Ford Escort Problems by Year
NHTSA has 2,233 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on file for the Ford Escort, across 9 model years (1995–2003). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (576). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Ford Escort years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Escort year: 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 Escort: 576 complaints, 4 recalls
- 1997 Escort: 543 complaints, 1 recall
- 1998 Escort: 375 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2003 Escort: 10 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2002 Escort: 33 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2001 Escort: 68 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford Escort problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 408 | 9 | 265 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 307 | 9 | 3 |
| Seat Belts problems | 287 | 7 | 53 |
| Electrical System problems | 270 | 8 | 6 |
| Suspension problems | 231 | 9 | 6 |
| Power Train problems | 199 | 9 | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 185 | 7 | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 146 | 9 | 31 |
| Steering | 96 | 8 | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 91 | 9 | 20 |
| Visibility | 78 | 7 | 0 |
| Tires | 55 | 9 | 5 |
| Equipment | 45 | 6 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 44 | 8 | 1 |
| Structure | 43 | 8 | 2 |
| Seats | 36 | 7 | 15 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 21 | 7 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 16 | 5 | 3 |
| Parking Brake | 9 | 5 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Engine | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 3 | 1 |
Ford Escort problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 1999: air bags (66) · engine and engine cooling (62)
- 1998: air bags (75) · suspension (50)
- 1997: air bags (152) · electrical system (114) · suspension (67) · engine and engine cooling (66)
- 1996: seat belts (77)
- 1995: seat belts (152) · fuel system, gasoline (129) · air bags (67) · engine and engine cooling (54)
All Ford Escort model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Escort | 10 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Escort | 33 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Escort | 68 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Escort | 98 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1999 Escort | 325 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 Escort | 375 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Escort | 543 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Escort | 205 | 0 | — | Seat Belts | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1995 Escort | 576 | 4 | — | Seat Belts | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Escort years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (576), 1997 (543), 1998 (375), 1999 (325) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Escort year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford Escort?
Air Bags, with 408 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Escort have?
7 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.