Complaints
31
Crashes
1
Fires
10
Injuries
4
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1985 Ford Escort Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#15 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Fires:3
#23 complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
Fires:2
#32 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1985 Ford Escort.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 5 | — | 3 | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 | — | — | — | |
| SEATS | 2 | — | — | — | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 | — | — | 75,000 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 | — | — | — | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 | — | — | — | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 | — | — | — | |
| PARKING BRAKE | 1 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH | 1 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 | — | — | — | |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 | — | — | — | |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 | — | — | — |
Other Ford Escort Years
Wider context: See the full Ford Escort reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1985 Ford Escort
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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