1992 Ford ESCORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
95 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
111,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 95 complaints (12.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 13.7% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 12.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 12.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 12 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 11 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 12; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 11; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Seat Belts: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 84 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 | 28 |
| 1996 | 24 |
| 2000 | 16 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
1995: 28; 1996: 24; 2000: 16; 2001: 6; 2002: 6; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 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 10050201 · 2003-12-08 (December 8, 2003)
RECALL 92V117000 CONCERNING FUEL PUMP FAILURE. ANYTIME THE CONSUMER GETS INTO THE VEHICLE THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. CONSUMER IS NOT SURE IF HER VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143393 · 2005-11-21 (November 21, 2005)
GASOLINE LEAKS FROM TOP OF GAS TANK WHEN FILLED. THERE IS A RECALL (NHTSA# 92V-117, FORD # 92S54 ) I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY HAD NO RECORD OF RECALL, AND TOLD ME IT WAS TO OLD TO CHECK. I THEN CALLED FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT, AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL HAD BEEN CLOSED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 74,838 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037446 · 2003-09-08 (September 8, 2003)
ELECTRICAL FAILURE; DRIVER'S SIDE LAP BELT; DASH LIGHTS(SPEEDOMETER FUEL GAUGE, ENGINE HEAT TEMP & REVOLOTION GUAGE), RADIO LIGHTS, DRIVER'S DOOR BUZZER/ OVERHEAD LIGHT; A/C,/ HEATER FAN INTERMITTENT. IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE, X2, BOTH BRAKE LIGHT BULBS REPLACED: COURTESY LIGHT IN TRUNK NEEDS REPLACED. HAS NEVER BEEN TO GARAGE, TO BE REPAIRED, FOR ANY ABOVE ELECTRICAL.EXCEPTION, IGNITION REPLACED BY GARAGE X1.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489362 · 1995-04-15 (April 15, 1995)
ANTILOCK BRAKE COMPRESSOR/ACCUMULATOR FAILED. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010123 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE THERE WAS THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING AND SOON AFTER, SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE DEFROSTER VENTS. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND SMOKING QUIT. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD BURNT UP BEYOND REPAIR.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735141 · 2000-10-25 (October 25, 2000)
WHY DOES THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT WITHOUT A WARNING OR SIGNAL?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 961755 · 1995-03-13 (March 13, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007027 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
MY ESCORT STALLS WHILE DRIVING, TURNING RIGHT, ETC. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY PUT MY ESCORT ON THE COMPUTER AND INFORMED ME THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING. I DID THIS BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!! I NEED HELP. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734315
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 555362 · 2000-10-04 (October 4, 2000)
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR MANY PROBLEMS, DEALER FOUND A LEAK IN THE HEAD GASKET CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO NOT CYLCLE COOLANT CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, STALL, AND SHUT DOWN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 555362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506628 · 1996-07-25 (July 25, 1996)
INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FLEXIBLE COUPLING BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL/STEERING RACK BADLY WORN WHICH PRODUCES EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL OF ABOUT 0-5" AT CIRCUMFERENCE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960068 · 1995-02-15 (February 15, 1995)
STEERING COLUMN SEVERELY VIBRATES WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY; OWNER TOLD BY FORD THAT IT WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE; CANNOT BE CORRECTED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960068 at NHTSA ↗