1982 Ford Escort problems
The North American version of the Ford Escort is a range of cars that was sold by Ford from the 1981 to 2003 model years. The direct successor of the Ford Pinto, the Escort also largely overtook the role of the European-imported Ford Fiesta as the smallest vehicle in the Ford model line in North America. Produced across three generations, the first generation was a subcompact; the latter two generations were compact cars. Becoming highly successful in the marketplace, the Escort became the best-selling car in the United States after 1982, a position it would hold for much of the 1980s.
Produced across three generations, the Escort was the first world car developed by Ford, with the first-generation American Escort designed alongside Ford of Europe, who transitioned the Escort Mk III to front-wheel drive. During its production, the Escort also underwent a wide use of platform sharing and rebranding. The first generation served as the basis of the longer-wheelbase Ford Tempo/Mercury Topaz, the two-seat Ford EXP/Mercury LN7 and was rebranded as the Mercury Lynx. The second generation was introduced for 1991, growing into the compact segment. Moving away from a shared design with Ford of Europe, the Escort now shared a platform with the Mazda 323 and sharing a body with the Ford Laser (a model line sold in Asia and Oceania); the Mercury Lynx was replaced by the Mercury Tracer. For 1997, the third generation served as an extensive redesign of the previous-generation sedan; the Escort ZX2 two-door was introduced, with the Mercury Tracer adopting a similar redesign.
Ford introduced the Ford Focus in North America for 2000 as its third "world car", phasing it in as the successor of the Escort. After 2000, the four-door Escort was moved primarily to fleet sales (with the coupe remaining available); production ended entirely after the 2002 model year. In contrast to the first-generation American Escort and Escort Mk III of Ford of Europe (and the Mondeo/Contour and Mercury Mystique), the Focus adopted a much larger degree of commonality between its European and North American variants, in effect, becoming the original world car Ford had originally envisioned with the Escort.
During its entire production, the Escort was produced by Wayne Stamping & Assembly in (Wayne, Michigan) and the first generation was also produced by Edison Assembly in (Edison, New Jersey), San Jose Assembly Plant in (Milpitas, California), and Oakville Assembly in (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) while the second and third generations were also produced by Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly in (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico).
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Common 1982 Ford Escort problems
The Ford Escort, produced from 1980 to 1986, was a popular car for its time but had its fair share of common issues. Here are some of the most common problems with the third-generation Ford Escort, grouped by model year:
1980 Ford Escort: Cooling system problems were a common issue with the 1980 Ford Escort, including issues with the radiator and water pump. Owners should check the condition of these components, and may need to replace them to avoid engine damage. Electrical problems were also common with the 1980 Escort, including issues with the alternator and starter motor. Owners should check the condition of the battery and charging system, and may need to replace these components if they are faulty.
1981 Ford Escort: Transmission problems were a common issue with the 1981 Ford Escort, including issues with the clutch and gearbox. Owners should check the condition of these components, and may need to replace them if they are worn or damaged. Rust was also a common issue with the 1981 Escort, particularly in the doors and sills. Owners should inspect the body panels carefully, and may need to have them repaired or replaced to prevent further rust damage.
1982-1983 Ford Escort: Engine performance could be an issue with the 1982 and 1983 Ford Escort, particularly with the smaller engines. Owners should check the condition of the spark plugs and carburetor, and may need to rebuild or replace these components to improve performance. Suspension problems were also common with the 1982 and 1983 Escort, including issues with the shock absorbers and springs. Owners should check the condition of these components, and may need to replace them to improve ride quality and handling.
1984-1985 Ford Escort: Electrical problems were a common issue with the 1984 and 1985 Ford Escort, including issues with the battery and charging system. Owners should check the condition of these components, and may need to replace them if they are faulty. Rust was also a common issue with the 1984 and 1985 Escort, particularly in the doors and sills. Owners should inspect the body panels carefully, and may need to have them repaired or replaced to prevent further rust damage.
1986 Ford Escort: Fuel system problems were a common issue with the 1986 Ford Escort, including issues with the fuel pump and injectors. Owners should check the condition of these components, and may need to replace them to improve fuel economy and performance. Cooling system problems were also common with the 1986 Escort, including issues with the radiator and water pump. Owners should check the condition of these components, and may need to replace them to avoid engine damage.
In addition to these common issues, the Ford Escort also had a number of recalls related to various components, including the seats, fuel system, electrical system, lighting, air bags, doors, brakes, suspension, equipment, engine, wheels, transmission, air conditioning, and visibility. Owners of the Ford Escort should be aware of these common issues and take appropriate steps to maintain their vehicles and address any problems as they arise.
Was Ford Escort a good car?
The Escort has been Ford's bread-and-butter car for over 15 years. Think of it as the car that brings consumers into the Ford family. The Escort's low price, decent reliability and above-average crash test scores have consistently offered recent college grads and young families an attractive set of American wheels.
How much horsepower does a 1982 Ford Escort have?
For 1982 models, the engine was tuned to 69 hp (51 kW).
How much was a Ford Escort in the 80s?
Coupe
| 1980 Ford Escort | Specs | Price |
|---|---|---|
| L | Specs: 1.6L, Leaded Petrol, 3 SPEED AUTOMATIC | Price: $1,540 - $3,300 |
| GL | Specs: 1.6L, Leaded Petrol, 4 SPEED MANUAL | Price: $1,760 - $3,630 |
| L | Specs: 1.6L, Leaded Petrol, 4 SPEED MANUAL | Price: $1,540 - $3,300 |
| RS 2000 | Specs: 2.0L, Leaded Petrol, 4 SPEED MANUAL | Price: $3,690 - $5,280 |
How long did the Ford Escort last?
Ford Escort (Europe)
| Ford Escort | |
|---|---|
| Production | January 1968–July 2002 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Small family car (C) |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive (1967–1981, 1987) Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (1980–2004) Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (1990–2004) |
Was Ford Escort a good car?
The Escort has been Ford's bread-and-butter car for over 15 years. Think of it as the car that brings consumers into the Ford family. The Escort's low price, decent reliability and above-average crash test scores have consistently offered recent college grads and young families an attractive set of American wheels.
How much horsepower does a 1982 Ford Escort have?
For 1982 models, the engine was tuned to 69 hp (51 kW).
How much was a Ford Escort in the 80s?
Coupe
| 1980 Ford Escort | Specs | Price |
|---|---|---|
| L | Specs: 1.6L, Leaded Petrol, 3 SPEED AUTOMATIC | Price: $1,540 - $3,300 |
| GL | Specs: 1.6L, Leaded Petrol, 4 SPEED MANUAL | Price: $1,760 - $3,630 |
| L | Specs: 1.6L, Leaded Petrol, 4 SPEED MANUAL | Price: $1,540 - $3,300 |
| RS 2000 | Specs: 2.0L, Leaded Petrol, 4 SPEED MANUAL | Price: $3,690 - $5,280 |
How long did the Ford Escort last?
Ford Escort (Europe)
| Ford Escort | |
|---|---|
| Production | January 1968–July 2002 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Small family car (C) |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive (1967–1981, 1987) Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (1980–2004) Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (1990–2004) |
1982 Ford Escort car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Escort problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
- Steering problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1982 Ford Escort vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1982 Ford Escort complaints
The NHTSA has received 4 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1982 Ford Escort.
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-10-08
- Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP WITH KEY IN IT, WOULD NOT RELEASE KEY. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 509613, 601627)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-06-23
- Fire: 1
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-10-15
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1FABP0622CT
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: UNDERHOOD FIRE WHILE PARKED IN PARKING LOT; VEHICLE TOTALED; CAUSE UNKOWN. *AK
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-02-10
- Fire: 1
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: VEHICLE PARKED AND SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK
1982 Ford Escort recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 5 recalls for different components of the 1982 Ford Escort.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
- Summary: REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY ALLOW TWISTED WEBBING TO ENTER THE RETRACTOR HOUSING AND JAM THE RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A JAMMED RETRACTOR WOULD INTERFERE WITH WEBBING RETRACTION AND WITHDRAWAL. THIS WILL DISCOURAGE SEAT BELT USAGE.
- Remedy: A CLIP WILL BE INSERTED INTO THE RETRACTOR HOUSING WEBBING TO PREVENT JAMMING.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: SEATS
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: 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 STANDARD 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".
- Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REINFORCE THE ROOF RAIL INNER PANEL SURROUNDING THE DRAINAGE HOLE AT NO COST TO OWNER.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
- Summary: ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, A THERMAL LIMITER IN THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR CIRCUIT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER ASSEMBLY MAY NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. IF THE BLOWER MOTOR BECOMES JAMMED WHEN THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING IN THE MEDIUM-LOW BLOWER SPEED, THE RESISTOR COILS CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING MELTING AND POSSIBLE IGNITION.
- Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE RESISTOR ASSEMBLY WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1982 Ford Escort problems:
Ford Escort Problems and Complaints - 9 Issues
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