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
What owners actually said
279 reports
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
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2005
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
THE 1994 FORD ESCORT IS A VERY POORLY MADE CAR. MOST OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS, THE MOTORS OF WHICH ALMOST ALWAYS FAIL. OURS WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE HAD A MANUAL SEATBELT INSTALLED-- AT OUR EXPENSE-- AND TODAY THAT MANUAL SEATBELT SAVED MY HUSBAND'S LIFE IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. IMAGINE IF HE HAD ONLY…
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THE 1994 FORD ESCORT IS A VERY POORLY MADE CAR. MOST OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS, THE MOTORS OF WHICH ALMOST ALWAYS FAIL. OURS WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE HAD A MANUAL SEATBELT INSTALLED-- AT OUR EXPENSE-- AND TODAY THAT MANUAL SEATBELT SAVED MY HUSBAND'S LIFE IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. IMAGINE IF HE HAD ONLY HAD A LAPBELT! FORD REPEATEDLY DENIES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT FOR EVERY 10 ESCORTS I SEE THAT WERE MADE ABOUT THE SAME TIME, 9 OF THEM HAVE AT LEAST ONE FAILED SEATBELT. IN ADDITION, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A ROLLOVER CRASH GOING SOME 75 MPH. I CAN'T SAY IF MY HUSBAND'S INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE HAD THE AIRBAG GONE OFF, BUT I DO KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #10129817
142,708 miles · Apr 6, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILURE. THE HEAD ON THE 1.9 LITRE ENGINES HAVE A BUILT IN FLAW. THE INTAKE VALVE ON NUMBER 4 CYLINDER FAILS. THE VALVE SEAT BREAKS APART CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PISTON AND ALSO THE HEAD. 4 VEHICLES FOUND TO HAVE THIS DEFECT WHILE WE WERE LOOKING FOR A USED REPLACEMENT HEAD.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10116483
45,000 miles · Mar 28, 2005
Power TrainCrashInjury
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING WHEN IT SUDDENLY WENT IN REVERSE. THE DRIVER HUNG ON TO THE OPEN DOOR OF HIS 1994 FORD ESCORT AND WAS DRAGGED FOR 100 FEET. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS DRAGGED 100 FEET AND HAD GOTTEN TRAPPED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE PAVEMENT AND WAS SUFFOCATED. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10114900
45,000 miles · Jan 22, 2005
Power TrainCrash
FATAL DEATH DUE TO POSIBLE TRANSMISSION GOING INTO REVERSE FROM PARK WHILE VEHICLE IN IDLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10107741
Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2004
Seat Belts
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER PASSIVE RESTRAINT SEAT BELTS WERE IN OPERATIVE. BOTH SEAT BELTS WERE STUCK AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10097090
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE,IT AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10095444
55,580 miles · Apr 26, 2004
Electrical System
IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO START THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10071555
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2004
Electrical System
WHEN THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE, SHE WAS INFORMED THE IGNITION AND CLUTCH PLATE HAD BEEN REPLACED AND THE PARTS WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THE IGNITION FAILED AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *AK THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10061083
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2004
Seat Belts
MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILURE, JAMMED IN PLACE, NOISE FROM TRACK TRYING TO REPOSITION ITSELF. *AK
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.
1994 Ford Escort Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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