10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,122 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1996 Ford Escort:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #6

Jun 142008

Escort

  • 20,734 miles
I am not sure if this is the correct section to file this in. I am being unsuccessful in a continued effort to correct a malfunction in the check engine light sensor. I have done all I know to correct this matter including changing the light bulb with no success. This malfunction is continuing to cause me not to pass a simple smog test. Is there any record of there being a manufacture defect to this part.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

Add Complaint
problem #5

Dec 052003

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles
Spontaneous vehicle combustion: Y 1996 Ford Escort was stuck 3 hrs. In traffic jam on major nassau county, NY route in middle of snow storm. Fire started from engine compartment, spreading to dashboard. Had fire dept. Not quickly arrived on scene to extinguish fire, a chain reaction of exploding vehicles might have ensued involving hundreds of drivers. Fire dept. Described fire as electrical in origin.

- Valley Stream, NY, USA

Add Complaint
problem #4

Jun 082002

Escort

  • miles
Defective spark plug, robert Bosch Corp. After a routine change of spark plugs in our 1996 Ford Escort, my car quit running. The Bosch spark plug blew up in my car. We have had the top of the engine repaired for $900+ and the bottom needs repair for $1000.+ we have contacted the company on numerous occasions, and they in fact blame my car!!!! when the car was running fine before the installation of the Bosch spark plug. My wife drives this car and since this happened last year, the knock in the engine is getting louder, she can not drive it on the expressway, and I hope we can resolve this matter before the engine quits entirely and someone gets hurt. Precision tune, who repaired the top of the engine last year said that these Bosch platinum spark plugs are defective and they have seen them explode in other autos (Bosch platinum spark plug hr9hp0).

- Charlotte, NC, USA

Add Complaint
problem #3

May 292000

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Fire started on passenger side of vehicle and burned through the inside of vehicle, claim 27-6082-040.

- Lincoln, NC, USA

Add Complaint
problem #2

Feb 152002

Escort

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer states auto caught fire, burning his back seat and everything in the back seat. Consumer states he observed burned wires in his truck of his auto.

- Harrisville, NY, USA

Add Complaint
problem #1

May 292000

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Fire started on passenger side of vehicle and burned through the inside of vehicle, claim 27-6082-040.

- Lincoln, NC, USA

Add Complaint