1985 Ford Escort
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1985 Ford Escort is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 51 on record.
1985 Ford Escort at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1985 Ford Escort recalls 3
THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.
Fix: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT ON ALL MODELS AND A NEW SEAT TRACK AS NECESSARY
EXTERNAL CRACKS ABOVE THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER (1984 MODELS) OR ROCKER ARM COVER GASKETS SPLITTING (1985 MODELS) COULD ALLOW OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
Fix: REPLACE CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS (1984 MODELS); REPLACE ROCKER ARM COVER GASKETS (1985 MODELS).
THE THROTTLE LEVER MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE POSITION DUE TO MISALIGNMENT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER SHUT OFF SWITCH TO THE THROTTLE LEVER PIN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A JAMMED THROTTLE COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: ADJUST SHUTOFF SWITCH AND ASSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT TO THROTTLE LEVER PIN.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1985 Ford Escort common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1985 Ford Escort MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 16 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1985 Ford Escort costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1985 Ford Escort — ranges cover the 10 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 9
REAR SAFETY BELT FIT Closed
===
NHTSA #EA88038 · Seat Belts · opened Aug 1988 · closed May 1990REAR SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE Closed
REAR SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE
NHTSA #DP88007 · Seat Belts · opened Jan 1988 · closed Aug 1988SEAT TRACKS Closed
SUMMARY: A FRACTURED FRONT SEAT TRACK RECEIVED FROM AN ESCORT OWNER SHOWSTHAT METAL FATIGUE OCCURRED WHICH COULD CAUSE PARTIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT.ANOTHER OWNER SENT PICTURES SHOWING FRACTURE AT THE SAME LOCATION. TENOF THE EIGHTEEN ODI COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS.MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: FORD MADE TWO SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS TO THESEAT TRACK; ONE INCORPORATED A DOUBLE LATCH SYSTEM, LOCK…
NHTSA #EA87023 · Seats · opened Sep 1987 · closed Nov 1989WINDOW SHATTERING Closed
WINDOW SHATTERING
NHTSA #DP87032 · Visibility · opened Sep 1987 · closed Apr 1988STALLING Closed
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
NHTSA #PE87028 · Electrical System · opened May 1987 · closed Jan 1988SEAT TRACK FAILURE Closed
SUMMARY: A FRACTURED FRONT SEAT TRACK RECEIVED FROM AN ESCORT OWNER SHOWSTHAT METAL FATIGUE OCCURRED WHICH COULD CAUSE PARTIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT.ANOTHER OWNER SENT PICTURES SHOWING FRACTURE AT THE SAME LOCATION. TENOF THE EIGHTEEN ODI COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS.MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: FORD MADE TWO SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS TO THESEAT TRACK; ONE INCORPORATED A DOUBLE LATCH SYSTEM, LOCK…
NHTSA #PE87026 · Seats · opened Apr 1987 · closed Sep 1987FIRES Closed
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: THE ALLEGED FIRES RESULT FROMA VARIETY OF CAUSES. FIRE RATE REMAINS ABOUT THE SAME DESPITE MAJORCHANGES WITH 85-1/2 MODELS. IT BELIEVES THAT THE FIRE RATE IS LESS THANINDUSTRY AVERAGE. MFGR REQUEST COPIES OF SPECIFIC FIRE REPORTS FOR TRENDANALYSIS.ANALYSIS: SEVERAL AREAS OF FIRE ORIGIN ARE MENTIONED. ENGINE FIRESALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY LEAKAGE OF FLAMMABLE FLUIDS (OIL, GAS, TRANS…
NHTSA #EA87005 · Engine And Engine Cooling · opened Dec 1986 · closed Oct 1989FIRES Closed
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:THE ALLEGED FIRES RESULT FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF CAUSES, WITH THE REPORTEDRATES OF FIRES FOR 1984-85 MODELS VERSUS THE 85 1/2 MODELS REMAININGAPPROXIMATELY THE SAME. THESE RATES ARE SIGNIFIGANTLY LESS THAN THEINDUSTRY AVERAGE FOR NON-COLLISION VEHICLE FIRES AS REPORTED IN THE SAEPAPER "MOTOR VEHICLE NON-CRASH FIRES" BY PETER COOLEY OF THE HSRI.THE HEAD GASKET WAS REVISED ON THE…
NHTSA #PE86048 · Engine And Engine Cooling · opened Apr 1986 · closed Dec 1986SEATBACK FAILURE Closed
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING…
NHTSA #EA86010 · Seats · opened Mar 1986 · closed Jul 1989An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 22
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 22.
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
Bulletin 01156 · Visibility · Aug 2001INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
Bulletin 01157 · Aug 2001CONCERNS WITH PREMATURE FAILURE OCCURING ON THE 1.9L MOTORCRAFT REMANUFACTURED LONGBLOCK ASSEMBLY AND SHORTBLOCK ASSEMBLY DUE TO INGESTION OF FOREIGN OBJECTS REMAINING IN THE TRANSFERRED INTAKE SYSTEM FROM THE ORIGINAL FAILED ENGINE. *JB
Bulletin 00188 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2000INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
Bulletin 0015 · Power Train · Jan 2000SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
Bulletin 99222 · Electrical System · Oct 1999INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
Bulletin 99196 · Equipment · Sep 1999INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT
Bulletin 99152 · Power Train · Jul 1999FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC
Bulletin 98246 · Electrical System · Dec 1998INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC
Bulletin 9888 · Power Train · Apr 1998A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC
Bulletin 9874 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Apr 1998Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the ESCORT. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 3
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1985 Ford Escort. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Seats And Restraints
THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE. FRACTURE OF THIS PEDESTAL WOULD PERMIT A LIMITED DEGREE OF ROCKING MOTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT ASSEMBLY UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. BREAKAGE OF THE BRACKET COULD, POTENTIALLY, AFFECT THE DRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. CORRECTION: A REIN…
Transport Canada #1989155 · Nov 1989Engine
ON 1984 MODELS, EXTERNAL CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS, WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN OIL LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ON 1985 MODELS, THE ENGINE ROCKER COVER GASKET MAY SPLIT, WHICH COULD ALLOW OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. BOTH THESE CONDITIONS CREATE THE POSSIBILITY OF THE OIL IGNITING CAUSING AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. CORRECTION: ON 1984 MODELS, THE CYLINDER…
Transport Canada #1989098 · Jul 1989Not Entered
VEHICLES WITH 1.9L ENGINE AND AIR CONDITIONING. A PIN LOCATED ON THE THROTTLE LEVER WHICH ACTUATES THE AIR-CONDITIONER SHUT-OFF SWITCH MAY BE SUBJECT TO MISALIGNMENT SUCH THAT THE SWITCH COULD JAM BEHIND THE ACTUATING ARM OF THE SWITCH. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE THROTTLE LEVER WOULD BE PREVENTED FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION AND VEHICLE CONTROL COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTE…
Transport Canada #1985050 · Apr 1985Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Ford Escort
Ford Escort may refer to one of several vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company:Ford Escort (Europe), a vehicle manufactured by Ford Europe from 1968 to 2002 Ford Escort RS Cosworth, sports and rally version of the fifth generation European Escort Ford Escort WRC, a rally car based on the Ford Escort RS Cosworth Ford Escort, a compact car manufactured for the North American market from 1980 to 2003 Ford Escort (China), a Ford Focus-based compact car for the Chinese market from 2015 to 2023 Ford Escort, a variant of the Ford Squire built and marketed in the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1961
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
1985 Ford Escort vehicles on record
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1985 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABFK66851
1985 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABFD98969
1985 Ford EscortVS6AXXWPAAFK06011
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFA94604
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFK59158
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFD85874
1985 Ford EscortVS6AXXWPAAFU30200
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFM93077
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFE13255
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFK76051
1985 Ford EscortVS6AXXWPAAFD30193
1985 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABFR78620
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFG05183
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFP09810
1985 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABFE24011
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFJ37796
1985 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABBP94407
1985 Ford EscortVS6AXXWPAAFA51364
1985 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABFC39290
1985 Ford EscortVS6AXXWPAAFU29019
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFG09716
1985 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAFC41066