1998 Ford ESCORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
246 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 246 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 7.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 6.9% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 3.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 32 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 25 |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 14 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs | 10 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 32; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 25; Suspension:Rear:Springs: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 14; Electrical System: 11; Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs: 10; Air Bags: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 189 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 53 |
| 2001 | 53 |
| 2002 | 46 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 27 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2000: 53; 2001: 53; 2002: 46; 2003: 26; 2004: 27; 2005: 20; 2006: 7; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2013: 1; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 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 10001168 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE. CONSUMER STATES DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003820 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004735 · 2002-12-21 (December 21, 2002)
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TROUBLE DATED BACK TO THE RECALL, PRIOR TO THE RECALL THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO AN OVER SENSITIVE SENSOR OR AIR BEING IN THE GAS TANK. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BOGUS CODE. *JB NAR 1/21/2003
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004950 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 FORD ESCORT SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN AUGUST, 1998. THE MOST SEVERE AND RECENT PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED IN DECEMBER, 2002. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING MAJOR OVERHEATING PROBLEMS IN MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. I AM NOT CERTAIN IF THE HEAD GASKET BECAME FAULTY WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING BUILT, OR IF FULLERTON FORD DAMAGED THE GASKET WHILE DOING WORK ON MY VEHICLE, AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO SODDER THE PART TOGETHER. ACCORDING TO CORBO'S AUTO SERVICE IN SOMERVILLE, THE GASKET HAD A "S…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006758 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
INTERMITTENT STALLING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE CAUSE. PH...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007335 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008182 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)
I READ THAT THAT NHTSA CONDUCTED A STUDY ON TIE ROD END FAILURE IN FORD CARS AT SOME POINT. I HAVE JUST HAD TWO SETS OF TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED ON MY FORD ESCORT (98 MODEL YEAR) WITHIN A SPAN OF A YEAR AND A HALF. IF YOU ARE STILL COLLECTING DATA FOR THIS ISSUE, I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT MY CASE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012524 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
THE VEHICLES GEAR SHIFT LOCKED AND COULDN'T BE MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012524 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.