Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Ford Escort owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Dt: the consumer states that the 1998 Ford Escort crashed into a light pole. The driver hit the pole and the air bag deployed and broke. The inside of the air bag sprayed the chemicals on the driver, the chemicals burnt her hands and arm. She said that she could not find a lawyer in her town to take case. The lawyers and the insurance company were working together against her. She said that she had a boil on her hand and a bruise on her chest. The consumer has pictures of the air bag. She wanted someone to reimburse her for the car because she lived in low income housing. She said vehicle was totaled and the junk dealer came and got it. And she did not get paid for it. A police report was taken.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Escort. While driving between 35-40 MPH, rear ended another vehicle. At the time of the crash, the air bags failed to deploy. Both occupants were wearing seat belts, but that did not prevent them from being thrown to the front of the vehicle and injured. The driver sustained injuries to the head and face. A police report was filed. The vehicle was partially destroyed and the front bumper, bumper support, radiator and support, air conditioner condenser, and power steering reservoir were damaged. The failure and current mileages were 81,756.
My son was driving my 1998 Ford Escort lx on a 35 MPH road when the driver in front of him slammed on his brakes. My son immediately tried to stop the car, but he rear-ended the other car before he could come to a complete stop. During the impact, the driver's seat belt did not lock in place and the dual airbags did not deploy - allowing my son's upper body to continue forward until his face hit the steering wheel. The lap belt functioned properly, holding my son's lower body in place.
Brief summary of defective safety gear: 09/26/98 this vehicle was traveling 35-40mph and rear-ended a truck, neither air-bag deployed. Now, 9/17/99, atruck traveling 35-40mph rear-ended this vehicle causing about a 20mph smash to the vehicle in front and again, no air bag deployment and the fuel pump cut-off switch failed to function. This time however, the driver of this vehicle received double the whip-lash effect that could have been kept to the single inflictrd in a rear-end collision involving only two vehicles. A needless neck injury has been suffered this time and I feel that if the air-bags were deployed, the elimination of the forward whip would not have been a factor of the neck injury.
In a crash, I was hit by a car going approx. 40 MPH, the airbags did not deploy. However, for 4 days following the accident there was an overwhelming odor of propellant in the car. This odor brought on a severe asthma attack for me. Also, the car hesitates and loses power when the air conditioning compressor kicks in. The car loses power enough so that it slows itself down when traveling on the highway. Also it is very alarming when it kicks on when accelerating from a stop sign or stoplight. The hesitency and power loss causes great concern for the welfare of the car.
Dt: the consumer's vehicle was involved in an accident, and the driver's side air bag deployed. When the airbag deployed it caused the consumer to be severally burned. The passenger side airbag did not deploy completely. This occurred on August 3, 2004. The consumer's vehicle hit a post. The vehicle was totaled. She no longer has the vehicle. A police report was taken. The manufacturer will not help the consumer.
While driving in inclement weather driver applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. Vehicle hydro planed , and the driver was unable to maintain control of the vehicle, smashing into a concrete barrier. Upon impact, both airbags did not deploy. The driver refused medical attention on the scene, but went to the hospital later that day. Vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company.
While driving south about 35-40mph, another vehicle turned the corner, heading north & speeding, drifted into Escort's lane. Escort driver applied brakes to avoid vehicle, & vehicle pulled left. It skidded across the road & hit a pole. ABS did not work. Right brakes had disintergrated. Air bags did not deploy, but seat belt held. Driver has bruised knee. Vehicle totaled by insurance co.
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
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.
NHTSA investigations
Air bag non-deployment
Airbag complaints in other Escort years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1998 Ford Escort?
NHTSA has 75 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Ford Escort, 20% of the model year's 375 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (59 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Ford Escort airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1998 Ford Escort. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Escort airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 66 crashes, 1 fire and 50 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.