FORD ESCORT · model year

1986 FORD ESCORT

53 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1986FORDESCORT carries 53 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 20 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 ESCORT is electrical system:ignition:switch with 10 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (6) and electrical system:ignition (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1986 ESCORT. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

53
Complaints
3
Crashes
20
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

53 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION5
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
STEERING:LINKAGES1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
SUSPENSION1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recent Complaints

20080804FireFatalENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I AM WRITING YOU TODAY ABOUT A SITUATION THAT OCCURRED JULY 3RD 1986 IN MORTON GROVE ILLINOIS AT 11:52P.M. I AM THE MOTHER OF A 2 YEAR OLD THAT WAS BURNED TO DEATH IN A 1986 FORD ESCORT THAT WAS NOT ON IN THE PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE. YES IT HAS BEEN OVER 20 YEARS, BUT DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TIME I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYONE TO LISTEN TO MY STORY. WELL, THIS PARTICULAR CAR WAS A RENTAL FROM BUDGET RENTAL IN GLENVIEW ILLINOIS AND WE WERE ON A FAMILY OUTING. ALL WAS WELL AND THEN WE STOPPED OFF TO GET SOME FIRE WORKS. I COULD ONLY AFFORD SMOKE BOMBS AND SPARKLES. NEEDLESS TO SAY WHEN THIS HORRIFIC EVENT OCCURRED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE REASON THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THAT IS NOT TRUE. YOU CAN'T START A FIREWORK WITHOUT A LIGHTER. THE RENTAL CAR DID NOT HAVE A CIGARETTE LIGHTER OR THERE WERE NO MATCHES. I FOUND A NEWS ARTICLE DATE IN THE VIRGINIAN PILOT, APRIL 18, 1996, TEN YEARS LATER STATING THAT THERE WAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM IN CARS DATED AS

20040423ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

CONSUMER BECAME ILL FROM THE FUMES THAT EMITTED FROM THE HEATER/AC SYSTEM. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE HEATER/RADIATOR SYSTEM HOWEVER THE CONSUMER REMAINED ILL. *NM

20030430ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE ENGINE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESURFACES AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. A CALIFORNIA JUDGE HAS ORDERED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COMPLY UNLESS THE NHTSA ORDERS THEM TO DO SO. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS TO NOT ENDANGER MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMI

Mileage: 80,150

20020722ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESURFACES AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. A CALIFORNA JUDGE HAS ORDERED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COMPLY UNLESS THE NHTSA ORDERS THEM TO DO SO. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS TO NOT ENDANGER MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *AK

20020604ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET IT STARTED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

20010817UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED THAT ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON AND STAY ON THROUGH OUT TRAVEL .DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, TECHNICIAN CUT INDICATION LIGHT OFF 4 TIME WITH COST TO CUSTOMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20001025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESURFACES AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. A CALIFORNA JUDGE HAS ORDERED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COMPLY UNLESS THE NHTSA ORDERS THEM TO DO SO. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS TO NOT ENDANGER MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

20001025UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NO SUMMARY

20001024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 3 YEARS, CAR WAS STALLING AT LOW SPEED. THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RETURNING.

20001011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT IGNITION WENT BAD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL . IGNITION WAS REPLACED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.*AK

19990726STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS PREMATURLEY RUSTED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19981021CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, AND VEHICLE WENT DOWNHILL. FRONTAL IMPACT, ONE INJURY TO DRIVER. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, NO RECALL LISTED. *AK

19981005STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

QUARTER PANEL OVER REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAS WEAKENED TIRE IS BENT IN SLIGHTLY FROM HOLE DEVELOPED RIGHT NEXT TO SHOCK WITHIN INCHES.

19971218STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

LEFT REAR UNIBODY IS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS NOTHING IS HOLDING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ON VEHICLE.

19961231FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

CARBURETOR FAILED.

19961010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FIRE.

19960923POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PLASTIC GOVERNOR IN TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601574)

19960912STRUCTURE:BODY

RUST DEVELOPED IN SUSPENSION OFF THE WELL, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF.

19960624FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ALUMINUM HEADS OVERHEATED/CRACKED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH STARTED ENGINE FIRE. *DH

19960610FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VENTS, THEN SUDDENLY VEHICLE INTERIOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

Compare 1986FORDESCORT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1986 FORD ESCORT have?
The 1986 FORD ESCORT has 53 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 20 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 FORD ESCORT?
The most-complained component for the 1986 FORD ESCORT is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1986 FORD ESCORT safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.