1991 Ford Escort: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 413 complaints
413
Total Complaints
128,375mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Top Issue
22
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

101,000 25th Percentile
128,375 Median Mileage
135,750 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
49
SEAT BELTS
46
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
24
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
20
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
13
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
13
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
9

Severity Assessment

22
Crashes
70
Fires
21
Injuries
3
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLES FUEL PUMP LEAKS VAPORS. TT"
"AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TT"
"DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT CABLE POPPED OUT OF TRACK WHILE IN USE; GREASE LEAKED OUT OF CABLE; SPEED 50 MPH; SHOULDER HARNESS NO LONGER WORKS. 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