1998 BMW 540I vs 1998 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 | 1998 BMW 540I | 1998 Ford Escort |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 26 | 375 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 20 | 125 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 84 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 11 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 16–18 | 25–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 75,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 540I | Ford Escort |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 | 75 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 49 |
| Suspension | 1 | 50 |
| Power Train | 1 | 43 |
| Electrical System | 0 | 43 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 0 | 32 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | 19 |
| Steering | 1 | 17 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 25 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 17 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 13 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 6 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 6 |
1998 BMW 540I
1998 Ford Escort
Compare all BMW 540I 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.