← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
70,000 miles · May 1, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

WHEN ON HIGHWAY 55 MPH OR MORE TRANSMISSIONS ACTS LIKE IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL HAVE NO OVERDRIVE OR DRIVE THEN ALSO SLIPS IN AND OUT. ALSO HAVE LIKE POWER SURGES WHEN USING THE HEATER IN THE CAR THE ENGINE REVS UP AND DOWN LIKE YOU ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL EVEN WHEN IN PARK HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THESE ISSUES …

Read full complaint

WHEN ON HIGHWAY 55 MPH OR MORE TRANSMISSIONS ACTS LIKE IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL HAVE NO OVERDRIVE OR DRIVE THEN ALSO SLIPS IN AND OUT. ALSO HAVE LIKE POWER SURGES WHEN USING THE HEATER IN THE CAR THE ENGINE REVS UP AND DOWN LIKE YOU ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL EVEN WHEN IN PARK HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THESE ISSUES YET. ALSO HAVE HAD THE REAR WIPER MOTOR AND STUFF REPLACED AND STILL DO NOT GET WASHER SOLVENT TO REAR WIPER THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BACK WINDOW DOES NOT WORK EITHER CAUSES STILL UNKNOWN IT IS A 1995 FORD ESCORT LX WAGON WITH ONLY 73000 MILES 1.9 L. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156484

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2005
Exterior Lighting

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ON THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY 1995 FORD ESCORT LX HAVE BECOME CLOUDY, YELLOWED AND OPAQUE. THIS CUTS DOWN NOTICEABLY ON THE ABILITY OF THE HEADLIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AT NIGHT, TRULY A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10135888

111,980 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Exterior LightingSeat Belts

DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT WILL NOT ENGAGE. INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10071153

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingService Brakes, AirCrash

SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS USED PROGRAM VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES, THE BACK TOP BRAKE LIGHT NUMEROUS TIMES (FUSE) THE BRAKES AT LEAST TWICE AND WHEN MY SON WAS HIT DURING THE WINTER THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HE HAD BACK INJURIES HIS PASSENGER HAD CHEST PAINS FROM THE SEAT BELTS, WE DID REPLACE T…

Read full complaint

SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS USED PROGRAM VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES, THE BACK TOP BRAKE LIGHT NUMEROUS TIMES (FUSE) THE BRAKES AT LEAST TWICE AND WHEN MY SON WAS HIT DURING THE WINTER THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HE HAD BACK INJURIES HIS PASSENGER HAD CHEST PAINS FROM THE SEAT BELTS, WE DID REPLACE THE TIMING BELT THIS YEAR AND THAN IN JULY THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING AND THE MECHANIC (PRIDE AUTO) STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED THIS OCCURED WHILE DRIVING APPX. 25 HRS PER MILE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HELP US STATING THAT WE GOT 99,000 MILES OUT OF IT. WE ARE VOLUNTARILY RETURNING THE VEHICLE, THEY ARE GIVING US A HARD TIME ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI #712891

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE YELLOWED AND DISCOLLERED. THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT FROM THE HEADLIGHTS HAS BEEN REDUCED BY MORE THAN 50%. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OLD, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON ANY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, FORD MOTOR AND THE FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. THEY SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI #711909

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1999
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

ELECTRICAL HARNESS AT REAR LIFT GATE FAILED, WIRES CRACKED AND ARCING TOGETHER. REAR BRAKE LIGHT WOULD STAY ILLUMINATED WHEN PARKED OR MOVING WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL INTERACTION. POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD AS REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHEN BRAKES ACTUALLY APPLIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707759

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1999
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING HATCHBACK LIGHT COMES ON, BUT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE HATCHBACK. HOWEVER, LIGHT IS STILL ON. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834864

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 1998
Exterior Lighting

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #531170

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 1996
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS DIMMING WHEN A/C IS TURNED ON, REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #510187

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 1996
Exterior LightingInterior LightingStructure

DASHBOARD LIGHTS DIM OFF/ON CONTINUALLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #502082

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