1990 Ford Escort: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 128 complaints
128
Total Complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Top Issue
8
Crash Reports

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
7
SEAT BELTS
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
6
SEATS
4
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
3

Severity Assessment

8
Crashes
49
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, FIRE DEPT SUSPECTS ELECTRIAL SYSTEM AS CULPRIT. TT"
"SEAT BELTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. TT"
"CAR WAS PARK IN A LOT AND CAR CAUGHT FIRE. TT"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28