Problems · by component
1998 Ford Escort suspension problems
50 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Escort cite suspension, 13% of all 389 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
50
13% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
What owners say about the suspension
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE IN 2003 AND WERE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A REPAIR SHOP GETTING AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 26,000. UPDATED 01/04/11*LJ UPDATED 01/10/11*JB”
“FAILURE OF THE REAR SPRINGS ON 1998 FORD ESCORT FIRST IN 2003 AT 12,195MILES AND THE REPLACEMENTS BOTH FAILED AGAIN IN 2009 AT 36, 000 MILES. FAILURE APPEARS DUE TO SALT CORROSION ENHANCEMENT DUE TO COVERED SPRING SURFACE. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE THEY WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. FAILURE RATES ARE VERY SHORT. VEHICLE WAS NEVER OVERLOADED AND IS GENTLY DRIVEN. *TR”
“I WAS SOLD A 1998 FORD ESCORT ZX2 FOR 800 DOLLARS, FROM BUT BEHIND A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DID THE NOTARY, AND THEY WERE THE ONES WHO SIGNED OFF ON THE CAR AND GAVE ME A HAND WRITTEN RECEIPT WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME ON IT. THEY ALSO DID THE INSPECTION LATER ON AFTER WE REPLACED ONE OF THE BALL JOINTS. WE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY ANOTHER OFFICIAL INSPECTION STATION AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS A DEATH TRAP. WE CONTACTED A STATE TROOPER. HE DID AN INSPECTION, FAILED THE CAR, AND TOOK THE STICKER. THERE WAS A LONG LIST OF PROBLEMS. I TRIED TO GET A REFUND BEFORE I GOT THE COPS INVOLVED AND HE REFUSED. THIS WAS ALSO BEFORE THE 10 DAYS WERE UP FOR THE INSPECTION. I PAID FOR THE CAR ON THE 13TH OF FEB. 2008. *TR”
“BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THEN 6 MONTHS FOR THE 2002. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN FORD ESCORT. I HAVE A 1998 & 2002 AND BOTH HAVE BROKEN REAR SPRINGS. ALSO EVERY TECHNICIAN I HAVE TALKED TO KNOWS THE PROBLEM. *JB”
“WHILE HAVING POSSIBLE BRAKE NOISES CHECKED, THE MECHANIC, WHILE THE CAR WAS ON THE LIFT, SAW THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. HE STATED THAT THE MARKS HE SAW INDICATED THAT THEY HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR A WHILE. *JB”
“WAS HAVING MY 1998 ESCORT SERVICED. MECHANIC FOUND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED IN SAME SPOT. HAD THEM REPAIRED THERE INSTANTLY AT A COST OF $710.10 . I CALLED FORD THEY SAID NO RECALL, I THEN BROUGHT SPRINGS TO MY FORD DEALER TO SHOW THEM AND TO ASK FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS, I AM STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER. HOWEVER FORD DID OFFER TO GET RID OF THE SPRINGS FOR ME BUT I STILL HAVE THEM IN MY TRUNK. *JB”
Showing 6 of 50 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.