1986 Ford Escort
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1986 Ford Escort is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 95 on record.
1986 Ford Escort at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1986 Ford Escort recalls 2
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
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Fix: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
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.
1986 Ford Escort common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 54 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1986 Ford Escort MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 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 1986 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 1986 Ford Escort — ranges cover the 10 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 7
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 1989STALLING 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 1989SEATBACK 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 25
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 25.
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 2
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1986 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 1989Fuel System
ON VEHICLES WITH EFI OR CFI, THE SPRING-LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES TO THE EFI FUEL RAILS OR TO THE CFI THROTTLE BODIES AS WELL AS OTHER FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS NEAR THE DASH PANELS ON SOME VEHICLES, COULD DISENGAGE DURING VEHICLE USE. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, LOSS OF FUEL WILL RESULT, PROVIDING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE. CORRECTION:…
Transport Canada #1987098 · Sep 1987Source: 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.
1986 Ford Escort vehicles on record
1986 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABGG05311
1986 Ford EscortVS6AXXWPAAGJ82477
1986 Ford EscortVS6AXXWPAAGT58309
1986 Ford EscortWF0NXXGCANGG08320
1986 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABGR54709
1986 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAGR56105
1986 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABGT30759
1986 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAGR54157
1986 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAGR63508
1986 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAGL27485
1986 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABGT09621
1986 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAGB34954
1986 Ford EscortVS6AXXWPAAGU95577
1986 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAGR60170
1986 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABGS91576
1986 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABGT97886
1986 Ford EscortWF0NXXGCANGY62426
1986 Ford EscortVS6AXXWPAAGJ73168
1986 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAGY53963
1986 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAGP05964
1986 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAGR74341
1986 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABGR68427
1986 Ford EscortWF0NXXGCANGP15019
1986 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAGR53947