IllustrationSPEED CONTROL STICKS, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *YC
1993 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Escort years
Owner complaints for the 1993 Ford Escort are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escort years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 22 of 379 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seat Belts. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
31 crash reports15 fire reports25 injury reports
What owners actually said
379 reportsDRIVER'S MOTOR BELT DERAILER CABLE CAME OUT OF TRACT. BELT WAS LOCKED IN POSITION AT BOTTOM & WOULD NOT RELEASE. CAN HEAR MOTOR WHINNING. THE MOTOR HAD JAMMED & THEN BURNED OUT. (IE98074) AK
FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS NO WARRANTY PER MRS. MIGNON ID#6311. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED. *AK
BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, TIE ROD CAME UNATTACHED TO WHEEL, WHEEL FELL SIDEWAYS. HAD CAR IN FOR SERVICE EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT--SAID IT COULD BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CAR WAS FINE BEFORE BEING SERVICED, MADE "CLANKING" SOUNDS UPON TURNING AFTER PICKING CAR UP FROM DEALER. SAVED PARTS-…
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BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, TIE ROD CAME UNATTACHED TO WHEEL, WHEEL FELL SIDEWAYS. HAD CAR IN FOR SERVICE EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT--SAID IT COULD BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CAR WAS FINE BEFORE BEING SERVICED, MADE "CLANKING" SOUNDS UPON TURNING AFTER PICKING CAR UP FROM DEALER. SAVED PARTS--TIE ROD WAS STRIPPED. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE TO BE TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY WORK. ONCE YOU GET THEM TO WORK THEY WILL NOT STAY WORKING. ONCE YOU GET THEM TO WORK THEY WILL ONLY WORK AT THE FASTEST SPEED. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH AND MOTOR WERE REPLACED BY OWNER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CRACK DEVELOPED IN FUEL TANK, SEVERE ENOUGH THAT PUDDLES OF GASOLINE COLLECTED BENEATH MY CAR. SEVERE SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT WAS FIRST CLUE OF THE LEAK. ASKED DEALERSHIP TO SAVE TANK FOR INDEPENDENT INSPECTION, BUT THEY CLAIMED THEY "LOST IT" (!). LATER MODELS OF ESCORT RECALLED FOR SAME PROBLEM. *AK
ON RETURN FROM THE STORE TO THE CAR DISCOVERED MY SEAT BACK HAD COLLAPSED.SINCE IT WAS NEW YEARS EVE AND I HAD A SMALL CHILD TO CARE FOR I WENT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP,DUE TO DEALER SHOP INCONVENIENT HOURS.THEY TOOK DRIVERS SEAT OUT AND DISCOVERED THE MAIN BOLT HOLDING SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY WS STRIPPED,THUS IT JUST FELL OUT.THEY HAD…
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ON RETURN FROM THE STORE TO THE CAR DISCOVERED MY SEAT BACK HAD COLLAPSED.SINCE IT WAS NEW YEARS EVE AND I HAD A SMALL CHILD TO CARE FOR I WENT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP,DUE TO DEALER SHOP INCONVENIENT HOURS.THEY TOOK DRIVERS SEAT OUT AND DISCOVERED THE MAIN BOLT HOLDING SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY WS STRIPPED,THUS IT JUST FELL OUT.THEY HAD TO RETAP A NEW HOLE.CONTACTED FORD THROUGH A LETTER AND IN A FOLLOW UP PHONE CALL WAS TOLD BASICALLY THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT.MY BIGGEST CONCERN,BESIDES THE COST WHICH I STILL DON'T FEEL AS I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR,IS THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH IT LIKELY WOULD HAVE LEAD TO VERY SERIOUS INJURIES TO MYSELF AND ANY PASSENGERS.THE SEAT HAS NEVER BEEN MODIFIED NOR IS WEIGHT AN ISSUE.
IE 98074. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS STUCK AND WON'T RETRACT. STARTS TO GRIND LIKE IF IT WILL WORK. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED REPAIRS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $300. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ALSO ON 1992 ESCORT. ON BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES,THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT SYSTEM DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOTH VIN#. *AK
Official recalls
194V055000 · Seats
Mar 26, 1994
THE LOCK PLATE OF THE DRIVER SIDE INBOARD SEAT TRACK ADJUSTERS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATION TO THE FABRICATION PROCESS WHICH CAUSES THE SEAT NOT TO FULLY ENGAGE IN CERTAIN SEATING POSITIONS NEAR THE MID-POINT OF THE SEAT TRACK TRAVEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE SEAT CAN MOVE, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN REDUCED OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE INBOARD SEAT TRACK.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA94002 · Fuel Pump Wiring Shortage
Opened Jan 28, 1994 · Closed Jan 31, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available