1982 Ford Escort recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-20. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
5 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Equipment
What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, A THERMAL LIMITER IN THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR CIRCUIT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER ASSEMBLY MAY NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. IF THE BLOWER MOTOR BECOMES JAMMED WHEN THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING IN THE MEDIUM-LOW BLOWER SPEED, THE RESISTOR COILS CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING MELTING AND POSSIBLE IGNITION.
What could happen:
The fix: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE RESISTOR ASSEMBLY WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1982 ESCORT.
- Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 82V045000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
Summary: ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, A THERMAL LIMITER IN THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR CIRCUIT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER ASSEMBLY MAY NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. IF THE BLOWER MOTOR BECOMES JAMMED WHEN THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING IN THE MEDIUM-LOW BLOWER SPEED, THE RESISTOR COILS CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING MELTING AND POSSIBLE IGNITION.
Consequence:
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE RESISTOR ASSEMBLY WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGERS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL AIRCONDITIONING.SYSTEM: AIR CONDITIONER; MOTOR, FAN.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY CAUSING LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL, ACCIDENT, AND PASSENGER INJURY.NOTE: UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, THE BLOWER SHOULD BE OPERATED ONLY IN THEHIGH OR LOW SPEEDS. THE A/C MODE LEVER SHOULD BE TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITIONIF THE BLOWER BECOMES NOISY OR IF A BURNING ODOR OR SMOKE IS NOTICED.
2. Seats
What's wrong, in plain English: Seat frames, adjusters or child-seat anchors. SEAT FRAME STRUCTURE COULD SEVER FRONT SEAT BELTS IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DEPENDING ON FORCE OF IMPACT.
What could happen:
The fix: DEALER WILL INSTALL A MOLDED SPACER BETWEEN REINFORCEMENT PLATES AND LOWER DECORATIVE PLASTIC COVER.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1982 ESCORT.
- Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 84V071000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SEATS
Summary: SEAT FRAME STRUCTURE COULD SEVER FRONT SEAT BELTS IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DEPENDING ON FORCE OF IMPACT.
Consequence:
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A MOLDED SPACER BETWEEN REINFORCEMENT PLATES AND LOWER DECORATIVE PLASTIC COVER.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NON-RECLINING FRONTSEATS.SYSTEM: INTERIOR; FRONT SEAT BELTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF SEAT BELT IS CUT DURING IMPACT, FRONT PASSENGERSWILL NO LONGER BE PROTECTED BY SAFETY BELT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONALINJURY.NOTE: UNTIL THE DEFECT CAN BE CORRECTED, SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE USED AS THEY DOAFFORD SOME PROTECTION.
3. Seat belts
What's wrong, in plain English: Seat belts may not hold you in a crash. REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY ALLOW TWISTED WEBBING TO ENTER THE RETRACTOR HOUSING AND JAM THE RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A JAMMED RETRACTOR WOULD INTERFERE WITH WEBBING RETRACTION AND WITHDRAWAL. THIS WILL DISCOURAGE SEAT BELT USAGE.
What could happen:
The fix: A CLIP WILL BE INSERTED INTO THE RETRACTOR HOUSING WEBBING TO PREVENT JAMMING.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1982 ESCORT.
- Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 85V067000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
Summary: REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY ALLOW TWISTED WEBBING TO ENTER THE RETRACTOR HOUSING AND JAM THE RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A JAMMED RETRACTOR WOULD INTERFERE WITH WEBBING RETRACTION AND WITHDRAWAL. THIS WILL DISCOURAGE SEAT BELT USAGE.
Consequence:
Remedy: A CLIP WILL BE INSERTED INTO THE RETRACTOR HOUSING WEBBING TO PREVENT JAMMING.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS WITH FLOOR MOUNTED REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS. SYSTEM: REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS.
4. Latches / locks
What's wrong, in plain English: Doors, hood or trunk may open unexpectedly. DOOR LOCK PILLARS COULD DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS FROM NORMAL USAGE OF DOOR, AT THE POINT WHERE DOOR LATCH STRIKER REINFORCEMENTS ARE ATTACHED.
What could happen:
The fix: ANY DAMAGED LOCK PILLARS WILL BE REPAIRED AND REINFORCEMENTS WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE DOOR LATCH STRIKER AND LOCK PILLARS.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1982 ESCORT.
- Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 83V063000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Summary: DOOR LOCK PILLARS COULD DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS FROM NORMAL USAGE OF DOOR, AT THE POINT WHERE DOOR LATCH STRIKER REINFORCEMENTS ARE ATTACHED.
Consequence:
Remedy: ANY DAMAGED LOCK PILLARS WILL BE REPAIRED AND REINFORCEMENTS WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE DOOR LATCH STRIKER AND LOCK PILLARS.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES; TWO DOOR.SYSTEM: STRUCTURE; DOOR LOCK PILLARS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY. IN DRIVING OVER ROUGHROADS THE DOOR COULD OPEN, ALLOWING PASSENGER TO FALL FROM VEHICLE AND BECOMEINJURED.
5. Seat belts
What's wrong, in plain English: Seat belts may not hold you in a crash. THE PORTION OF THE ROOF ABOVE FRAME (RAIL) TO WHICH THE SHOULDER BELT IS ANCHORED MAY HAVE A SLOT THAT CAN COMPROMISE THE STRENGTH OF THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR UNDER CERTAIN SEVERE LOADS. (THE SUSPECT AREA IS NOT VISIBLE.) CONSEQUENTLY, SOME VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL MAY NOT MEET THE 3000 POUND ANCHORAGE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".
What could happen:
The fix: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REINFORCE THE ROOF RAIL INNER PANEL SURROUNDING THE DRAINAGE HOLE AT NO COST TO OWNER.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1982 ESCORT.
- Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 83V013000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SEAT BELTS
Summary: THE PORTION OF THE ROOF ABOVE FRAME (RAIL) TO WHICH THE SHOULDER BELT IS ANCHORED MAY HAVE A SLOT THAT CAN COMPROMISE THE STRENGTH OF THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR UNDER CERTAIN SEVERE LOADS. (THE SUSPECT AREA IS NOT VISIBLE.) CONSEQUENTLY, SOME VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL MAY NOT MEET THE 3000 POUND ANCHORAGE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".
Consequence:
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REINFORCE THE ROOF RAIL INNER PANEL SURROUNDING THE DRAINAGE HOLE AT NO COST TO OWNER.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES; STATION WAGON MODELS ONLY.SYSTEM: INTERIOR SYSTEMS; FRONT UPPER TORSO RESTRAINT (SHOULDER BELT)ANCHORAGE.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IN VERY SEVERE FRONT END COLLISIONS, THE PROTECTIONAFFORDED FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS MAY BE REDUCED.NOTE: THIS RECALL SHOULD IN NO WAY DISCOURAGE THE USE OF THE BELTS PRIOR TOHAVING THE DEFECT CORRECTED.
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 1982 Ford Escort owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Electrical system (3), Steering (2).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (4)
10/08/1996 · Steering
IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP WITH KEY IN IT, WOULD NOT RELEASE KEY. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 509613, 601627)
07/01/1996 · Electrical system · fire
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
05/13/1996 · Electrical system · fire
UNDERHOOD FIRE WHILE PARKED IN PARKING LOT; VEHICLE TOTALED; CAUSE UNKOWN. *AK
04/24/1996 · Steering · fire
VEHICLE PARKED AND SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK