1986 Ford Escort defect investigations

Investigations by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation that name the 1986 Ford Escort. An investigation is how complaints can become a recall: complaints → investigation → (sometimes) TSB → recall.

• REAR SAFETY BELT FIT
  Engineering Analysis EA88038 · opened Aug 29, 1988 · closed May 11, 1990

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• REAR SEAT BELT COMPLIANCE
  Defect Petition DP88007 · opened Jan 11, 1988 · closed Aug 24, 1988

  Rear seat belt compliance

• SEAT TRACKS
  Engineering Analysis EA87023 · opened Sep 24, 1987 · closed Nov 16, 1989 · led to recall 89V170000

  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: fo…

• STALLING
  Preliminary Evaluation PE87028 · opened May 1, 1987 · closed Jan 21, 1988

  No safety defect trend has been detected.===

• SEAT TRACK FAILURE
  Preliminary Evaluation PE87026 · opened Apr 28, 1987 · closed Sep 24, 1987

  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: fo…

• FIRES
  Engineering Analysis EA87005 · opened Dec 1, 1986 · closed Oct 31, 1989 · led to recall 89V095000

  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 ori…

• SEATBACK FAILURE
  Engineering Analysis EA86010 · opened Mar 26, 1986 · closed Jul 28, 1989 · led to recall 86V082000

  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…