Ignition
- Problem
- THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
- Risk
- THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
- Fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model year record
1990 Ford Escort recalls & problems
The 1990 Ford Escort has 2 safety recalls and 101 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (58 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints101filed by owners
Crashes · fires5 · 42reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths8 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Windshield
- Problem
- SPECIAL PRIMER THAT PROMOTES THE BONDING OF A URETHANE ADHESIVE TO THE GLASS WAS NOT APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELDS BEFORE INSTALLATION.
- Risk
- OMISSION OF THE PRIMER COULD CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD NOT TOBE PROPERLY ADHERED TO BODY, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 212.
- Fix
- REMOVE AND PROPERLY INSTALL WINDSHIELD USING SPECIAL PRIMER.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Escort
32mpg combined
| City / highway | 28 / 38 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,100/year to fuel
Escort
27mpg combined
| City / highway | 23 / 33 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel
Escort Wagon
27mpg combined
| City / highway | 23 / 33 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel
Escort
26mpg combined
| City / highway | 23 / 29 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Escort Wagon
25mpg combined
| City / highway | 23 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel
Escort
24mpg combined
| City / highway | 21 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemIgnition › Switch; Ignition | 58 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine | 12 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Anchorage; Front › Buckle assembly | 10 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Delivery | 10 | — |
| SeatsFront assembly › Recliner | 6 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Caliper; Foundation components › Master cylinder | 5 | — |
| SteeringLinkages › Tie rod assembly; Hydraulic power assist system | 5 | — |
| Power trainManual transmission; Clutch assembly | 5 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Other › Owners/service/other manual | 3 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlLinkages | 3 | — |
| StructureBody; Body › Hood | 3 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield | 3 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Seat beltsCrash1 injury
WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MILES PER HOUR, I ENDED UP IN A SKID ON DRY PAVEMENT. I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I GOT INTO THE SKID DUE TO HEAD INJURIES RECEIVED IN THE RESULTING ACCIDENT. THE CAR SKIDDED SIDEWAYS FOR QUITE A WAYS AND DID NOT RESPOND NORMALLY TO ATTEMPTS TO STEER IT. PERHAPS THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE CAR EVENTUALLY HIT THE RAISED CONCRETE RUMBLE STRIPS WHILE SKIDDING SIDEWAYS. THE CAR THEN FLIPPED OVER IN THE AIR AND TUMBLED DOWN THE MEDIAN, WITH THE FIRST IMPACT LIKELY TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE ROOF, KNOCKING OUT THE DRIVER. THE CAR CONTINUED TO TUMBLE DOWN THE MEDIAN UNTIL THE CAR VAULTED AND LANDED ON ITS TOP. I…
- Power train › Automatic transmission
1990 FORD ESCORT WITH 1.9 L ENGINE, THROTTLE-BODY FUEL INJ, AND MAN 5-SPEED TRANSM. APPROX 8 HWY MILES FROM HOME, PASSING THRU SMALL TOWN WITH 25-MPH LIMIT, SIGNAL LIGHT, AND RR CROSSING, THE FORD'S ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED TO INCREDIBLY HIGH RPM'S. FRIGHTENED, I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH. NO FLOOR MAT OR STUCK ACCELERATOR/MECHANICAL PROBLEMS EXISTED. APPARENTLY THIS WAS A COMPUTER CAUSE. WITHIN SECONDS, PERHAPS 4 TO 8 SECONDS, I WAS PREPARED TO TURN OFF THE KEY IGNITION TO THE VEHICLE. I TRIED PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR ONCE (IN FORMER CARBURETED AUTOS, SUCH AN ACTION WOULD SETTLE A REVVED ENGINE NORMALLY). PRESSING ACCELERATOR HAD NO EFFECT. THEN WITHIN THAT RANGE OF JUST SECONDS, THE…
- Electrical systemFire1 injury
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT GAS PUMP ISLAND, IGNITION OFF. ENGINE COMPARTMENT ERRUPTED INTO FLAMES. ALL COMPONENTS CONTAINED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARMENT OTHER THAN METAL COMPONENTS COMPLETELY MELTED OR BURNED. VEHICLE WAS MANUALLY PUSHED AWAY FROM GAS PUMP ISLAND WHILE ABLAZE, THEN EXTINGUISHED BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECURE LOCATION, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE SINCE THE FIRE. *NM
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
THE CAR STARTS FINE WHEN COLD. AFTER DRIVING TO TOWN SOMETIMES WON'T START RIGHT OFF,SOMETIMES IT DOES. MOSTOF THE TIME I HAVE TO TRY AND TRY.SOME TIMES WHEN IT DOES START IT REVS UP THEN DIES. THEN TRY TO START AGAIN, SOMETIME THE SAME THING SOMETIME WILL START. WHEN STARTED IT RUNS JUST FINE. *AK
- Electrical system › Ignition
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › LatchCrash
REAR DOORS HAVE BEEN INOPERABLE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. RECENTLY, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN CONSUMER BEING UNABLE TO GET THE DOORS OPEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
- Vehicle speed control › Linkages
WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND WITHOUT DRIVER DEPRESSING ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS CAUSED UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- FIRES IN STEERING COLUMNClosedLed to recall 96V071000
ELECTRICAL FIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
- FRONT BRAKE FIRESClosed
There is no summary currently available
- FIRES IN STEERING COLUMNClosed
There is no summary currently available