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1988 Ford EscortProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 143 owner complaints about the 1988 Ford Escort, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

51
CarFlaw IndexSolid year4% below the Escort median · #10 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints14369 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem75Electrical system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 3, 2003. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1988 Ford Escort has problems

143 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system7548
Engine and engine cooling217
Seat belts173
Exterior lighting111
Steering90
Fuel system, gasoline93
Power train70
Suspension50
Visibility40
8 other systems163

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

1988 Ford Escort recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Electrical system: ignition

Recall 96V-071 · Apr 25, 1996 · 7,900,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 87V-139 · Sep 4, 1987 · 3,600,000 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Best & worst years

1988 vs. every other Escort year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Escort median. How we score

'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
5 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1988 Ford Escort, and the recalls they led to.

  1. REAR SEAT BELT COMPLIANCEDP88007 · closed Aug 24, 1988
    No recall
  2. REAR SAFETY BELT FITEA88038 · closed May 11, 1990
    No recall
  3. FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINTEA90008 · closed Dec 31, 1991
    No recall
  4. PASSIVE BELT FAILUREPE89143 · closed Dec 27, 1989
    No recall
  5. SAFETY BELT D-RINGPE90063 · closed Jul 31, 1990
    No recall
In owners' words

What Escort owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM MY UNCLE WHEN IT WAS 3 YEARS OLD WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. IT BEGAN STALLING A YEAR OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I HAD IT IN TO BOTH A FORD AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WITH A VARIETY OF REASONS GIVEN FOR IT STALLING. I REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES ON MY…
Complaint 10007031 · Oct 14, 2000
THE RACK AND PINION STEERING CAME LOSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS DRIVING AND THEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF TO VROSS THE STREET VEHICLE WOULD NOT FO ANYWHERE, CONSUMER CHECKED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT WAS DOWN SO SHE TRIED TO GIVE IT SOME GAS AND TURNED THE STEERING…
Complaint 987264 · Jul 24, 1996
LEAVING WORK, STOP AT BANK, FUNNY SMELLED COMING THRU VENT, PARKED VEHICLE/WENT IN BANK, LADY CAME IN BANK, INFORMED SOMEONE BLUE FORD ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK
Complaint 987167 · Jul 22, 1996

Own a 1988 Escort?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.