1998 Ford EscortProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 375 owner complaints about the 1998 Ford Escort, most often about the air bags. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 19, 2019. Updated daily.
Where the 1998 Ford Escort has problems
375 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 75 | 67 |
| Suspension | 50 | 4 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 49 | 1 |
| Power train | 43 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 43 | 8 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 32 | 7 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 19 | 1 |
| Steering | 17 | 4 |
| Seat belts | 17 | 9 |
| 13 other systems | 89 | 17 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1998 Ford Escort recalls and how many were fixed
No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.
1998 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
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
1998 Ford Escort safety ratings
1998 Ford Escort 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 1998 Ford Escort, and the recalls they led to.
- AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENTNo recall
What Escort owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD ESCORT LX ON A 35 MPH ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF HIM SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES. MY SON IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, BUT HE REAR-ENDED THE OTHER CAR BEFORE HE COULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DURING THE IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND…
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT THAT DID NOT PREVENT THEM FROM BEING THROWN TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND INJURED. THE DRIVER…
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED HORN HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 31,000 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THAT ITWAS CAUSING THE HORN NOT TO WORK. THE HORN HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT…
Own a 1998 Escort?
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