Complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | vs. typical* | Recalls | Top problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 | −96% | — | Acceleration | Good |
| 2002 | 33 | −87% | — | Engine | Good |
| 2001 | 68 | −74% | — | Transmission | Good |
| 2000 | 98 | −62% | 1 | Engine | Good |
| 1999 | 325 | 2.1× | 1 | Airbag | Avoid |
| 1998 | 375 | 2.5× | — | Airbag | Avoid |
| 1997 | 543 | 3.6× | 1 | Airbag | Avoid |
| 1996 | 205 | typical | — | Seat Belt | Average |
| 1995 | 576 | 3.5× | 4 | Seat Belt | Avoid |
* Complaints compared with the median Escort year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common Ford Escort problems
Latest Ford Escort recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
On certain passenger vehicles, the integrated air bag monitor (iabm) can be contaminated with water or other liquids and could experience internal electrical shorting.
Remedy: Dealers will install the shield over the iabm and apply nyogel grease to the connector. Owner notification began February 11, 2003.
Seat belts
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and Mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began October 26, 2000.
Power train › Manual transmission › Shift pattern indicator
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the s/r option. The s/r option includes, among other features, a 5-speed manual transmission. On these vehicles, the transmission shift pattern is not displayed in the occupant compartment in view of the driver. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an adhesive backed plaque containing the shift pattern, along with materials and instructions for locating and affixing the plaque to the vehicle center console, just forward of the shift…
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 1.9l engines, built at the hermosillo or wayne assembly plants and originally sold or currently registered in nevada, florida, hawaii, texas, california, louisiana, georgia, south carolina, mississippi, oklahoma, alabama and arkansas.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the heat shield attachments. This will not affect heat shield location or function, as the attachments are intended to keep the shield in place until the fuel tank is installed in the vehicle.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 1.9l engines, built at the hermosillo assembly plant and originally sold or currently registered in arizona. Cracks can develop in the fuel tank near the heat shield attachment resulting in fuel leakage if the cracks go through the fuel tank wall.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the heat shield attachments. This will not affect heat shield location or function, as the attachments are intended to keep the shield in place until the fuel tank is installed in the vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the Ford Escort should you avoid?
1997, 1995, 1998 and 1999 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Escort years at the same age, led by air bags problems in the 1997.
What is the best year for the Ford Escort?
2003 has the fewest complaints compared with other Escort years at the same age, followed by 2002 and 2001. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.
What are the most common Ford Escort problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the air bags (408), engine & cooling (312) and seat belts (287). Airbag complaints peak in the 1997 model year.
How many recalls has the Ford Escort had?
7 recalls across 1995–2003. The model year with the most is 1995. See all Ford Escort recalls by year.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.