Vehicle recall R/1998/037

Ford Escort and Ford Mondeo recall: Unexpected deployment of passenger air bag

DVSA recall R/1998/037 names the Ford Escort, Ford Mondeo and Ford Scorpio. It was launched 9 June 1998. It covers vehicles built 1 August 1996 to 28 February 1998.

Recall data updated 22 September 2026

Recall: R/1998/037
Launched: 9 June 1998
Issued by: FORD
Vehicles: 15,780 across the whole recall

What can go wrong

Unexpected passenger air bag deployment due to an electrostatic discharge through the air bag igniter.

The fix

Recall affected vehicles and fit ground wire to passenger air bag

Models and build dates

As listed in the DVSA recall file. DVSA gives one vehicle number for the whole recall: 15,780.
Model	Built
Ford Escort	1 August 1996 to 28 February 1998
Ford Mondeo	1 August 1996 to 28 February 1998
Ford Scorpio	1 August 1996 to 28 February 1998

Is a specific car affected? A recall lists models and build dates, not individual vehicles, so these pages cannot tell you whether one car is included. Enter the registration on the DVSA vehicle recall checker on GOV.UK, or give the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the manufacturer or one of its dealers. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof that any recall work was done.

Other recalls for these models

R/1999/084 Door latch concern 7 October 1999, Ford Focus, Ford Cougar, Ford Mondeo
R/2000/042 Brake fluid may leak from pressure limiting valve 30 May 2000, Ford Mondeo
R/1996/040 Possible failure of offside front brake caliper 15 March 1996, Ford Mondeo
R/1996/022 Failure of braking system vacuum assistance 23 January 1996, Ford Fiesta, Ford Escort, Ford Mondeo
R/1995/076 Possibility of rear brake cylinders being insecure 15 November 1995, Ford Escort
R/1995/061 Chafing of brake hoses 29 September 1995, Ford Escort

Found one you might buy?

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA vehicle recall records (RecallsFile.csv), recalls launched 1992 to 2026. Recall data updated 22 September 2026.

Recall wording is DVSA's, with capitals and punctuation tidied and American spellings such as tire, center and windshield given in British English. We list a recall when its make and model match a car or van family with at least 1,000 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2025, and when the maker of the vehicle issued it.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. Methodology · Data sources