IllustrationSEAT BELT TRACT FAILED CAUSING THE MOTOR BELT TO RUN BACK AND FOURTH.
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 reportsREAR COIL SPRING ON REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE, CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *AK
THE RING FUEL PUMP TO THE GAS TANK AND THE PLATE THAT COVERS IT HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE DEALE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
AFTER SMELLING FUEL ODOR IN GARGAGE AND DISCOVERING A PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE, OWNER BELIEVES FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FILLER NECK. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM. THE FUEL TANK HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. *AK
THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH HAS A PROBLEM, IT SHUTS THE HEATER FAN OFF. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH HAS A SHORT CIRCUT IN IT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATES FOR UNKNOWN REASON. VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED/REPAIRED BY DEALER, AND PROBLEM REOCURRED. CONSUMER NEEDS HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS HAS JAMMED WITHIN THE RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ON FOUR DIFFERNENT OCCASIONS THE MOTORIZED SEATBELTS IN THE FRONT (BOTH SIDES) FAILED. *YC
I HAVE NO CHILDREN AND ONLY RARELY USE THE REAR SEAT BELTS, WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS I HAVE TRANSPORTED A FRIEND'S CHILD IN A CHILD CARRIER LESS THAN TEN TIMES. ON THREE OCCASIONS A SEAT BELT HAS FULLY RELEASED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REWOUND UNTIL NOW ALL THREE ARE FULLY EXTENDED. SINCE I HAVE NEVER USED THESE BELTS I DO NOT UNDER…
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I HAVE NO CHILDREN AND ONLY RARELY USE THE REAR SEAT BELTS, WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS I HAVE TRANSPORTED A FRIEND'S CHILD IN A CHILD CARRIER LESS THAN TEN TIMES. ON THREE OCCASIONS A SEAT BELT HAS FULLY RELEASED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REWOUND UNTIL NOW ALL THREE ARE FULLY EXTENDED. SINCE I HAVE NEVER USED THESE BELTS I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THE FRONT SEATBELTS WORK WELL BUT HAVE LOST THEIR PLASTIC FLOOR GUIDES DUE TO BREAKAGE.
THE FUSE FOR "ROOM" BURNT UP REPEATEDLY (AND WHEN IT DID, THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING.) MY SON FOUND THAT SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION LOCK BAR WHEN I PUT IN A NEW FUSE FOR "ROOM" TWO DAYS AGO. MY GUESS IS THAT THE IGNITION LOCK BAR HAS A DESIGN DEFECT; THAT SMOKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE REASON WHY THE "ROOM" FUSE HAD NEVER…
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THE FUSE FOR "ROOM" BURNT UP REPEATEDLY (AND WHEN IT DID, THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING.) MY SON FOUND THAT SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION LOCK BAR WHEN I PUT IN A NEW FUSE FOR "ROOM" TWO DAYS AGO. MY GUESS IS THAT THE IGNITION LOCK BAR HAS A DESIGN DEFECT; THAT SMOKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE REASON WHY THE "ROOM" FUSE HAD NEVER LASTED VERY LONG. THIS REMIND ME OF ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT CAME UP TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER THE CAR STAY UNDER THE SUN FOR HOURS. (I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS REPEATABLE--WHEN IT GOT ENOUGH SUNSHINE I ALWAYS GOT THE WHITE SMOKE.) I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THEIR CALL-BACK. THIS PROBLEM MIGHT ALSO BE IN THAT IGNITION LOCK BAR.
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