1998 Ford Escort problems
Owners have filed 470 complaints about the 1998 Ford Escort with NHTSA. Air bags account for 16.2% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 11.9%.
Complaints470
Crashes102
Fires17
Injuries94
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Air bags 16.2% · 76
Engine and engine cooling 11.9% · 56
Suspension 11.1% · 52
Electrical system 10.9% · 51
Power train 9.4% · 44
Service brakes, hydraulic 7.2% · 34
Fuel system, gasoline 4.7% · 22
Seat belts 3.6% · 17
Severity
Of those complaints, 102 describe a crash, 17 describe a fire, 94 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 11 model years of the Ford Escort in this data, 1998 sits 4th by complaint volume. 1997 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 7 in the last three years against 11 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 76,100 miles.
In owners' own words
Consumer states while she was sitting at a stop light, another auto hit her from behind, causing the back end of the auto to come in the front seat. She states her air bags did not deploy. She was told that by an investigator that an impact of that magnitude the air bags should have deployed. She and her passenger were injuried. Ts Air bags
Consumer was driving high speed between 60 to 65mph and another vechicle jumped in front of him. Consumer made a sudden stop to avoid hitting vehicle. He swerved and flipped over three times. Upon impact, airbag didn't deploy. Consumer sustained injuries, suffered a broken leg/ arm and pelvic bone. Was taken to hospital. Air bags
Consumer was traveling approximately 45mph on dry roads another vehicle cut in front trying not to hit vehicle. Consumer hit two parked cars instead. Airbags in front didn't deploy. Manufacturer referred consuemr to a Ford dealer. Vehicle has a fuel injection switch that cut vehicle off. Vehicle started back up. Air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…