1986 Ford ESCORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
80,150 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 39 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 17.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 12.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.6% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.6% |
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 | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 9; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 38 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 | 8 |
| 1996 | 22 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 22; 2000: 5; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2004: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007035 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE ENGINE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM G…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068586 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
CONSUMER BECAME ILL FROM THE FUMES THAT EMITTED FROM THE HEATER/AC SYSTEM. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE HEATER/RADIATOR SYSTEM HOWEVER THE CONSUMER REMAINED ILL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236821 · 2008-08-04 (August 4, 2008)
I AM WRITING YOU TODAY ABOUT A SITUATION THAT OCCURRED JULY 3RD 1986 IN MORTON GROVE ILLINOIS AT 11:52P.M. I AM THE MOTHER OF A 2 YEAR OLD THAT WAS BURNED TO DEATH IN A 1986 FORD ESCORT THAT WAS NOT ON IN THE PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE. YES IT HAS BEEN OVER 20 YEARS, BUT DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TIME I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYONE TO LISTEN TO MY STORY. WELL, THIS PARTICULAR CAR WAS A RENTAL FROM BUDGET RENTAL IN GLENVIEW ILLINOIS AND WE WERE ON A FAMILY OUTING. ALL WAS WELL AND THEN WE STOPPED OFF TO GET SOME FIRE WORKS. I COULD …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10236821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485070 · 1995-06-06 (June 6, 1995)
WIRING HARNESS FAILED, CAUSING FIRE. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500704 · 1996-01-08 (January 8, 1996)
HEADLIGHTS ARE PLASTIC AND DETERIORATED TO SUCH A CLOUDY CONDITION THAT VERY LITTLE LIGHT REACHES THE HIGHWAY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501871 · 1996-02-19 (February 19, 1996)
ALUMINUM HEADS OVERHEATED/CRACKED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH STARTED ENGINE FIRE. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503660 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, PREVENTING STARTER FROM ENGAGING. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503803 · 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED IN FIRE. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503803 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1987-09-04 (September 4, 1987)
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V170000 · Seats
Reported: 1989-10-13 (October 13, 1989)
THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LIMITED DEGREE OF ROCKING MOTIONOF THE DRIVERS SEAT ASSEMBLY UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT ON ALL MODELS AND A NEW SEAT TRACK AS NECESSARY
NHTSA campaign record ↗