1998 Ford Escort problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 1998 Ford Escort have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 Ford Escort. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

Q: What is the 1998 Ford Escort safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1998 Ford Escort crash-test ratings of frontal 3★, side 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

Q: What gas mileage does the 1998 Ford Escort get?

The 1998 Ford Escort has U.S. EPA estimates of 25–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

Q: How much is a 1998 Ford Escort worth?

Comparable 1998 Ford Escort listings run roughly $600–$2,695, typically around $1,141 (from 6 vehicles).

1998 Ford Escort at a glance

Safety recalls1

Owner complaints416

Combined25–28 mpg

Typical price$1,141

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1998 Ford Escort recalls 1

Seat Belts:front NHTSA Campaign #04E048000 · 12/07/2004

CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT A NO-LOCK CONDITION WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.

Fix: TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.

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.

1998 Ford Escort common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 416 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Suspension

Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.

Power Train

Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Hydraulic

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

1998 Ford Escort safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★

Side crash★★★★★

Frontal — driver★★★★★

Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Side — front seat★★★★★

Side — rear seat★★★★★

Frontal crash test

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1998 Ford Escort 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1998 Ford Escort MPG & running costs

Combined25–28 mpg

City23 mpg

Highway33 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$2,550

EPA size classCompact Cars

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd

Passenger volume87 cu ft

Cargo volume13 cu ft

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 1998 Ford Escort worth?

Low

$600

Typical price

$1,141

High

$2,695

From 6 comparable 1998 Ford Escort listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1998 Ford Escort costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$12,750

Fuel only$12,750

Per mile$0.17

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

Length

172.8–175.2 in

Width

66.9–67.3 in

Height

52.4–53.9 in

Wheelbase

98.4 in

Curb weight

2,474–2,535 lb

Front track

55.9–56.3 in

Rear track

55.9–56.7 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1998 Ford Escort — ranges cover the 3 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT Closed

NHTSA #DP01001 · Air Bags · opened Apr 2001 · closed Nov 2001

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 157

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 157.

GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT

Bulletin 042107 · Power Train · Dec 2004

TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. IS RECALLING CERTAIN SERVICE REPLACEMENT SEATBELT RETRACTORS (DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT RETRACTOR IN GRAY) MANUFACTURED IN DECEMBER 2002 AND SOLD AS A SERVICE REPLACEMENT PART BETWEEN DECEMBER 2002 AND JULY 2004. *TT

Bulletin 04V09 · Seat Belts · Aug 2004

ROUGH IDLE, LOW POWER AND / OR STALL AT IDLE, A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0300 THROUGH P0304 STORED IN MEMORY. *TT

Bulletin 020901 · Electrical System · May 2004

REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT

Bulletin 03181 · Electrical System · Sep 2003

IDLE VIBRATION ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L SPI OR ZETEC ENGINE ONLY. *TT

Bulletin 031515 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Aug 2003

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0442, P0455, P0456, P0457, P1442 OR CHECK FUEL CAP LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0457. *TT

Bulletin 0398 · Fuel System, Other · May 2003

DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES FOR HIGH OXYGEN SENSOR VOLTAGE (P0132 AND P0152). CURRENT DIAGNOSTIC MAY RESULT IN PREMATURE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPUVALVE. *TT *JB

Bulletin 030606 · Fuel System, Gasoline · Mar 2003

CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH

Bulletin 02208 · Equipment · Oct 2002

LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ

Bulletin 02176 · Exterior Lighting · Sep 2002

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L SPI ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P0300 THROUGH P0304 STORED. *TT

Bulletin 0291 · May 2002

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the ESCORT. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

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.

1998 Ford Escort trims & engines on record

Trims

SE · LX

Engines

2.0L 4-cyl 110 hp

1998 Ford Escort vehicles on record

1998 Ford Escort SE1FAFP15P9WW164313

1998 Ford Escort SE3FAFP15P8WR190999

1998 Ford Escort LX1FAFP10P6WW130594

1998 Ford Escort SE3FAFP15P7WR169111

1998 Ford Escort SE3FAFP15P2WR231627

1998 Ford Escort LX1FAFP10P1WW293444

1998 Ford Escort SE3FAFP15P3WR203934

1998 Ford Escort LX1FAFP10P6WW291723

1998 Ford Escort LX1FAFP10P8WW119158

1998 Ford Escort LX1FAFP10P6WW137903

1998 Ford Escort SE1FAFP13P7WW183641

1998 Ford EscortWF0BXXGCABJD23876

1998 Ford EscortWF0NXXGCANWY89642

1998 Ford EscortWF0NXXGCANPM37543 1998 Ford EscortWF0NA34L1WVM58471

1998 Ford EscortWF0VXXBBAVWJ17422

1998 Ford EscortWF0WXXGCAWFC33303

1998 Ford EscortWF0NXXGCANWU27656

1998 Ford EscortWF0NXXGCANWY13619 1998 Ford EscortWF0NXXGCANWM50562

1998 Ford EscortVS6AXXWPAAGS25608

1998 Ford EscortWF0AXXGCAAWU16086

1998 Ford EscortWF0NXXGCANWS40076

1998 Ford EscortWF0NXXBBANWA82118

Other Ford Escort model years

1998 Ford Escort — frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Ford Escort have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 Ford Escort. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ford Escort?

Across all 416 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, engine and engine cooling, electrical system.

What is the 1998 Ford Escort safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1998 Ford Escort crash-test ratings of frontal 3★, side 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1998 Ford Escort get?

The 1998 Ford Escort has U.S. EPA estimates of 25–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

How much is a 1998 Ford Escort worth?

Comparable 1998 Ford Escort listings run roughly $600–$2,695, typically around $1,141 (from 6 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.