PlainCars

FORD · vehicle model

FORD ESCORT

5,050 NHTSA complaints and 2 safety recalls across model years 1981–2003.

Complaints
5,050
Recalls
2
Model years
23

The FORDESCORT appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 5,050 consumer safety complaints and 2 recall campaigns across 23 model years (1981–2003). That averages roughly 220 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 2 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
200313
200241
200185
2000128
1999413
1998470
1997729
1996257
1995725
1994351
1993480
1992222
1991413
1990128
1989199
1988206
198765
198653
198531
198427
19837
19825
19812

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

385
’95
740
’96
327
’97
338
’98
728
’99
593
’00
457
’01
459
’02
325
’03
237
’04
137
’05
84
’06
52
’07
60
’08
27
’09
26
’10
13
’11
14
’12
9
’13
11
’14
6
’15
6
’16
5
’17
3
’18
4
’19
3
’22
1
’23

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare FORDESCORT to Similar Vehicles

FORDESCORT vs TESLAMODEL S → FORDESCORT vs DODGENEON → FORDESCORT vs MERCURYGRAND MARQUIS → FORDESCORT vs FORDFREESTYLE →

NHTSA Investigations

EA87023Engineering AnalysisClosed1987-09-24

SEAT TRACKS

PE87026Preliminary EvaluationClosed1987-04-28

SEAT TRACK FAILURE

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the FORD ESCORT?▼
The FORD ESCORT has received 5,050 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1981 to 2003, with 2 recalls. That averages about 220 complaints per model year.
What years of FORD ESCORT are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the FORD ESCORT from 1981 to 2003 (23 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the FORD ESCORT have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many FORD ESCORT model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common FORD ESCORT complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the FORD ESCORT are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my FORD ESCORT has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. FORD ESCORT totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.