1988 Ford Escort Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report electrical trouble most often, especially smoke or fire from the steering column area and around the alternator, plus stalling from ignition components. Cooling-system complaints are the second most common theme, and many reports come from cars that had already been running for years rather than at low mileage, with a median of about 67,000 miles on the cooling complaints.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Steering column smoke or fire (ignition switch area)

   • 29 complaints (20%)
   • typically at 8.8 yrs old
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Complaints describe smoke coming from the steering column, sometimes followed by the car catching fire, including cases where the owner had already had the ignition switch replaced under a recall campaign. Some owners report the vehicle would not shut off or the key would not release after repair work, and others say the dealer charged for the follow-up repairs. One complaint notes an ignition switch that sticks in the on position instead of returning. Reported across a wide range of ages and mileages, often while parked or shortly after driving, and in some cases after a prior ignition switch replacement.

   Recall 96V071000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall was performed and keep the paperwork; check for a burning smell, melted plastic, or heat damage around the steering column and switch connectors.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ignition switch was replaced under recall #98s28 on 05-oct-98. On 19-nov-98, consumer had parked the vehicle after traveling and the vehicle burst into flames due to an electrical problem, according to the fire department. Dealer has been contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #831509, filed 1998-12

   “Vehicle under recall (396v071000); had no problem in beginning. Took to dealer and was told vehicle was repaired. Picked vehicle up, drove vehicle and problem reoccurred, had vehicle towed, dealer charged for repairs (electrical wiring).”

   NHTSA complaint #809306, filed 1997-02
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine bay fires near alternator, wiring, or battery cables

   • 34 complaints (24%)
   • typically at 8.5 yrs old
   • 33 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2000

   Owners describe smoke or flames from under the hood, sometimes while driving and sometimes after the car was parked, with complaints pointing to the alternator area, wiring harness, or battery cable area. One report says the radiator fan malfunctioned while driving and the harness caught fire, blowing a fusible link that shut off the fuel pump. Another complaint describes the dealer attributing the fire to the alternator. Reported on cars of varying age and mileage, both while driving and after the vehicle had been parked for a short time.

   Recall 96V071000

   What to check: Look over the under-hood wiring for brittle, browned, or melted insulation and check alternator and battery cable connections; ask whether any wiring or alternator work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer was traveling for a period of five minutes before noticing smoke coming from under the hood, consumer, therefore, opened the hood and noticed the vehicle was on fire. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer stated the cause was due to the alternator.”

   NHTSA complaint #819971, filed 1997-01

   “Driving vehicle, smelled something burning, saw smoke coming from the hood of vehicle, pulled vehicle over into a parking lot and looked under hood, after raising hood, saw flames coming from the area of alternator, driver smothered flames w/shirt.”

   NHTSA complaint #800750, filed 1996-08
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Engine stalling and no-start from ignition components

   • 6 complaints (4%)
   • typically at 12.8 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2001

   Complaints describe the engine quitting at speed or refusing to start, with owners reporting repeated replacement of the ignition module, ignition coil, or the module and coil together without a lasting fix. Several owners say shops gave various explanations for the stalling, and one owner parked the car rather than sell it with the problem. A related complaint describes the fuel pump occasionally not running. Described at ordinary driving speeds and over long ownership periods, with repeat failures after parts replacement rather than a single mileage point.

   Recall 96V071000

   What to check: Ask how the car starts cold and hot and whether ignition module or coil replacements are documented; a pre-purchase inspection that includes a hot-restart check is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this vehicle from my uncle when it was 3 year old with 40,000 miles on it. It began stalling a year or so after I bought it. I had it in to both a Ford and independent repair shop with a variety of reasons given for its stalling. I replaced the ignition module three different times on my own on a hunch that it might be the problem. I have mothballed the car for at least three years because I was tired of driving around having to worry about it stopping on me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #734334, filed 2000-10

   “I bought this vehicle from my uncle when it was 3 years old with 40,000 miles on it. It began stalling a year or so after I bought it. I had it in to both a Ford and independent repair shop with a variety of reasons given for it stalling. I replaced the ignition module three different times on my own on a hunch that it might be the problem. I have moth balled the car for at least three years because I was tired of driving around having to worry about it stopping on me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10007031, filed 2000-10
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Fires and overheating in the engine compartment

   • 15 complaints (10%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 16.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2003

   Complaints describe the car catching fire while parked outside a home or in a store lot, with fire officials pointing to an engine-compartment origin. Another owner reports a bad head gasket found at low mileage when investigating stalling, and one report describes overheating and smoke from the steering column after ignition switch work. Cooling-related complaints in this group center on the engine and cooling system rather than a single named part. Reported from parked, engine-off situations up to higher-mileage cars; the head gasket report came in at about 67,000 miles.

   What to check: Check for coolant loss, oil that looks milky, and overheating history, and ask whether the head gasket has been replaced; look for fire or heat damage in the engine bay.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car has been stalling regardless of speed. Took to mechanic to determine problem. Mechanic has (so far) identified bad head gasket. I am second owner of this vehicle and it has only 67,000 miles on it. Very few miles for an expensive head gasket repair!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10041201, filed 2003-10, 67,000 miles

   “The consumer has experienced problems with engine. Vehicle caught on fire while it was parked outside of consumer's house. The fire department came to the scene and determined that the fire was caused by a defect in the engine. The manufacturer has yet to be contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #831474, filed 1998-12
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Headlight and dimmer switch failures

   • 10 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 9.1 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Owners report headlights that blink and then go out entirely, tail lights that stop working when the headlights are on, and switches that have been replaced repeatedly. Complaints describe the connectors at the headlight and dimmer switches turning brown and the plastic melting from heat. Several owners connect the problem to the switch itself or to wiring disturbed during steering-column work. Described as a recurring problem across years of ownership, with replacement switches lasting months to a few years before symptoms return.

   What to check: Test high and low beams on a longer drive and inspect the headlight switch and connector for discoloration or melted plastic; ask how many switches have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall performed on ignition switch. Immediately after the recall was performed the low beam headlights failed to come on. Dealer stated that it could not not be related. The Ford tech that did the replacement disturbed other areas in the steering column causing the failure. He/she failed to connect everything in the column.”

   NHTSA complaint #731791, filed 2000-09

   “Light dimmer switch overloads and lights turn off. When using driving lights, they can only be turned on for about 5 to 8 minutes before headlights begin to blink on and off. With continuing use the lights will go completely off, leaving driver in the dark. In addition, fog lights malfunctioned.”

   NHTSA complaint #534191, filed 1998-04

Buying note. Because electrical and fire-related reports dominate this model year, a careful inspection of the wiring, steering column, and under-hood area matters more than cosmetics on these cars. Confirm whether the ignition switch recall was completed and keep the record, and budget for sorting out ignition, lighting, and cooling faults on a car this old.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.