IllustrationBOTH REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE ON THE VEHICLE. *JB
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 reportsAUTOMATIC DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. *JB
WHILE TURNING AT 30 MPH STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
MY SON WAS KILLED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. HE WAS THE DRIVER. THE SHOULDER HARNESS BROKE LOOSE FROM THE DOOR FRAME. HIS CAR WAS A 1993 FORD ESCORT WITH AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS ASSEMBLY STAYED IN THE DOOR FRAME, BUT THE PART THAT HOLDS THE SHOULDER HARNESS IN THE UNIT BROKE. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER NOTIFIED SAID TRACK AND MOTOR IS DEFECTIVE. TS
I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE CAR FOR INSPECTION IT WAS DEAD. THE REPAIR SHOP ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING AND SINCE THE HEATER CORE WAS…
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I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE CAR FOR INSPECTION IT WAS DEAD. THE REPAIR SHOP ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING AND SINCE THE HEATER CORE WAS LOCATED OVER THE ECU IT CAUSED IT TO MALFUNCTION.
FUEL TANK LEAKING AT HOSE FITTING. CRACK IN PLASTIC TANK. NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE DUE TO MANY FAILURES. BOUGHT CAR NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT IN REAR SEAT COMPARTMENT. DEALER FIXED TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. MR
FUEL TANK LEAKING AT HOSE FITTING. CRACK IN PLASTIC TANK. NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE DUE TO MANY FAILURES. BOUGHT CAR NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT IN REAR SEAT COMPARTMENT. DEALER FIXED TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *MR *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFT…
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FUEL TANK LEAKING AT HOSE FITTING. CRACK IN PLASTIC TANK. NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE DUE TO MANY FAILURES. BOUGHT CAR NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT IN REAR SEAT COMPARTMENT. DEALER FIXED TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *MR *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*768008
CONSUMER'S WIFE WASD DRIVING AND SUDDENLLY SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE DASH, AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK AFTER SHE COULD NOT RESTART VEHICLE. IT WASTOWED TO A FORD DEALER, WHO AFTER LOOKING AT VEHICLE TOLD THEM THAT WIRING HARNESS HAD SHORT OUT. THEY…
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CONSUMER'S WIFE WASD DRIVING AND SUDDENLLY SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE DASH, AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK AFTER SHE COULD NOT RESTART VEHICLE. IT WASTOWED TO A FORD DEALER, WHO AFTER LOOKING AT VEHICLE TOLD THEM THAT WIRING HARNESS HAD SHORT OUT. THEY HAD ANOTHER WIRING HARNESS PUT ON BY SAME MECHANIC, AND TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE. IT IMMEDIATELY BURNED OUT.CONSUMER FELT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK
SPRING IN CALIPER WAS BROKEN, CAUSING PIN TO BEND AND BREAK. *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