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1992 Ford Escort

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Escort.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1992 Ford Escort is a compact passenger car built on the Escort platform and equipped with a modest power‑train that requires 4.0 qt of 5W‑30 API‑rated oil. Across its production span from 1990 to 2002, the model accumulated 193 owner complaints for this year, with the electrical system emerging as the most frequent issue and three factory recalls documented. While the 1992 iteration sits well below the peak complaint year of 1995—when the line recorded 647 reports—it remains above the low point reached in 2002, indicating a reliability standing that is respectable for its era but still warrants attention to its electrical components.

Model year2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1992

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Thermostat

RT1106

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	170.1 in
Overall width	66.9 in
Overall height	52.4 in
Wheelbase	98.4 in
Curb weight	2350 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Escort of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.80 sec — 1992 LX 3-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1992	LX 3-door Hatchback 1.9L I-4	9.80 sec	17.50 sec	88 hp	FWD
1991	GT 3-door Hatchback 1.8L I-4	8.00 sec	16.30 sec	127 hp	FWD
1991	GT 3-door Hatchback 1.8L I-4	8.10 sec	16.40 sec	127 hp	FWD
1993	RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro) 2.0L Turbo I-4	6.00 sec	14.60 sec	227 hp	AWD
1995	RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	4.90 sec	13.60 sec	227 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi.

Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 mi	Body Fasteners (torque) · Frame Fasteners (torque)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1992 Escort sits at a relative low point in a generation marked by volatile complaint volumes. After a sharp spike to 393 complaints and 6 investigations in 1991, the 1992 model year recorded a significantly lower 193 complaints and just 1 investigation, while recalls held steady at 3. However, this dip is temporary: complaints surged again to 442 in 1993 and eventually peaked at 647 in 1995, indicating that the underlying issues were not fully resolved. The 1992 model’s 77 TSBs also fit a clear upward trend in service bulletins that continued through the decade, suggesting that while immediate complaint numbers were lower, the vehicle still required substantial dealer-level guidance. With 20 fire complaints and 8 crash complaints, the data points to notable safety concerns, though the specific root causes are not detailed in the federal record. Overall, the 1992 Escort appears to be a brief reprieve in an otherwise troubled generation, making it a comparatively better choice than adjacent years, but still one that demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection focused on electrical and fuel systems.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

193

Owner complaints

8 involved a crash · 20 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91’92’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 193 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System37

Fuel System, Gasoline34

Seat Belts25

Vehicle Speed Control23

Service Brakes, Hydraulic14

Engine & Engine Cooling12

Power Train9

Exterior Lighting6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94E019000Suspension:FrontReported 02/06/1994

THE OFFSET TOE ADJUSTING PIN CAN FRACTURE UNDER CONDITIONS SUCH AS TORSIONAL LOADS, FLEXING MOTION, IMPACT LOADS, AND OVERTORQUING. Remedy: DANA WILL PAY FOR REPLACEMENT AND LABOR COSTS OF THE ADJUSTMENT PIN WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE INSTALLING FACILITY AND THE VEHICLE OWNER. THESE PINS SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A FORD…

92V103000Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:SwitchReported 13/07/1992

THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES COULD INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN THE STOP LAMPS NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. Remedy: REPLACE THE FAULTY STOP LAMP SWITCHES.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 77 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
16714	2003-03-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	FOR ALL OBDI VEHICLES THAT USE THE .5V DPFE SENSOR, A 1.0V SENSOR IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY…
02208	2002-10-14	Equipment	CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH
02176	2002-09-02	Exterior Lighting	LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ
0214	2002-01-21	Engine And Engine Cooling	SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO…
01194	2001-10-01	Electrical System	THIS ARITLCE IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OF OLD STYLE HOOD LAMP SWITCH TO…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Escort. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.0 qt Thermostat RT1106

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Escort take?

4.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Escort have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.