1998 Audi A4 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 Audi A4 | 1998 Ford Escort |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 258 | 375 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 85 | 125 |
| Investigations | 5 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 84 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 11 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–23 | 25–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,650 mi | 75,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Audi A4 | Ford Escort |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 112 | 32 |
| Air Bags | 16 | 75 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 28 | 49 |
| Suspension | 24 | 50 |
| Electrical System | 23 | 43 |
| Power Train | 7 | 43 |
| Steering | 23 | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 8 | 25 |
| Brake problems | 7 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 17 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 13 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 6 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 6 |
1998 Audi A4
1998 Ford Escort
Compare all Audi A4 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.