1986 Ford Escort: problems, recalls and complaints

Problems owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Ford Escort, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.

Electrical system19
Engine and engine cooling9
Structure6
Exterior lighting2
Unknown or other2
Vehicle speed control2
Fuel system, gasoline1
Latches/locks/linkages1
Power train1
Equipment1

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 1 deaths reported

Compared with other years

1981 1982 1983 1984 198519861987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

NHTSA ODI complaints by model year

Engines

The most common engines in 1986 Ford Escort cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (77 kW, 103 hp), 1.6 petrol (66 kW, 89 hp) and 1.3 petrol (44 kW, 59 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.

Engine	Power	Cars	Share
1.6 petrol	77 kW 103 hp	59	31%
1.6 petrol	66 kW 89 hp	42	22%
1.3 petrol	44 kW 59 hp	34	18%
1.4 petrol	55 kW 74 hp	32	17%
1.1 petrol	37 kW 50 hp	24	13%

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

258 first registered in 1986 are on Dutch roads; 40% arrived later as imports.

25.6%had an APK defect recorded since June 2022

11.1%logical odometer history

0.0%with a recall still open

Most common APK defects

Colours

White 28%Blue 23%Red 16%Grey 16%Brown 10%Black 5%

RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording

In the United Kingdom

109 cars built in 1986 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,018 more were declared off the road (SORN).

109licensed, end of 2025

10%of those still registered are on the road

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, 269 of these cars first registered in 1986 took their annual MOT test. 80% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1986 the figure was 71%.

80%passed first time

71%all cars from 1986

52,500 miaverage mileage at the test (all cars 87,300 mi)

Failed on	These cars	All cars from 1986
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	13.8%	16.2%
Brakes	5.2%	9.0%
Suspension	4.5%	8.2%
Visibility	3.7%	6.8%
Body, chassis, structure	1.9%	6.9%
Noise, emissions and leaks	1.5%	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

81 of these cars first registered in 1986 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 50,000 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

13 1986 cars are on the New Zealand register; 77% arrived as used imports, 15% were sold new in New Zealand.

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

Recalls in Canada

2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1986 Ford Escort.

1989155 6 Nov 1989	Seats And Restraints THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE. FRACTURE OF THIS PEDESTAL WOULD PERMIT A LIMITED DE…
1987098 9 Sept 1987	Fuel System ON VEHICLES WITH EFI OR CFI, THE SPRING-LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES TO THE EFI FUEL RAILS OR TO THE CFI THROTTLE BO…

Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls

89V170000 · Seats13 Oct 1989 · 1,375,500 vehicles

THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.

87V139000 · Fuel system, gasoline4 Sept 1987 · 3,600,000 vehicles

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

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 1986 Ford Escort: known faults, fixes and updates.

Bulletin	Summary
623988	INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
623944	SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
618599	CONCERNS WITH PREMATURE FAILURE OCCURING ON THE 1.9L MOTORCRAFT REMANUFACTURED LONGBLOCK ASSEMBLY AND SHORTBLOCK ASSEMBLY DUE TO INGESTION OF FOREIGN OBJECTS REMAINING IN THE TRANSFERRED INTAKE SYSTEM FROM THE ORIGINAL FAILED ENGINE. *JB
612203	INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
6090087	INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
6089681	SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
608431	INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT
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
601312	INFORMATION ON A BUZZING OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT
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
50997	TRANSAXLE - TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES AND TORQUE CONVERTER/TRANSAXLE COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING PROCEDURES - SERVICE TIP. *TW
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
46478	THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT MAY BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE RUBBER MATERIAL USED IN THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM. IF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE IS USED TO LUBRICATE ANY PART OF THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM, IT COULD CAUSE RUBBER PARTS TO SWELL IF LUBRICANT CONTACTS THE RUBBER MATERIAL.
45947	SHEET METAL-ROOF PANEL AND DRIP RAIL REPLACEMENT- SEAM SEALER APPLICATION PROCEDURE.*SD
41025	A REVISED SERVICE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS NOW AVAILABLE. *TW
39900	ROUGHNESS CONCERN DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TW
39820	LETTER TO DEALERS INFORMING THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD ALL OF THE RECALL WORK, FROM RECALLS 93E38 AND 93E39, PERFORMED. *TW
37734	ROUGH RUNNING AT STEADY HIGHWAY CRUISE SPEEDS. *TW
3011600	UNKNOWN

NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)

NHTSA investigations

EA88038 · Seat belts:rear/otheropened 29 Aug 1988 · closed 11 May 1990

REAR SAFETY BELT FIT

DP88007 · Seat belts:rear/otheropened 11 Jan 1988 · closed 24 Aug 1988

REAR SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE

EA87023 · Seatsopened 24 Sept 1987 · closed 16 Nov 1989

SEAT TRACKS

PE87028 · Electrical systemopened 1 May 1987 · closed 21 Jan 1988

STALLING

PE87026 · Seatsopened 28 Apr 1987 · closed 24 Sept 1987

SEAT TRACK FAILURE

EA87005 · Engine and engine coolingopened 1 Dec 1986 · closed 31 Oct 1989

FIRES

EA86010 · Seatsopened 26 Mar 1986 · closed 28 Jul 1989

SEATBACK FAILURE

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

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1986 Ford Escort

Problems owners report

Compared with other years

Engines

In the Netherlands

Most common APK defects

Colours

In the United Kingdom

MOT test results in Great Britain

In Finland

In New Zealand

Recalls in Canada

Recalls

Service bulletins

NHTSA investigations