Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1991 Ford Escort, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system104
- Seat belts71
- Fuel system, gasoline59
- Power train30
- Vehicle speed control19
- Engine and engine cooling17
- Exterior lighting16
- Steering12
- Suspension9
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 16 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1991 Ford Escort failed the safety check 3.51% of the time — 211% more often than the average 1991 passenger car (1.13%). Median odometer at inspection: 66,200 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1991 Ford Escort cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (64 kW, 86 hp), 1.4 petrol (51 kW, 68 hp) and 1.6 petrol (75 kW, 101 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 64 kW 86 hp | 36 |
| 1.4 petrol | 51 kW 68 hp | 33 |
| 1.6 petrol | 75 kW 101 hp | 28 |
| 1.8 diesel | 43 kW 58 hp | 25 |
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
136 first registered in 1991 are on Dutch roads; 21% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen4
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm4
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld3
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij3
- Remlichten (alle) werken niet2
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af2
- Bestuurderszitplaats of -rugleuning ondeugdelijk bevestigd2
- Spiegelglas beschadigd of verweerd1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
114 cars built in 1991 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 893 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, 274 of these cars first registered in 1991 took their annual MOT test. 77% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1991 the figure was 70%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1991 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.9% | 16.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Brakes | 8.8% | 10.6% |
| Suspension | 5.1% | 8.7% |
| Visibility | 5.1% | 6.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.7% | 4.3% |
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
30 of these cars first registered in 1991 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 55,000 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
2 1991 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 1991 Ford Escort.
| 1995031 21 Feb 1995 | Electrical NOTE: VEHICLES LOCATED IN ONTARIO, QUEBEC AND THE ATLANTIC PROVINCES. THE FUEL PUMP WIRING ASSEMBLY MAY CORRODE DUE TO ROAD SALT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ELEC… |
| 1993078 1 Jun 1993 | Steering ON VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE ROLL PINS SECURING THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER IN THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING MAY NOT REMAIN IN PLACE. THIS COULD CAUS… |
| 1993030 9 Mar 1993 | Lights And Instruments NOTE: ESCORT PONY AND LX VEHICLES. VEHICLES CORRECTED PRIOR TO DELIVERY TO CUSTOMERS. THESE VEHICLES DID NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 101 - CONTROL LOCATION AND … |
| 1992121 29 Sept 1992 | Fuel System FATIGUE CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN TUBE AND THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS WOULD ALL… |
| 1990062 20 Apr 1990 | Engine A BOLT THAT SECURES A FUEL LINE SHIELD TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PROTRUDES THROUGH THE PANEL AND MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THE … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE ROLL PINS SECURING THE IGNITION LOCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING CAN SEPARATE OR MOVE OUT OF POSITION.
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.
INTERFERENCE OCCUR BETWEEN BOLT THAT SECURES A FUEL LINE SHIELD TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
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 1991 Ford Escort: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 627747 | THIS ARITLCE IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OF OLD STYLE HOOD LAMP SWITCH TO THE RVISED MECHANICAL HOOD LAMP SWITCH. *TT |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622804 | SOME VEHICLES PRODUCED THROUGH JULY 1999 MAY EXHIBIT REAR SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURE WITH NO RESULTING OPERATIONAL CONCERN. *TT |
| 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 |
| 618596 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO REVISED DOOR LATCH SWITCH SERVICE PROCEDURE. *JB |
| 615270 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT BRIEF SPARK KNOCK ON ACCELERATION DURING HOT WEATHER ONCE THE ENGINE HAS THOROUGHLY WARMED UP. *TT |
| 614752 | ENGINEERING IS REVIEWING PASSIVE RESTRAINT (MOTORIZED SEATBELT) SYSTEMS IN CERTAIN VEHICLES. *TT |
| 613910 | SUBJECT REGARDING PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM SERVICE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 613860 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES REVISED PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE WORKSHOP MANUAL AND THE ELECTRICAL AND VACCUM TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL (EVTM). *TT |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 610796 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT GRINDING NOISE, OR GREATER THAN NORMAL BRAKE ROUGHNESS, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLING MOTORCRAFT FRONT BRAKE PAD PART NUMBER BR-18 (XU2Z-2V001-RA). *T |
| 610688 | BRIEF INFORMATION ON PASSIVE RESTRAINT (MOTORIZED SEATBELT) SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 609692 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT GRINDING NOISES, OR GREATER THAN NORMAL BRAKE ROUGHNESS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLING MOTORCRAFT BR-18 FRONT BRAKE PAD. *TT |
| 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 |
| 606460 | EXPERIENCING A WHINE / BUZZ TYPE NOISE IN THE SPEAKERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT RADIO OR TWO-WAY RADIO ON VEHICLES WITH AN IN-TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. *TT |
| 606420 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *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 |
| 603724 | MASS AIR FLOW (MAF)- SENSOR CONTAMINATION- SERVICE TIP. *AK |
| 601343 | A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC |
| 601341 | EXPERIENCING A WHINING / BUZZING NOISE IN THE SPEAKERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT RADIO OR TWO-WAY RADIO. *TT |
| 601312 | INFORMATION ON A BUZZING OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT |
| 601290 | INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL PUMP WIRING SHORTAGE
FUEL PUMP WIRING SHORTAGE
INADVERT. STEERING LOCKUP
INADVER. STEERING LOCKUP
FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation