Complaints
470
Crashes
102
Fires
17
Injuries
94
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Ford Escort Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#159 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Avg mileage:85,878 mi
Crash-related:55
Fires:1
#226 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Avg mileage:64,532 mi
#324 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:51,260 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Ford Escort.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 59 | 55 | 1 | 85,878 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 26 | — | — | 64,532 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 24 | 1 | — | 51,260 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 19 | — | 13 | 31,517 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 15 | 3 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs | 15 | — | — | 70,637 mi | |
| Airbags | 14 | 9 | — | 89,825 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 11 | — | — | 133,500 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs | 10 | — | — | 52,419 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 10 | 2 | — | 76,500 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 8 | 1 | — | 94,000 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 7 | 4 | — | 65,939 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 6 | — | — | 75,000 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 6 | 2 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 5 | 3 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 5 | 2 | — | 42,112 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 5 | 1 | — | 63,333 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 4 | 1 | — | — |
Air Bags:Frontal
59
complaints
Crashes
55
Fires
1
Avg Miles
85,878
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
26
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
64,532
Automatic Transmission
24
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
51,260
Electrical Faults
19
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
13
Avg Miles
31,517
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
15
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear:Springs
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,637
Airbags
14
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
—
Avg Miles
89,825
Suspension Failures
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
133,500
Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
52,419
Unintended Acceleration
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
76,500
Manual Transmission
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
94,000
Fuel Pump
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,939
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,000
Seat-Related Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
5
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
42,112
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
63,333
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Ford Escort. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Escort Years
1998 Ford Escort — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Ford Escort reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1998 Ford Escort has 470 NHTSA complaints, 102 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Air Bags:Frontal with 59 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Ford Escort?
Top reported problems: Air Bags:Frontal (59 complaints, avg 85,878 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (26 complaints, avg 64,532 mi); Automatic Transmission (24 complaints, avg 51,260 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Ford Escort?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 72,326 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Ford Escort?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Ford Escort include 102 crash-related reports, 17 fire reports, 94 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 1998 Ford Escort have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 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 1998 Ford Escort?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (air bags:frontal) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
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 1998 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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