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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
279Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1994 Ford Escort

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 279 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Seat Belts: 79 reports
  • Air Bags: 54 reports
  • Electrical System: 30 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 30 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 21 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

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, mileage exposure 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

Tires complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2002
Electrical SystemEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING IGNITION STARTED TO CRANK, CAUSING IGNITION SWITCH TO MELT.*AK DEALER FOUND FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED MALFUNCTION TO BURN WIRE ON STARTER SOLENOID OFF CAUSING CAR TO TURNOVER BY ITSELF. BRAKE CALIPERS, ALTERNATOR, TWO AIR CONDITIONER POWER HOSES, MASTER CYLINDER, STARTER AND TIR…

Read full complaint

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING IGNITION STARTED TO CRANK, CAUSING IGNITION SWITCH TO MELT.*AK DEALER FOUND FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED MALFUNCTION TO BURN WIRE ON STARTER SOLENOID OFF CAUSING CAR TO TURNOVER BY ITSELF. BRAKE CALIPERS, ALTERNATOR, TWO AIR CONDITIONER POWER HOSES, MASTER CYLINDER, STARTER AND TIRES (TIRE INFORMATION UNKNOWN) HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8013315

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Tires

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM WHEEL. GOODYEAR, RANGLER, LT24575R16 LOW RANGE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8008571

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001
TiresCrash

I TOOK THEM BACK TO FIRESTONE AND THE PEOPLE WERE VERY RUDE. I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES. ALL I WANTED WAS TO GET MY TIRES FIXED BUT THEY WERE VERY, VERY RUDE. I WILL NEVER RETURN TO FIRESTONE.*AK (TIRESIZE: P195/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/60R15 )

NHTSA ODI #741371

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2000
Tires

PE00 020; CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THERE IS A LINE AROUND THE SIDEWALL IN TWO SEPARATE PLACES LOCATED ON TWO FRONT TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #866861

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 1999
TiresCrash

MICHELIN P17565R14 BRAND NEW TIRES ARE CAUSING THE VEHICLE WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND SPIN AROUND IN WET SNOWY CONDITIONS. HAD 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836314

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1996
Tires

GOODYEAR TIRES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #511868

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.