1996 Ford Escort vs 1997 Ford Escort
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Ford Escort | 1997 Ford Escort |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 205 | 543 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 90 | 150 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 24 | 67 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 83 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–30 | 26–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 86,000 mi | 78,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escort | Ford Escort |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 18 | 152 |
| Electrical System | 14 | 114 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 30 | 66 |
| Seat Belts | 77 | 12 |
| Suspension | 13 | 67 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 | 39 |
| Power Train | 19 | 29 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 28 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 12 | 33 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 6 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 32 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 25 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 9 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 8 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 7 |
1996 Ford Escort
1997 Ford Escort
Compare all Ford Escort vs Ford Escort years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.