1992 Ford ESCORT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001934 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
THE CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE TANK. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED A HOLE IN THE TANK. THE TANK HAD LEAKED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE V.I.N. WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RELATED RECALL 92V117000. TS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, A SUSPENSION BAR WAS NEEDED, AND WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO KEEP THE FUEL AT HALF FULL. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001934 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 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 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 10040363 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD STARTED SMOKING. THE DRIVER PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED A GARAGE. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 102,239 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040363 at NHTSA ↗
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 10068870 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE ATOMATIC SEATBELT IS NOT RUNNING IN IT'S TRACK CONTINUOUSLY. IT HAS DECIDED TO WORK WHEN AND IF IT FEELS LIKE IT. THE PAINT STARTED PEELING ON THE TOP OF THE TRUNK IN 1998 OR 99 APPROXIMATELY, I HAVE NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO GET THE PAINT FIXED. I DID HOWEVER GET THE SIDE PAINTED WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN 1993. THAT PAINT HAS BUBBLED. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT COST ME, I THINK JUST MY INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE AT THAT TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105007 · 2004-12-17 (December 17, 2004)
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSITION OR WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 76,365 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105007 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.
92V103000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 1992-07-13 (July 13, 1992)
THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES COULD INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN THE STOP LAMPS NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN FOLLOWING MOTORISTS NOT BEINGSIGNALED THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING, AND COULD RESULT IN A COLLISION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FAULTY STOP LAMP SWITCHES.
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 ↗