Car financing: 1981 Ford Escort
None for sale by us right now: rent one for a week first, or ask us to find one. 10 NHTSA recall campaigns. CarmaCars is not a lender, dealer or lessor, and does not arrange financing or leases. We rent cars, and sell one only when it is listed for sale on this page with its price.
- For sale by us
- 0
- Recalls
- 10
For sale
We do not have a 1981 Ford Escort for sale right now. We are a rental company: rent one for a week to try it, or tell us what you want and we look for one for you.
CarmaCars is not a lender, dealer or lessor, and does not arrange financing or leases. We rent cars, and sell one only when it is listed for sale on this page with its price.
What to check when buying the 1981 Ford Escort
- NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year. Ask the seller for proof each one was fixed; a dealer can check it by the VIN.
- Owners filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about seats (2). Have those parts checked before you buy.
| Campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84V085000 | 1984-07-18 | seats | SCREW THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT BACK FRAME TO THE RECLINER MECHANISM MAY BREAK. |
| 84V071000 | 1984-06-15 | seats | SEAT FRAME STRUCTURE COULD SEVER FRONT SEAT BELTS IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DEPENDING ON FORCE OF IMPACT. |
| 83V063000 | 1983-06-22 | latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch | DOOR LOCK PILLARS COULD DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS FROM NORMAL USAGE OF DOOR, AT THE POINT WHERE DOOR LATCH STRIKER REINFORCEMENTS ARE ATTACHED. |
| 83V013000 | 1983-02-17 | seat belts | 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... |
| 81V092000 | 1981-07-22 | fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap | 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. |
| 81V084000 | 1981-07-07 | service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum | 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. |
| 81V045000 | 1981-04-06 | vehicle speed control | 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... |
| 80V142000 | 1980-11-04 | fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly | 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. |
| 80V133000 | 1980-10-15 | electrical system:wiring:front underhood | 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... |
| 80V134000 | 1980-10-03 | service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components | 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... |
Source: NHTSA (US) recall campaigns and owner complaints for this model year.
Car financing: the 1981 Ford Escort
CarmaCars is a rental company and does not have the 1981 Ford Escort for sale right now. Rent one for a week first, or ask us to look for one. CarmaCars does not finance cars. Renting is not a loan, so there is no credit check to rent. Before you buy the 1981 Ford Escort, see the figures and the checks worth doing.
A buyer's checks
NHTSA has 1 owner complaints on file, mostly about seats. A private seller in Ontario must give you a Used Vehicle Information Package. Ask the seller for the service records of this exact car. Have a mechanic inspect a used one before you buy it.
Specs, explained
The EPA does not rate this model year for fuel use; heavier trucks and vans are often not rated.
Best uses
It suits a work trip where a reliable car matters more than anything else. It suits a stretch between cars, by the week or the month.
What to expect from the Escort
Being a compact car, it is easy to park and comfortable on longer drives.
Try before you buy
If it is in our fleet, rent it; if not, a similar car gives you a feel for the class. Nothing is charged until we confirm the rental and you approve the offer. Renting first costs a fraction of the price of buying the wrong car.
Which one to look for
Within the 1981 lineup, trims share powertrains or differ in equipment; the trim pages show which. Write down the VIN of any car you consider; it unlocks the recall and service history. Decide what matters most first: fuel use, space, or the price you can pay.
What it costs to run
Get an insurance quote for this exact model before you buy; rates differ a lot between models. Tires, brakes and batteries are the regular costs to budget for beyond fuel. Ask what a set of tires costs for this trim; sizes and prices vary.
Over to you
Want to try the model first? Send a request with your dates.
Rent it for a week before you buy
A week of your own driving tells you more than a test drive: the commute, the parking, the fuel. Rent a 1981 Ford Escort from us first.
Ask us about the 1981 Ford Escort
Tell us your budget and when you want to buy; we look for a 1981 Ford Escort for you and reply within one business day.
Buying the 1981 Ford Escort
Does CarmaCars sell the 1981 Ford Escort?
Not right now. CarmaCars rents cars; it sells one only now and then. Tell us what you want and we look for one, or rent one for a week first.
Can I rent a 1981 Ford Escort before I buy one?
Yes. Request it for a week (or longer, up to 365 days) and drive it as your own; nothing is charged until we confirm and you approve.
Does the 1981 Ford Escort have recalls?
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for it, in the table on this page. Ask for proof each was fixed.
Where do the figures come from?
Fuel use and fuel cost from the US EPA (fueleconomy.gov), dimensions and weight from NHTSA vPIC Canadian specifications, recalls and complaints from NHTSA. We leave out any figure no free source publishes.