Complaints
65
Crashes
1
Fires
31
Injuries
6
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1987 Ford Escort Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#115 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:11
#210 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:7
#36 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
Fires:4
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1987 Ford Escort.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 15 | — | 11 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 10 | — | 7 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 6 | — | 4 | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 4 | — | 3 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
11
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
7
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1987 Ford Escort. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Escort Years
1987 Ford Escort — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1987 Ford Escort reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1987 Ford Escort has 65 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition:Switch with 15 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1987 Ford Escort?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (15 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (10 complaints); Electrical System:Ignition (6 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1987 Ford Escort?
NHTSA complaints for the 1987 Ford Escort include 1 crash-related reports, 31 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 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 1987 Ford Escort have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1987 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 1987 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 1987 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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