1991 Ford ESCORT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007387 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS STUCK IN ONE POSITION. POSSIBLY RELATED TO RECALL 93V057000.*JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007387 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 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 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 10026763 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, AND DRIVER SIDE STRAP BROKE FROM THE FRAME OF THE SEAT BELT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032458 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS, THE SEAT BELTS FAILED IN THE OPEN POSITION.*SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032458 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 10056065 · 2004-01-29 (January 29, 2004)
DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK TO THE LOCKING POSITION. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT PROPERLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 149,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056065 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
90V076000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
Reported: 1990-04-17 (April 17, 1990)
INTERFERENCE OCCUR BETWEEN BOLT THAT SECURES A FUEL LINE SHIELD TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK AT THE WIDE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION AND RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL WITH THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: CUT OFF EXTRA LENGTH OF BOLT THAT PROTRUDES ABOVE SURFACE OF WELD NUT TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗92V117000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 1992-08-19 (August 19, 1992)
FATIGUE CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN TUBE AND THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK.
Consequence: SHOULD A CRACK DEVELOP, FUEL VAPOR CAN ESCAPE FROM THETANK WHEN THE TANK IS FULL, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACK.FUEL LEAKS CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP SENDING ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V057000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
Reported: 1993-04-15 (April 15, 1993)
THE ROLL PINS SECURING THE IGNITION LOCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING CAN SEPARATE OR MOVE OUT OF POSITION.
Consequence: THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER MAY DISENGAGE FROM THESTEERING COLUMN HOUSING WHICH COULD CAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK UP,RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: IF ONE OR BOTH OF THE ROLL PINS ARE MISSING OR NOT FULLY INSERTED, THE IGNITION LOCK HOUSING WILL BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE DOOR-LOCKS AND THE LIFTGATE OR DECK-LID LOCKS SO THAT KEY COMPATIBILITY IS MAINTAINED. IF BOTH PINS ARE PRESENT AND FULLY INSERTED, A PLASTIC SNAP-ON SLEEVE WILL BE INSTALLED AS A PRECAUTION TO PREVENT THE ROLL PINS FROM COMING OUT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗