1990 FORD ESCORT

128 complaints filed with NHTSA.

128
Complaints
8
Crashes
49
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD7
SEAT BELTS7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH6
SEATS4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER2

Recent Complaints

20100821CrashSEAT BELTS

WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MILES PER HOUR, I ENDED UP IN A SKID ON DRY PAVEMENT. I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I GOT INTO THE SKID DUE TO HEAD INJURIES RECEIVED IN THE RESULTING ACCIDENT. THE CAR SKIDDED SIDEWAYS FOR QUITE A WAYS AND DID NOT RESPOND NORMALLY TO ATTEMPTS TO STEER IT. PERHAPS THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE CAR EVENTUALLY HIT THE RAISED CONCRETE RUMBLE STRIPS WHILE SKIDDING SIDEWAYS. THE CAR THEN FLIPPED OVER IN THE AIR AND T

20100821CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MILES PER HOUR, I ENDED UP IN A SKID ON DRY PAVEMENT. I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I GOT INTO THE SKID DUE TO HEAD INJURIES RECEIVED IN THE RESULTING ACCIDENT. THE CAR SKIDDED SIDEWAYS FOR QUITE A WAYS AND DID NOT RESPOND NORMALLY TO ATTEMPTS TO STEER IT. PERHAPS THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE CAR EVENTUALLY HIT THE RAISED CONCRETE RUMBLE STRIPS WHILE SKIDDING SIDEWAYS. THE CAR THEN FLIPPED OVER IN THE AIR AND T

20070219FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT GAS PUMP ISLAND, IGNITION OFF. ENGINE COMPARTMENT ERRUPTED INTO FLAMES. ALL COMPONENTS CONTAINED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARMENT OTHER THAN METAL COMPONENTS COMPLETELY MELTED OR BURNED. VEHICLE WAS MANUALLY PUSHED AWAY FROM GAS PUMP ISLAND WHILE ABLAZE, THEN EXTINGUISHED BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECURE LOCATION, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE SINCE THE FIRE. *NM

20010808CrashLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

REAR DOORS HAVE BEEN INOPERABLE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. RECENTLY, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN CONSUMER BEING UNABLE TO GET THE DOORS OPEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

20010213FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THIS WAS AN ORIGINAL PART THAT FAILED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT BURNED THE PART ITSELF UP, THE WIRING, AND STUFF UNDER THE DASH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AS THIS PART IS LOCATED INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN WITH ME AT WORK. I WILL GET IT FROM MY DAUGHTER SO THAT I CAN FORWARD TO YOU.*AK

20000519FireSTRUCTURE:BODY

A PLASTIC PIECE OF DEFLECTOR UNDER FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING TIRES TO OVERHEAT AND CATCH ON FIRE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK PLASTIC DEFLECTOR ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY EITHER CRACKED OR LOOSENED, RUBBED AGAINST BRAKE ROTOR AND CAUGHT FIRE DESTROYING OR DAMAGING BRAKE LINE AND SCORCHING TIRE ( BUT TIRE DID NOT BURN) , ABLE TO EXTINGUISH BEFORE TIRE CAUGHT FIRE. *YH

19991026FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

HAD JUST PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE & LEFT. HALF HOUR LATER SMELLED SMOKE & CHECKED OUT WINDOW. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE GARAGE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. ONLY INDICATION OF ORIGIN WAS ELECTRICAL WIRES COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. *AK

19990510FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ABOUT ONE HOUR AFTER ARRIVING HOME FROM WORK SOMEONE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR TO NOTIFY ME THAT THE 1990 FORD ESCORT THAT I HAD PURCHASED USED ON MARCH 31,1999 WAS SMOKING. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BY THIS TIME FLAMES WERE SHOOTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HORN WAS BLARING. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUSHED , BUT THE CAR IS NOW TOTALLY USELESS. *AK

19990325FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL. (96V-071)

19980624FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FIRE.

19980506FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THERE WAS A RECALL LISTED ON THIS MAKE AND YEAR, BUT THE OWNER NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. ON APR.9,1998, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WILL NOT GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE OWNER. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ENGINEER CALL AND TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (96V-071000). *AK

19971014FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE OWNER WENT TO A REST STOP. WHEN OWNER RETURNED VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE CAME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT.CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

19970904FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED FOUR TIMES, TWICE SETTING VEHICLE ON FIRE. *AK

19970805FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE THE FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY LOST. *AK

19970620FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING UP FROM UNDER THE CAR. FLAMES CAME FROM FUEL LINE LEAK. *AK

19970325CrashSEAT BELTS

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT, VEHICLE HIT TREE, OWNER NOTES THAT THE REAR SFETY BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME LOOSE AND SON WA STHROEN OUT OF HIS SEAT BEFORE VEHICLE HIT TREE. ALSO, SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND HATCHBACK CAME OPEN. *AK

19970325CrashLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT, VEHICLE HIT TREE, OWNER NOTES THAT THE REAR SFETY BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME LOOSE AND SON WA STHROEN OUT OF HIS SEAT BEFORE VEHICLE HIT TREE. ALSO, SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND HATCHBACK CAME OPEN. *AK

19970325CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT, VEHICLE HIT TREE, OWNER NOTES THAT THE REAR SFETY BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME LOOSE AND SON WA STHROEN OUT OF HIS SEAT BEFORE VEHICLE HIT TREE. ALSO, SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND HATCHBACK CAME OPEN. *AK

19970325FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

GASOLINE LEAK IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL HOSE WHERE IT WAS CONNECTED TO THE QUICK CONNECTOR, CAUSING FIRE.

19961231FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *SD