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CarsLore / Makes / Ford / Escort

Ford Escort

Model years 1981–2003 in the US safety record. No model year stands out in owner complaints. Fewest complaints: 2001, 2002, 2003.

3,936owner complaints
35recall campaigns
1,105service bulletins
23model years on record

Complaints by model year

Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.

’90’92’94’96’98’00’02’90’93’96’99’02

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026

New York safety inspections

Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 1997.

0.0%2.6%5.1%’91’94’96’97’98’00’02’031.3%0.0%2.6%5.1%’91’95’97’98’01’031.3%

NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count

Year by year

Model yearComplaintsRecallsBulletinsCrashes · fires
200310031 · 0
2002 Escort330244 · 1
2001 Escort6802714 · 3
2000 Escort9813522 · 2
1999 Escort32519579 · 12
1998 Escort375012584 · 11
1997 Escort543115067 · 83
1996 Escort20509024 · 7
1995 Escort57648175 · 20
1994 Escort27918151 · 16
1993 Escort37918231 · 16
1992 Escort1622657 · 17
1991 Escort32735920 · 61
1990 Escort1012305 · 43
1989 Escort1521279 · 60
1988 Escort1432256 · 57
1987 Escort563241 · 26
1986 Escort452252 · 18
1985 Escort263221 · 9
1984 Escort213130 · 8
1983 Escort7580 · 2
1982 Escort4580 · 3
1981 Escort11060 · 0

A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections

Most common problems

  • Electrical system737
  • Seat belts632
  • Engine and engine cooling488
  • Air bags466
  • Fuel system, gasoline369
  • Power train310
  • Suspension295
  • Service brakes, hydraulic235

NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years

Fatal crashes in the US

From 2020 to 2023, 65 Escort vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 57 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.

Model yearVehicles in fatal crashesDeaths in the vehicleRolled over
2003100
2002220
2001221
199912121
199814102
1997981
1996330
1995661
1994971
1993331
1992110
1991221
1988110

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count

Fuel consumption by year

Official Canadian test results for 6 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 7.9–9.4 L/100 km.

YearVariantEngineTransmissionCityHighwayCombinedCO₂ g/km
2000Escort ZX2 · Compact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.A410.67.99.4216
1999Escort · Compact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M59.77.18.5196
1998Escort · Compact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M59.77.08.5196
1997Escort · Compact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M59.87.08.5196
1996Escort · Compact · Regular gasoline1.9 L, 4 cyl.M58.86.87.9182
1995Escort · Compact · Regular gasoline1.9 L, 4 cyl.M59.27.08.2189

Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada

In New Zealand

3,665 Escort cars are on the New Zealand register; 4% arrived as used imports.

Model yearRegisteredSold new in NZUsed imports
2000110
199936350
199884821
199758550
1996980
1995202
1994752
19931118
1992808
1991201
1990402
198911011
198817115
198717410
198613210
1985926
1984402
1983201
1982440
19811141030
198058651315
197942437114
19783523112
19771921684
19762111834
19752682136
19743863313
19731551353
197214211210
19711371171

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0

In the Netherlands

4,323 Escort cars are on Dutch roads; 24% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.

First registeredOn the roadImportedMedian list price
19992413%—
19981196%—
19971354%—
199613814%€15,187
199514720%—
199416215%—
199312328%—
199216225%—
199113621%—
199014725%—
198920429%—
198823236%—
198724638%—
198625840%—
198529129%—
198430434%—
198319516%—
198219720%—
198111129%—
198011611%—
197917210%—
197810516%—
19779520%—
19769014%—
19755124%—
197411023%—
19739823%—
19725325%—
19713453%—
19702544%—

RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new

In Finland

1,377 Escort cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.

First registeredIn useAverage mileage
200076184,000 km
19996968,000 km
199810751,000 km
199711146,000 km
19967354,000 km
19956950,000 km
19944856,000 km
19932848,000 km
19922451,000 km
19913055,000 km
19905352,000 km
19898255,000 km
19889151,000 km
19878144,000 km
19868150,000 km
19852845,000 km
19841951,000 km
19833657,000 km
19823164,000 km
19811745,000 km
19802348,000 km
19793546,000 km
19782243,000 km
19771845,000 km
19761937,000 km
19752851,000 km
19741566,000 km
19732348,000 km
19721152,000 km
1971837,000 km

Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0

Road collisions in Great Britain

From 2021 to 2025, 72 Escort cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 2 of those collisions were fatal and 14 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.

YearCars in injury collisionsFatalSerious
20251301
20241211
20232116
20221202
20211404

Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count

In the United Kingdom

10,703 Escort cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.

BuiltLicensedOff the road (SORN)
201813
201701
201611
20141—
20131—
20121—
20091—
200801
200701
20061—
200202
200127112
2000179948
199984606
19982362,014
19972961,989
19962972,027
19952221,701
19941621,341
19931701,402
19921311,235
1991114893
19904432,796
19894512,909
19882681,955
19871581,165
19861091,018
19851911,575
1984188434
1983370597

Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0

MOT test results in Great Britain

10,466 Escort cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 75% passed first time, against 69% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.

First registeredTestsPassed first timeAll cars that yearAverage mileage
200236262%58%106,400 mi
200146463%59%104,900 mi
200052856%61%84,100 mi
199925259%63%55,300 mi
199850060%64%56,700 mi
199763559%64%56,800 mi
199665066%65%55,000 mi
199547274%67%52,800 mi
199436871%66%55,500 mi
199335779%67%53,700 mi
199229682%68%52,800 mi
199127477%70%54,600 mi
199092177%71%52,500 mi
198991078%72%51,200 mi
198856477%71%49,900 mi
198733679%72%48,900 mi
198626980%71%52,500 mi
198544083%72%52,900 mi
198415177%73%54,800 mi
198322585%75%52,100 mi
198034795%78%42,700 mi
197926993%79%42,000 mi
197821691%80%37,600 mi
197711897%77%36,700 mi
197614694%80%34,800 mi
197511298%81%40,500 mi
197414289%82%35,900 mi
197214289%80%34,700 mi

Why they fail

Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).

AreaEscortAll cars, same ages
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment11.0%15.6%
Suspension9.2%9.6%
Brakes8.3%10.3%
Body, chassis, structure8.0%8.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks5.2%5.9%
Visibility4.8%6.6%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems2.8%2.2%
Tyres2.3%2.7%

DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail

New registrations in Europe

57 new Ford Escort cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2017, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2017 the largest markets were United Kingdom (2).

YearNew carsLargest marketsMass kgCO₂ g/kmPower kW
20172United Kingdom1,821159 (NEDC)—
201614United Kingdom1,455——
20152United Kingdom1,550——
20141United Kingdom1,573——
20135United Kingdom1,818——
20124United Kingdom1,373——
20118United Kingdom, Spain1,463——
201021United Kingdom, Spain1,136——

Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement

Recalls

35 campaigns cover the Escort; the latest 12 are below.

02V323000 · Air bags9 Dec 2002 · 1997

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM) CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND COULD EXPERIENCE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORTING.

00V228001 · Seat belts18 Aug 2000 · 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

99V276000 · Power train12 Oct 1999 · 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE S/R OPTION. THE S/R OPTION INCLUDES, AMONG OTHER FEATURES, A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT PATTERN IS NOT DISPLAYED IN THE OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT IN VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT."

97V145000 · Fuel system, gasoline3 Sept 1997 · 1995

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ARIZONA. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.

97V144000 · Fuel system, gasoline3 Sept 1997 · 1995

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.

96V071000 · Electrical system25 Apr 1996 · 1988, 1989, 1990

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

94V218000 · Air bags10 Nov 1994 · 1994, 1995

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.

94V197000 · Air bags11 Oct 1994 · 1995

TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM MODULE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MISSING. IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE MODULE CAN COME OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

94V055000 · Seats26 Mar 1994 · 1993

THE LOCK PLATE OF THE DRIVER SIDE INBOARD SEAT TRACK ADJUSTERS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATION TO THE FABRICATION PROCESS WHICH CAUSES THE SEAT NOT TO FULLY ENGAGE IN CERTAIN SEATING POSITIONS NEAR THE MID-POINT OF THE SEAT TRACK TRAVEL.

93V057000 · Electrical system15 Apr 1993 · 1991

THE ROLL PINS SECURING THE IGNITION LOCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING CAN SEPARATE OR MOVE OUT OF POSITION.

92V117000 · Fuel system, gasoline19 Aug 1992 · 1991, 1992

FATIGUE CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN TUBE AND THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK.

92V103000 · Exterior lighting13 Jul 1992 · 1992

THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES COULD INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN THE STOP LAMPS NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

NHTSA recalls