IllustrationNHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V144000; FORD ISSUED A FUEL TANK RECALL. THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT EXPERIENCED A LEAKAGE FROM THE GAS TANK. *AK...*AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escort years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
129 reportsTHE HEAT SHIELD CONNECTED TO THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED THE GAS TANK. . THE CONSUMER HAD THE TANK REPAIRED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURE STATES THE VEHICLE IS INTO INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.. 97V145000
RECALL 97V144000 WAS RELATED TO A FUEL TANK CRACK. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH WAS CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER HTE RECALL. *NM
GAS TANK LEAKS. I NOTIFIED FORD. THEY SAID SORRY, BUT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX IT. IN FACT I NOTIFIED THEM TWICE. I PUT AN INCIDENT DATE IN BELOW BECAUSE IT WAS REQUIRED BUT I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THIS LEAK STARTED.*AK
SMELL OF GASOLINE INITIALLY NOTED. APPEARANCE OF GASOLINE UNDER VEHICLE FOLLOWING FILLING OF TANK PROMPTED INVESTIGATION OF SOURCE OF GASOLINE SMELL AND LEAK. *NM NO CONSEQUENCES RESULTED FROM LEAKAGE OF GASOLINE. SOURCE OF GASOLINE SMELL/LEAK WAS TRACED TO DETERIORATED HOSE BETWEEN FILLER PIPE AND GASOLINE TANK. HOSE …
Read full complaint
SMELL OF GASOLINE INITIALLY NOTED. APPEARANCE OF GASOLINE UNDER VEHICLE FOLLOWING FILLING OF TANK PROMPTED INVESTIGATION OF SOURCE OF GASOLINE SMELL AND LEAK. *NM NO CONSEQUENCES RESULTED FROM LEAKAGE OF GASOLINE. SOURCE OF GASOLINE SMELL/LEAK WAS TRACED TO DETERIORATED HOSE BETWEEN FILLER PIPE AND GASOLINE TANK. HOSE HAD BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACKED NEAR CONNECTION TO GASOLINE TANK. HOSE WAS REPLACED WITH STANDARD FUEL HOSE PURCHASED FROM RETAIL PARTS STORE. HOSE THAT WAS REMOVED IS AVAILABLE.
HAD TO REPLACE GAS TANK DUE TO LEAK ON 8-02, NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN ON 5-04 WITH SAME PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR CO. WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT EXCEPT INSTALL ANOTHER AT MY EXPENSE. APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE COMPANY. A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE EXHAUST SO CLOSE TO THE TANK. I HAVE HAD NO FI…
Read full complaint
HAD TO REPLACE GAS TANK DUE TO LEAK ON 8-02, NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN ON 5-04 WITH SAME PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR CO. WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT EXCEPT INSTALL ANOTHER AT MY EXPENSE. APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE COMPANY. A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE EXHAUST SO CLOSE TO THE TANK. I HAVE HAD NO FIRES, BECAUSE THE MINUTE I SMELLED GAS I PARKED THE CARE UNTIL IT COULD BE FIXED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER SMELLED GAS COMING FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING GAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB T…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER SMELLED GAS COMING FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING GAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC TANK AT THE SUPPORT FOR THE HEAT SHIELD. THE GAS LEAKED DOWN THE TANK AND WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. RECALL#97V144000. *SC *JB
CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL ODOR WHILE DRIVING. SHE EXAMINED FUEL TANK AND NOTICED THAT WALL WAS CRACKED AND LEAKED GAS. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL IN THIS ISSUE. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL REGARDING FUEL TANK. CONSUMER NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. INSPECTION WAS MADE, AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKAGES COMING FROM THE CRACK ON THE TAB OFF THE HEAT SHIELD, WHICH WAS MOLDED INTO THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT T…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL REGARDING FUEL TANK. CONSUMER NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. INSPECTION WAS MADE, AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKAGES COMING FROM THE CRACK ON THE TAB OFF THE HEAT SHIELD, WHICH WAS MOLDED INTO THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
THE FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING GAS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF THE PLASTIC TANK. THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT FROM SOME UNKNOWN REASON THIS CAR'S VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BUILT IN HERMOSILLO, MEXICO AND IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA WHICH ARE BOTH CRITERIA OF THE RECALL. I CONTACTED FORDS…
Read full complaint
THE FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING GAS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF THE PLASTIC TANK. THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT FROM SOME UNKNOWN REASON THIS CAR'S VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BUILT IN HERMOSILLO, MEXICO AND IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA WHICH ARE BOTH CRITERIA OF THE RECALL. I CONTACTED FORDS CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT. AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE OR EXPLAIN WHY IT IS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL.
Official recalls
497V144000 · 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
1RQ97010 · 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