1986 Ford Escort

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

75/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 1986 Ford Escort, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Electrical system	21	39%
Engine and engine cooling	11	20%
Structure	6	11%
Unknown or other	2	4%
Vehicle speed control	2	4%
Exterior lighting	2	4%
Seat belts	2	4%
Fuel system	1	2%
Power train	1	2%
Suspension	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I AM WRITING YOU TODAY ABOUT A SITUATION THAT OCCURRED JULY 3RD 1986 IN MORTON GROVE ILLINOIS AT 11:52P.M. I AM THE MOTHER OF A 2 YEAR OLD THAT WAS BURNED TO DEATH IN A 1986 FORD ESCORT THAT WAS NOT ON IN THE PARKING LO
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

CONSUMER BECAME ILL FROM THE FUMES THAT EMITTED FROM THE HEATER/AC SYSTEM. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE HEATER/RADIATOR SYSTEM HOWEVER THE CONSUMER REMAINED ILL. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET IT STARTED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED THAT ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON AND STAY ON THROUGH OUT TRAVEL .DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, TECHNICIAN CUT INDICATION LIGHT OFF 4 TIME WITH COST TO CUSTOMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFO
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE ENGINE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE R
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 3 YEARS, CAR WAS STALLING AT LOW SPEED. THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RETURNING.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1986 Ford Escort. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Seats 89V170000

THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LIMITED DEGREE OF ROCKING MOTIONOF THE DRIVERS SEAT ASSEMBLY UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Fix: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT ON ALL MODELS AND A NEW SEAT TRACK AS NECESSARY

Fuel system 87V139000

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Risk: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Fix: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	87	excellent
Longevity est.	81	excellent
Maintenance	90	excellent
Depreciation	59	average
Performance	45	below average
Efficiency	54	average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 53% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 69% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 100% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 35% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 87: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 81: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1986 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 90: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1986 Ford Escort?

Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 21 of them (39%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1986 Ford Escort reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1986 Ford Escort last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1986 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1986 Ford Escort?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 75/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.