Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1984 Ford Escort, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system11
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Seat belts4
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1984 Ford Escort cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (77 kW, 103 hp), 1.1 petrol (37 kW, 50 hp) and 1.6 petrol (58 kW, 78 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 77 kW 103 hp | 67 |
| 1.1 petrol | 37 kW 50 hp | 38 |
| 1.6 petrol | 58 kW 78 hp | 35 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
304 first registered in 1984 are on Dutch roads; 34% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen37
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm13
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde13
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm12
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld12
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse11
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af10
- Slijtage/beschadiging wiellager hoorbaar of voelbaar10
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
188 cars built in 1984 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 434 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 151 of these cars first registered in 1984 took their annual MOT test. 77% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1984 the figure was 73%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1984 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.9% | 15.2% |
| Brakes | 9.3% | 9.4% |
| Suspension | 7.9% | 8.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| Visibility | 5.3% | 6.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.0% | 5.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
19 of these cars first registered in 1984 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 51,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
4 1984 cars are on the New Zealand register; 50% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1984 Ford Escort.
| 1989098 13 Jul 1989 | Engine ON 1984 MODELS, EXTERNAL CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS, WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN OIL LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ON 1985 MODELS, THE ENGINE … |
| 1988066 17 May 1988 | Seats And Restraints THE FORWARD SCREW WHICH PROVIDES PART OF THE ATTACHMENT BETWEEN THE DRIVER`S SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME COULD FRACTURE AND PERMIT THE DRIVER'… |
| 1984124 10 Oct 1984 | Not Entered VEHICLES MAY HAVE INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE TUBES AND A BRACKET MOUNTED TO THE ENGINE. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE BRACKET COULD CONT… |
| 1984081 28 Jun 1984 | Not Entered THE FRONT SLEEVE BUSHINGS OF THE COOLING FAN MOTORS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN AREAS OF HIGH ROAD SALT USE. THIS MAY INCREASE THE ROTATIONAL FRI… |
| 1983114 17 Dec 1983 | Not Entered THE UPPER TORSO RESTRAINT D-RING WHICH ATTACHES THE SHOULDER BELT TO THE B PILLAR, UNDER CERTAIN TEST CONDITIONS, SEPARATED FROM ITS ANCHORAGE, AND MAY NOT COMP… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
EXTERNAL CRACKS ABOVE THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER (1984 MODELS) OR ROCKER ARM COVER GASKETS SPLITTING (1985 MODELS) COULD ALLOW OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
THE BRAKE LINE MAY BE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO AN ENGINE BRACKET. NORMAL ENGINE MOVEMENTS MAY CAUSE THE BRACKET TO RUB AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE.
THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE D-SHAPED RING FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ARE INADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY THE MATERIAL IN WHICH THEY ARE MOUNTED. THE ATTACHMENT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1984 Ford Escort: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 604059 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC |
| 601343 | A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC |
| 601290 | INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC |
| 601238 | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 601012 | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC |
| 51945 | FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD |
| 50940 | WINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR GLASS - FOG/FILM. *TW |
| 50908 | TORQUE CONVERTER - LEAK TEST PROCEDURE - SERVICE TIP. *TW |
| 50905 | WIRING - ELECTRICAL DIODE IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICE REPLACEMENTS. *TW |
| 45947 | SHEET METAL-ROOF PANEL AND DRIP RAIL REPLACEMENT- SEAM SEALER APPLICATION PROCEDURE.*SD |
| 39900 | ROUGHNESS CONCERN DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TW |
| 3011600 | UNKNOWN |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
REAR SAFETY BELT FIT
REAR SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE
STALLING
FIRES
STALLING
SEATBACK FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation