Complaints
53
Crashes
3
Fires
20
Injuries
5
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1986 Ford Escort Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#110 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:8
#26 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:5
#35 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1986 Ford Escort.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 10 | — | 8 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | 5 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hood | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
8
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1986 Ford Escort. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Escort Years
1986 Ford Escort — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1986 Ford Escort reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1986 Ford Escort has 53 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition:Switch with 10 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1986 Ford Escort?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (10 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (6 complaints); Electrical System:Ignition (5 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1986 Ford Escort?
NHTSA complaints for the 1986 Ford Escort include 3 crash-related reports, 20 fire reports, 5 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1986 Ford Escort have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1986 Ford Escort as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1986 Ford Escort?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escort reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1986 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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