1991 Ford ESCORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
195 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
128,375 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 195 complaints (15.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 29 | 14.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 25 | 12.8% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 6.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 4.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 31 |
| Seat Belts | 25 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 14 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 31; Seat Belts: 25; Electrical System:Ignition: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 11; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 181 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 52 |
| 1996 | 67 |
| 2000 | 25 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1995: 52; 1996: 67; 2000: 25; 2001: 20; 2002: 9; 2003: 6; 2004: 6; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 29 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 25 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10024878 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WIRING ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL PUMP HAS BURNED UP 3X IN THE LAST MONTH. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS INCORRECT SPECIFIED 30AMP FUSE FOR FUEL PUMP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082982 · 2004-07-30 (July 30, 2004)
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A 1991 FORD ESCORT IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH WHEN SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD BEHIND THE SPEEDOMETER SECTION. SHE PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE CAR AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE SMOKE CEASED AND A POLICE OFFICER STOPPED BY TO ASSIST. HE REMAINED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK CAME TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO MY HOUSE. THE VEHICLE HAS LIABILITY INSURANCE ONLY. I WAS NOT ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE FOR A FEW DAYS. I NEEDED MORE INFORMATION IN HOW TO GET BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. UPON OPEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022205 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL#92V17000 CONCERNING FUEL TANK. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089429 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)
FATALITY INVOLVING 1991 FORD ESCORT. *MR THE CONSUMERS AUNT WAS DRIVING AND WAS SEVERELY INJURED AND THE CONSUMERS MOTHER WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED OR CORRECTED FOR THE PROBLEM. (INSPECT THE BOLT LENGTH BEFORE DRIVEN OR DEMONSTRATED OR DELIVERED THE VEHICLE UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTED) THIS WAS THE CONSUMER'S AUNT'S FIRST ACCIDENT UNTIL THE PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR. THE THROTTLE LINKAGE WAS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. RECALL# 90V076000 *SC THERE WAS ALSO A LEAKAGE PRESENT A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125284 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)
DT: 1991, FORD, ESCORT HATCHBACK. CONSUMER'S WIFE CAME HOME YESTERDAY, AND SAID SHE SMELLED SMOKE. CONSUMER CHECKED VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LOCATED AT TOP OF REAR WINDOW SMOKED WHEN BRAKE WAS PRESSED. CONSUMER TOOK LIGHT APART, AND FOUND SAME PART AT A JUNK YARD. CONSUMER REPLACED HEAT SHIELD AND HALOGEN BULB WITH ONE FROM JUNK YARD. CONSUMER CALLED FORD AND GAVE FORD INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT. FORD TOLD CONSUMER THERE WERE NO RECALLS, BUT THEY WERE GOING TO TURN IT IN TO ENGINEERING. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT A LOWER …
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015009 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. THERE WAS A RECALL 94E019000 WHICH DESCRIBED THE EXACT PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051613 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FELL ONTO THE FLOOR. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO COME TO A STOP. THE DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB *MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319837 · 2010-03-15 (March 15, 2010)
THE ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE IN FULL THROTTLE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. FORTUNATELY IT WAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND OUT OF GEAR WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. I HAD STOMPED ON THE GAS PEDAL BY MISTAKE. I SEARCHED THE FLOOR AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCELERATOR FROM DISENGAGING AND FOUND NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE PHENOMENON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 467792 · 1995-02-18 (February 18, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION TO DIFFERENTIAL AND SIDE GEARS, CASUING GEAR WEAR/FAILURE. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 467792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506166 · 1996-07-15 (July 15, 1996)
WIRING TO FUEL PUMP SHORTED, CAUSING FUEL PUMP TO LEAK/ENGINE TO STALL. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 563266 · 2001-09-25 (September 25, 2001)
IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY, CONSUMER FEELS A FULL RECALL IS NEEDED AND STATES THAT VEHICLE COULD STALL IN TRAFFIC. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563266 at NHTSA ↗