1990 Ford ESCORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
67 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
79,893 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 67 complaints (16.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 7 | 10.4% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 9.0% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 9.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 4.5% |
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 | 11 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 8 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 11; Electrical System:Ignition: 8; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 6; Seat Belts: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2
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 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 65 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 | 21 |
| 1996 | 29 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
1995: 21; 1996: 29; 2000: 5; 2001: 6; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2007: 1; 2010: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10026523 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037188 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
THE CAR STARTS FINE WHEN COLD. AFTER DRIVING TO TOWN SOMETIMES WON'T START RIGHT OFF,SOMETIMES IT DOES. MOSTOF THE TIME I HAVE TO TRY AND TRY.SOME TIMES WHEN IT DOES START IT REVS UP THEN DIES. THEN TRY TO START AGAIN, SOMETIME THE SAME THING SOMETIME WILL START. WHEN STARTED IT RUNS JUST FINE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 39,786 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182987 · 2007-02-19 (February 19, 2007)
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT GAS PUMP ISLAND, IGNITION OFF. ENGINE COMPARTMENT ERRUPTED INTO FLAMES. ALL COMPONENTS CONTAINED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARMENT OTHER THAN METAL COMPONENTS COMPLETELY MELTED OR BURNED. VEHICLE WAS MANUALLY PUSHED AWAY FROM GAS PUMP ISLAND WHILE ABLAZE, THEN EXTINGUISHED BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECURE LOCATION, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE SINCE THE FIRE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10182987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313471 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)
1990 FORD ESCORT WITH 1.9 L ENGINE, THROTTLE-BODY FUEL INJ, AND MAN 5-SPEED TRANSM. APPROX 8 HWY MILES FROM HOME, PASSING THRU SMALL TOWN WITH 25-MPH LIMIT, SIGNAL LIGHT, AND RR CROSSING, THE FORD'S ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED TO INCREDIBLY HIGH RPM'S. FRIGHTENED, I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH. NO FLOOR MAT OR STUCK ACCELERATOR/MECHANICAL PROBLEMS EXISTED. APPARENTLY THIS WAS A COMPUTER CAUSE. WITHIN SECONDS, PERHAPS 4 TO 8 SECONDS, I WAS PREPARED TO TURN OFF THE KEY IGNITION TO THE VEHICLE. I TRIED PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR ONCE (IN FORMER CARB…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10351100 · 2010-08-21 (August 21, 2010)
WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MILES PER HOUR, I ENDED UP IN A SKID ON DRY PAVEMENT. I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I GOT INTO THE SKID DUE TO HEAD INJURIES RECEIVED IN THE RESULTING ACCIDENT. THE CAR SKIDDED SIDEWAYS FOR QUITE A WAYS AND DID NOT RESPOND NORMALLY TO ATTEMPTS TO STEER IT. PERHAPS THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE CAR EVENTUALLY HIT THE RAISED CONCRETE RUMBLE STRIPS WHILE SKIDDING SIDEWAYS. THE CAR THEN FLIPPED OVER IN THE AIR AND TUMBLED DOWN THE MEDIAN, WITH THE FIRST IMPACT LIKE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10351100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480747 · 1995-01-21 (January 21, 1995)
ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482979 · 1995-05-05 (May 5, 1995)
COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484495 · 1995-08-01 (August 1, 1995)
ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION PLASTIC BREATHER FELL OFF ONTO HOT ENGINE WHILE DRIVING/MELTED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484495 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.
89V174000 · Visibility:Windshield
Reported: 1989-10-13 (October 13, 1989)
SPECIAL PRIMER THAT PROMOTES THE BONDING OF A URETHANE ADHESIVE TO THE GLASS WAS NOT APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELDS BEFORE INSTALLATION.
Consequence: OMISSION OF THE PRIMER COULD CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD NOT TOBE PROPERLY ADHERED TO BODY, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 212.
Remedy: REMOVE AND PROPERLY INSTALL WINDSHIELD USING SPECIAL PRIMER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗