEASE NOTE: IN REVIEWING THE INFORMATION AFTER SUBMITTTING I NOTICED THAT IN # OF FAILURES PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED 8 TIMES WITH THE DATE OF 7/24/98. THIS IS INCORRECT, CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS WERE NOT USED.*AK
NHTSA ID
737718
Incident
Jul 24, 1998
EngineFuel systemVisibility
Filed Oct 10, 2000
THE RIGHT REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA ID
555927
Incident
Sep 28, 1999
Body & structureFuel systemTransmission
Filed Jul 11, 2000
FUEL GUAGE FAILS TO REGISTER THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP/JERK FORWARD IF PLACED INTO GEAR. WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK. REAR PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED. MECHANIC INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG.*AK
NHTSA ID
865251
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 10, 2000
VEHICLE STARTED, ENGINE RATTLED UPON ACCELERATION AT ALL SPEEDS AT 2300 MILES. AFTER NUMEROUS FAILED REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY DEALER,I SENT COMPLAINT TO FORDS DSB BOARD.WORKING THROGH ARBITRATION VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY ENGINEER.THEY REPLACED PCM.PROBLEM GOT WORSE,ALONG WITH NEW PROBLEMS,LACK OF POWER,HARD START,TRANSMISSION HESITAING.THEN THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP,DIDNT HELP, THEN IGNITION SWITCH, DIDNT HELP,THEN MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND AIR FILTER, DIDNT HELP.FINALLY VEHICLE STARTED STALLING WHILE DRIVING, DURING ACC. TOWED BACK TO SHOP, FORD HAD IT SIX WEEKS THIS TIME REPLACED PCM TWO MORE TIMES.I HAVE VEHICLE BACK,STILL PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION HESITATING.VEHICLE IN SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR SAME OR RELATED PROBLEMS AND TOTALLING ALMOST THREE MONTHS IN SHOP. STILL IN ARBITRATION, CONSDERING CLOSING CASE AND TAKING TO DSB. PERSONALLY. *AK
NHTSA ID
717171
Incident
Sep 12, 1998
AirbagsFuel system
Filed Oct 19, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, AND SHUT OFF VALVE FAILED DURING ACCIDENT RESULTING IN HEADACHES FROM HITTING HEAD ON MIRROR, NECKACHES AND UPPER BACK PROBLEMS. NLM
NHTSA ID
549111
Incident
Nov 19, 1998
ElectricalFuel systemTransmission+1 more
Filed Jun 14, 1999
WIPER BLADES DO NOT WORK, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY IN RAINY WEATHER. *YC
NHTSA ID
546113
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Feb 19, 1999
THE VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE WHILE FUELING WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT STATES IT IS THE GAS STATION FILLER WHICH IS "TOO HEAVY". *AK.ET.
NHTSA ID
835088
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Feb 1, 1999
FUEL GAUGE FAILED.
NHTSA ID
608141
Fuel system
Filed Feb 1, 1999
FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED.
NHTSA ID
607995
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Feb 1, 1999
FUEL PUMP FAILED. YH
NHTSA ID
606397
Incident
Nov 1, 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