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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 →

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

Suspension complaints

18 reports
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38,000 miles · Apr 26, 2006
Suspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. UPON INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT AND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THERE WERE PIECES OF METAL FROM THE SPRINGS BROKEN OFF WHICH WAS CAUSING THE RATTLING …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. UPON INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT AND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THERE WERE PIECES OF METAL FROM THE SPRINGS BROKEN OFF WHICH WAS CAUSING THE RATTLING SOUND. UPDATED 05/16/2006. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156148

85,694 miles · Aug 15, 2003
Suspension

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING WAS CRACKED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE SPRING BROKE WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME. THE VEHICLE MADE A "CLUNK" NOISE WHEN IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDAS AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE SPRING BROKE IT RUBBED AGAINST THE TIRE AND RUINED IT. CONSUMER HAD TO REP…

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FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING WAS CRACKED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE SPRING BROKE WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME. THE VEHICLE MADE A "CLUNK" NOISE WHEN IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDAS AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE SPRING BROKE IT RUBBED AGAINST THE TIRE AND RUINED IT. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE IN ADDITION TO BOTH SPRING. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10022286

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002
Suspension

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM

NHTSA ODI #767633

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2002
Suspension

DURING ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION MECHANIC FOUND RIGHT AND LEFT COIL SPRINGS BROKEN-APPARENTLY DUE TO RUST AND LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION

NHTSA ODI #9007071

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2002
Suspension

REAR SPRING BROKE OFF BECAUSE OF RUST AND CORRUSION. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8010135

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2002
Suspension

REAR COIL SPRING HAS A TENDENCY TO RUST WHICH CAUSES THEM TO BREAK WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DRIVER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT COIL SPRING BEING BROKEN WHEN HE TOOK VEHICLE TO INSPECTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8009348

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2001
Suspension

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE, VEHICLE WAS REJECTED DUE TO FAILED SUSPENSION SPRINGS.

NHTSA ODI #9004898

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2001
Suspension

DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION MECHANIC FOUND REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES. CONSUMER COULD NOT TELL THEY WERE BROKEN WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #897415

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Suspension

SPRING SNAPPED AT 60 MPH ON FLAT SMOOTH ROAD NO BUMPS. RUINED LEFT FRONT TIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #750468

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 1999
SteeringSuspension

DURING ANNUAL INSPECTION OUR MECHANIC DISCOVERED AND FAILED THE CAR FOR SAFETY REASONS, THAT THE REAR SPRINGS WERE COLLAPSING ON OUR CAR. HE HAS INFORMED US THAT HIS SHOP HAS BEEN GETTING NUMEROUS ESCORT WAGONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS OURS. HE HAS ADVISED US TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE DEFECT OF THE SPRINGS. ALL THE …

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DURING ANNUAL INSPECTION OUR MECHANIC DISCOVERED AND FAILED THE CAR FOR SAFETY REASONS, THAT THE REAR SPRINGS WERE COLLAPSING ON OUR CAR. HE HAS INFORMED US THAT HIS SHOP HAS BEEN GETTING NUMEROUS ESCORT WAGONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS OURS. HE HAS ADVISED US TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE DEFECT OF THE SPRINGS. ALL THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT GET THEM FIXED ANYWAY AND SAVE THE BILL IN CASE OF A RECALL. OUR VEHICLE HAS 49,000 ODD MILES AND HAS NEVER CARRIED ANYTHING HEAVIER THAN 2 SUIT CASES, A PORT-A-CRIB AND SOME TOYS. IF IT WASN'T FOR A REPAIR SHOP SHOWING ME THE RECORDS OF REPLACEMENT COILS ON THE ESCORTS I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT OF DOING THIS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE COILS THEY ARE CRACKING AT THE BASE AT THE SUSPENSION, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSE OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #711612

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.