1998 Ford Escort Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 75about this part
- Share
- 20%of 375 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 75 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Ford Escort, 20% of the 375 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,000 miles. 66 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My son was driving my 1998 Ford Escort lx on a 35 MPH road when the driver in front of him slammed on his brakes. My son immediately tried to stop the car, but he rear-ended the other car before he could come to a complete stop. During the impact, the driver's seat belt did not lock in place and the dual airbags did not deploy - allowing my son's upper body to continue forward until his face hit the steering wheel. The lap belt functioned properly, holding my son's lower body in place.”
NHTSA complaint #10247134, filed 2008-10, 90,000 miles“On december, 17th, in the evening, my husband was on route 20, in marlborough, ma. He had made a wrong turn and was going 2 MPH, doing a k-turn, when both the airbags in his 1998 Ford Escort inflated. He has a standard shift car. At the time of the faulty inflation, as he was struck by the airbag in the head, his feet came off the pedals and the car stalled, rolling to the side of the road and hitting a curb. We are very lucky that he was not on the highway when these airbags deployed. Had he not made the wrong turn, he would have been on the highway. …”
NHTSA complaint #10054234, filed 2004-01, 104,300 miles“While swerving to avoid hitting an animal rear end failed. As a result, vehicle collided into a tree, then flipped, and landed on all four tires. Upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10053617, filed 2004-01, 55,000 miles“Vehicle is experiencing problems with the air bags. Owner was driving about 45 MPH on the highway and hit a parked vehicle. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10107080, filed 2005-01, 110,000 miles“Dt: the consumer states that the 1998 Ford Escort crashed into a light pole. The driver hit the pole and the air bag deployed and broke. The inside of the air bag sprayed the chemicals on the driver, the chemicals burnt her hands and arm. She said that she could not find a lawyer in her town to take case. The lawyers and the insurance company were working together against her. She said that she had a boil on her hand and a bruise on her chest. The consumer has pictures of the air bag. She wanted someone to reimburse her for the car because she lived in low income housing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10133304, filed 2005-08, 90,000 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 | 10% |
| 2002 | 2 | 6% |
| 2001 | 9 | 13% |
| 2000 | 18 | 18% |
| 1999 | 66 | 20% |
| 1998 | 75 | 20% |
| 1997 | 152 | 28% |
| 1996 | 18 | 9% |
| 1995 | 67 | 12% |
| 1994 | 54 | 19% |
| 1993 | 2 | 1% |
| 1991 | 1 | 0% |
| 1985 | 1 | 4% |
Other parts of the 1998 Ford Escort
50 complaintsEngine cooling
49 complaintsElectrical system
43 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
43 complaintsBrakes
35 complaintsFuel system
22 complaintsSeat belts
17 complaintsSteering
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsEquipment
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Ford Escort
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology