IllustrationWHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK TO FULL, FUEL SPILLS OUT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AROUND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. ALSO, FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER PROPERLY. THE CAR CANNOT BE LEFT IN THE GARAGE AFTER FUELLING BECAUSE GAS VAPORS ARE SO STRONG THROUGH THE HOUSE.*AK
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 reportsVEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING OR WILL NOT START, CONSUMER BELIEVES IT'S A FAULTY IGNITION WHICH IS BEING RECALL IN CALIFORNIA. NLM
THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT BELT IS STICKING, THE LAP BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WON'T COME UP FOR THE CONSUMER TO FASTEN, SOMETIMES THE SHOULDER RESTRAINTS COME FORWARD WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T. *SLC
VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY AT ANY SPEED.*AK
THE VEHICLE STALLS AND MY MECHANIC IS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHY
THIS WAS NOT MY VEHICLE. I AM AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING SOMEONE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE TIRE FAILURE. (TIRESIZE: P175/70R13)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P175/70R13 )
I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT 127,000 MILES, AND NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS WHENEVER IT WAS FILLED UP. I TALKED TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER (OWNER #1), AND HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE TOOK IT IN ON WARRANTY, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I THOUGHT THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THE GAS TANK WAS FINE, BUT…
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I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT 127,000 MILES, AND NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS WHENEVER IT WAS FILLED UP. I TALKED TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER (OWNER #1), AND HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE TOOK IT IN ON WARRANTY, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I THOUGHT THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THE GAS TANK WAS FINE, BUT THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS CRACKED BETWEEN THE TWO LINES EXITING THE TOP, AND HAD SOME SORT OF ADHESIVE THAT HAD BROKEN LOOSE. I HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED THINKING THAT I HAD FOUND THE PROBLEM, BUT THE SMELL OF GAS WAS STILL THERE. I HAVE GIVEN UP ON FINDING THE PROBLEM, BUT AM STILL CONCERNED. ANY SUGGESTIONS?*AK
DRIVER HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, POSSIBLY FELL ASLEEP AND RAN OFF THE ROAD , CAR WENT OVER ENBANKMENT AND HIT HEAD-ON AGAINST ROCKS. DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE THROUGH WINDSHIELD ABOUT 30-35 FEET DUE FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC SEATBELT. AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WAS IN FORWARD POSTION ON THE AUTOMATIC RAIL, AND BOTH DOORS WERE…
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DRIVER HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, POSSIBLY FELL ASLEEP AND RAN OFF THE ROAD , CAR WENT OVER ENBANKMENT AND HIT HEAD-ON AGAINST ROCKS. DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE THROUGH WINDSHIELD ABOUT 30-35 FEET DUE FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC SEATBELT. AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WAS IN FORWARD POSTION ON THE AUTOMATIC RAIL, AND BOTH DOORS WERE COMPLETELY CLOSED. ALSO BATTERY WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE . DEFECT RESULTED IN DEATH OF DRIVER.*AK
WHILE BACKING VEHICLE OUT OF PARKING SPACE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING A CRASH, EVEN THOUGH BOTH FEET WERE DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKES WERE TO THE FLOOR.*AK
TRUNK LID, ONCE UP, WOULD FALL DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. ARM ATTACHMENT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE TRUNK LID IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER'S MECHANIC TO CHECK.*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