Ford Escort Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 270 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Ford Escort across 8 model years. The 1997 model year has the most (114). The words owners use most often: “caught fire” (13% of reports).
- 270electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 40%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Caught fire: mentioned in 36 of 270 complaints (13%)
- Claim slc: mentioned in 29 of 270 complaints (11%)
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 15 of 270 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 49 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 270 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 92 a fire, 6 an injury.
Ford Escort electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Escort | 2 | 6% | 107,201 |
| 2001 Escort | 5 | 7% | 41,200 |
| 2000 Escort | 5 | 5% | 63,773 |
| 1999 Escort | 39 | 12% | 70,000 |
| 1998 Escort | 43 | 11% | 51,950 |
| 1997 Escort | 114 | 21% | 82,610 |
| 1996 Escort | 14 | 7% | 51,367 |
| 1995 Escort | 48 | 8% | 82,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists electrical system for the Ford Escort. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Flashing air bag readiness light in a "51" pattern.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford escort. While driving approximately 35 mph, the power steering seized without warning. The vehicle had to be towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wires and fuses needed to be replaced. The…
I turned right into a parking lot and slowly turned right again into a parking space. While i was braking, the car accelerated and hit a building. *tr
I was at the store with my son (12 years old) and my grandson (3 years old), when we went to leave the key would not turn and the steering wheel was locked up. It was very cold outside, after about an hour i got ahold of someone to come pick us up. When i got home i did some internet research and…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford escort. The contact stated that the rear heater blower failed and sparks were shooting from the wiring harness. The contact was able to disconnect the harness before a fire ignited. The contact located a manufacturers recall for defective wiring of the defroster…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Escorts have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 270 owner complaints about electrical system for the Ford Escort. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Escort electrical system?
No recall currently lists electrical system for this vehicle.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Ford Escort?
The most frequent phrase is “caught fire”, in 36 of 270 complaints, followed by “claim slc” (29).
Other Ford Escort problems
See all Ford Escort problems.