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1994 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Escort years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Ford Escort are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
279Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
327
1991162
1992379
1993279
1994576
1995205
1996543
1997
Compare all Escort years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
79Air Bags
54Electrical System
30Engine And Engine Cooling
30Service Brakes, Hydraulic
21
All reported categories
Power Train
19Suspension
18Visibility
14Steering
11Fuel System, Gasoline
6Seats
6Tires
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Exterior Lighting
5Equipment
4Structure
4Fuel System, Other
2Interior Lighting
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Unknown Or Other
2Child Seat
1Parking Brake
1

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: 14 of 279 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 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

51 crash reports16 fire reports34 injury reports

Seats complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2001
SeatsCrash

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP WHEN IT WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH BEFORE SLAMMING ON BRAKES AND SKIDDING FOR 188 FEET INTO THE VEHICLE. AT IMPACT, BOTH FRONT SEATS AND REAR SEAT BROKE AND FELL BACKWARDS. WHILE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS FALLING BACKWARDS, A 7 YR.OLD CHILD SITTING IN REAR PASSENGER SEAT…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP WHEN IT WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH BEFORE SLAMMING ON BRAKES AND SKIDDING FOR 188 FEET INTO THE VEHICLE. AT IMPACT, BOTH FRONT SEATS AND REAR SEAT BROKE AND FELL BACKWARDS. WHILE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS FALLING BACKWARDS, A 7 YR.OLD CHILD SITTING IN REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS IN FOWARD MOTION WHEN HEAD RESTRAINTS OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HIT CHILD IN CHEST ,TEARING VALVE IN HEART AND PUNCTURING LUNGS . LATER, CHILD DIED DUE TO INJUIRES.DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. CONSUMER CONTACTED A LAWYER WHO SENT AN PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED SEATBELTS WERE IN WORKING CONDITIONS, AND REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS PUSHED BACK, AND IWAS SITTING UNEVEN. ALL SEATS IN VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AND WERE BROKEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #890196

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentSeats

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #708747

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1998
Seats

SEAT TRACK BROKE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821478

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 1997
Fuel System, GasolineSeatsCrashInjury

DRIVING 35MPH WHEN VEHICLE WAS REARENDED & SLAMMED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS FROM EITHER BEING REARENDED OR REARENDING OTHER VEHICLE. OWNER DOES NOT REMEMBER DUE TO BEING UNCONSCIENCE AT THE TIME. AIR BAG DID DEPLOY & SEAT BELT HELD. ENGINE STILL RUNNING & FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH FAILED. DRIVER AWOKE …

Read full complaint

DRIVING 35MPH WHEN VEHICLE WAS REARENDED & SLAMMED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS FROM EITHER BEING REARENDED OR REARENDING OTHER VEHICLE. OWNER DOES NOT REMEMBER DUE TO BEING UNCONSCIENCE AT THE TIME. AIR BAG DID DEPLOY & SEAT BELT HELD. ENGINE STILL RUNNING & FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH FAILED. DRIVER AWOKE & CUT IGNITION OFF. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #816248

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 1996
SeatsFire

ELECTIRCAL SHORT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT MOTOR , CAUSING THE SEAT TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #801085

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 1996
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN DRIVER WAS REARENDED AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE SEAT WENT BACK AND TWISTED. PLEASE EXPLAIN IN DETAIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985524

Official recalls

1

94V218000 · Air Bags:frontal

Nov 10, 1994

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE WELD SEAM CAN SEPARATE, CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO FAIL TO DEPLOY PROPERLY AND HOT GASES TO BE EXPELLED FROM THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY FROM THE HOT GASES AND THE AIR BAG FAILURE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG MODULE.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.