1998 Ford Escort vs 1998 Lexus ES300
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1998 Ford Escort | 1998 Lexus ES300 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 375 | 52 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 125 | 50 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 84 | 13 |
| Fire reports | 11 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–28 | 20 |
| Median reported mileage | 75,000 mi | 78,565 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escort | Lexus ES300 |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 75 | 9 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 49 | 5 |
| Suspension | 50 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 4 |
| Power Train | 43 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 17 | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 25 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 17 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 13 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 6 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
1998 Ford Escort
1998 Lexus ES300
Compare all Ford Escort vs Lexus ES300 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.