Vehicle Safety Data

1981 FORD ESCORT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

2

Owner Complaints

10

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

0

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 1981 FORD ESCORT

The 1981 FORD ESCORT has received a total of 2 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 10 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEATS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH. The most commonly reported problem area is the Seats (2 complaints).

Recalls for the 1981 FORD ESCORT

NHTSA has recorded 10 recalls for the 1981 FORD ESCORT, potentially affecting up to 1,379,272 vehicles.

Recall 84V071000 — SEATS

| 261,400 vehicles affected

Defect: SEAT FRAME STRUCTURE COULD SEVER FRONT SEAT BELTS IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DEPENDING ON FORCE OF IMPACT.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A MOLDED SPACER BETWEEN REINFORCEMENT PLATES AND LOWER DECORATIVE PLASTIC COVER.

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Recall 84V085000 — SEATS

| 80,034 vehicles affected

Defect: SCREW THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT BACK FRAME TO THE RECLINER MECHANISM MAY BREAK.

Remedy: THE ATTACHMENT SCREW ON THE DRIVER"S SEAT WILL BE REPLACED BY ONE OF A LARGER DIAMETER.

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Recall 83V063000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

| 610,000 vehicles affected

Defect: DOOR LOCK PILLARS COULD DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS FROM NORMAL USAGE OF DOOR, AT THE POINT WHERE DOOR LATCH STRIKER REINFORCEMENTS ARE ATTACHED.

Remedy: ANY DAMAGED LOCK PILLARS WILL BE REPAIRED AND REINFORCEMENTS WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE DOOR LATCH STRIKER AND LOCK PILLARS.

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Recall 83V013000 — SEAT BELTS

| 245,000 vehicles affected

Defect: THE PORTION OF THE ROOF ABOVE FRAME (RAIL) TO WHICH THE SHOULDER BELT IS ANCHORED MAY HAVE A SLOT THAT CAN COMPROMISE THE STRENGTH OF THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR UNDER CERTAIN SEVERE LOADS. (THE SUSPECT AREA IS NOT VISIBLE.) CONSEQUENTLY, SOME VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL MAY NOT MEET THE 3000 POUND ANCHORAGE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY...

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REINFORCE THE ROOF RAIL INNER PANEL SURROUNDING THE DRAINAGE HOLE AT NO COST TO OWNER.

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Recall 81V092000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

| 112,000 vehicles affected

Defect: SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE AN ELECTRICALLY UNGROUNDED FUEL INLET. THESE VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO STATIC CHARGE ACCUMULATION AT THE FUEL FILLER PIPE OPENING, WHICH CAN OCCUR IF THESE VEHICLES ARE REFUELED FROM AN ELECTRICALLY UNGROUNDED DISPENSING NOZZLE.

Remedy: A GROUNDING CONNECTION FROM THE FILLER PIPE INLET TO THE VEHICLE BODY AND A STATIC ELECTRICITY SUPPRESSION ROD INSIDE THE FILLER PIPE WILL BE INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

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Recall 81V084000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

| 4,338 vehicles affected

Defect: SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER BRAKE BOOSTERS HAVE FRONT AND REAR SHELLS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY JOINED. IMPROPERLY JOINED BOOSTER SHELLS MAY SEPARATE EITHER PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY DURING BRAKE APPLICATION.

Remedy: ALL DEFECTIVE BOOSTERS WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

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Recall 81V045000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

| 21,000 vehicles affected

Defect: FUEL MAY POSSIBLY TRAVEL THROUGH THE SPEED CONTROL VACUUM LINES AND INTO THE SPEED CONTROL ACTUATION DEVICE (SERV0). THE FUEL CAN DAMAGE SEALS IN THE ACTUATOR SERVO AND ALLOW VACUUM LEAKS. SUCH A LEAK COULD ACTIVATE THE SPEED CONTROL WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO GRADUALLY ACCELERATE.

Remedy: THE VACUUM CHECK VALVE AND HOSE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED AND THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO WILL BE REPLACED IF IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED.

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Recall 80V142000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

| 11,500 vehicles affected

Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, METAL FASTENERS THAT WERE USED TO SECURE THE CARPETING TO THE FLOOR PAN MAY HAVE ACCIDENTALLY PENETRATED THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS WOULD RESULT IN A SLIGHT FUEL LEAK.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLES FOR PENETRATION OF THE FUEL TANK BY CARPET FASTENERS. ANY LEAKING FUEL TANKS WILL BE REPLACED AND THE FLOOR PAN WILL BE SEALED, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNERS.

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Recall 80V134000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

| 27,000 vehicles affected

Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS. BACKING PLATE BOLTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE LOADS EXPERIENCED DURING TRUCK SHIPMENT. IF THE BOLTS LOOSEN FROM THE SPINDLE DURING OPERATION, BACKING PLATE MOVEMENT MAY RESULT IN WEAKENING OR PREMATURE WEAR OF ONE OR...

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND TIGHTEN THE BOLTS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATIONS. REAR BRAKE TUBES WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY, AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

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Recall 80V133000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

| 7,000 vehicles affected

Defect: SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRE ASSEMBLY THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ROUTED ABOVE THE AIR CONDITIONING SUCTION HOSE. THIS HOSE MAY PUSH UP ON THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSING IT TO CONTACT THE HOOD PROP ROD BRACKET ATTACHING BOLT. THIS COULD LEAD TO PENETRATION OR CHAFING OF THE WIRING INSULATION.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, CORRECT THE WIRING HARNESS ROUTING AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

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Owner Complaints for the 1981 FORD ESCORT

2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1981 FORD ESCORT. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Seats
Complaints: 2

Most Recent Complaints

#602875 | SEATS | | N/A miles
SEAT FRAME AND SLIDE RAIL SUPPORTS FAILED.
#602875 | SEATS | | N/A miles
THE SPRING THAT SUPPORT THE SEAT CUSHIONS WERE CUTTING THROUGH THE MATERIAL AROUND THEIR ATTACHMENT HOLES.

Safety Rating for the 1981 FORD ESCORT

NHTSA has not yet tested the 1981 FORD ESCORT in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 1981 FORD ESCORT

No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.

NHTSA Investigations for the 1981 FORD ESCORT

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the FORD ESCORT

View all FORD ESCORT model years →

Other FORD Models

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