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1995 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Escort years

Owner complaints for the 1995 Ford Escort are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 81 of 576 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 152 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

75 crash reports19 fire reports53 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

48 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 21, 1999
Electrical SystemFireInjury

ON 05/19/99, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AS WELL AS THE SEATBELTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL.THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS TO WARN OF A PROBLEM OTHER THAN A POSSIBLE FUSE BURN OUT. LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE BURNED.THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A 2 CAR GARAGE.THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BURNED ALONG WITH THE GARAGE IN WHICH IT W…

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ON 05/19/99, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AS WELL AS THE SEATBELTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL.THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS TO WARN OF A PROBLEM OTHER THAN A POSSIBLE FUSE BURN OUT. LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE BURNED.THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A 2 CAR GARAGE.THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BURNED ALONG WITH THE GARAGE IN WHICH IT WAS HOUSED.THE VEHICLE PARKED NEXT TO IT HAD SEVERE SMOKE DAMAGE.ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE HOME WERE ASLEEP AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #706732

Mileage unknown · May 17, 1999
Electrical SystemSeat Belts

CONTINUED AND IIGNORED SAFETY ISSUE BY FORD...PLEASE FIX AND NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ODI #706596

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1999
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #543697

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1999
Electrical SystemEquipmentInterior Lighting

TRANSMISSION FAILED TWO TIMES, SECOND FAILURE RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ODI #543372

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 1999
Electrical System

DUE TO DEFECTIVE COMUTER COMMAND CENTER, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GO, AND THEN IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833248

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1998
Electrical System

GROUNDED SENSOR WIRE AT IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA ODI #605795

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 1998
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE (STEERING AND BRAKING) CAUSING THE CAR TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #530274

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1997
Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #525519

Mileage unknown · May 28, 1997
Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH: DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, WHEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HOUSE, JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND RAN FOR A FIRE HOSE. BY THEN THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND SAID THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELEC…

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ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH: DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, WHEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HOUSE, JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND RAN FOR A FIRE HOSE. BY THEN THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND SAID THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL, POSSIBLY THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #812559

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

AFTER PARKING FOR SEVERAL HOURS, FOUND VEHICLE INTERIOR ENGULFED IN FLAMES, FIRE DEPT DETERMINED FIRE ORIGINATED UNDERNEATH FLOOR GEAR SHIFT CONSOLE FIRE, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #800428

Official recalls

4

97V144000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 3, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.

97V145000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 3, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ARIZONA. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.

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.

94V197000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 11, 1994

TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM MODULE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MISSING. IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE MODULE CAN COME OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER AND WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL AND TORQUE TO SPECIFICATION THE MOUNTING BOLTS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.

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

1

RQ97010 · Fuel Tank Assembly

Opened Sep 11, 1997 · Closed May 22, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

There is no summary currently available