IllustrationWHILE FILLING GAS TANK FUEL WAS SPILLING OUT FROM BOTTOM DUE TO A CRACK . CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*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 reportsFUEL TANK HAS A CRACK ON THE INSIDE. THERE IS GASOLINE LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY THERE IS A SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGHOUT VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD WAS FIXED. VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. *YH
CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RESTRAINT SAFETY BELTS WOULD LOCK ON AN IMPACT OF 5 MPH AND THAT A HARD PULL ON THE BELTS SHOULD ACUATE LOCKING MECHANISM, HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT OCCUR, BOTH BELTS FAIL TO LOCK DURING A HARD PULL.
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30-40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING AFTER REPLACED. *YH
FUEL TANK INLET TUBE FULLY ROTTED BEHIND GAS CAP, CAUSING ANY REFUELING EFFORT TO COMPLETELY SPILL ON GROUND (HOLE IS SIZE OF LEMON). CAN NOT REFUEL CAR ANY MORE UNTIL THE INLET TUBE IS REPLACED. THIS IS A SURE FIRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FROM FORD TO REPAIR THIS? I HAVE NEVER HAD A TROUBLE OF THIS N…
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FUEL TANK INLET TUBE FULLY ROTTED BEHIND GAS CAP, CAUSING ANY REFUELING EFFORT TO COMPLETELY SPILL ON GROUND (HOLE IS SIZE OF LEMON). CAN NOT REFUEL CAR ANY MORE UNTIL THE INLET TUBE IS REPLACED. THIS IS A SURE FIRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FROM FORD TO REPAIR THIS? I HAVE NEVER HAD A TROUBLE OF THIS NATURE IN 34 YEARS OF OWNING CARS. I SUSPECT DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURE OR DESIGN OF THE TUBE TO ALLOW RUST CORRISION TO THE POINT A LARGE SIZE GAPING HOLE RESULTS. THANK YOU. *AK
DOOR TO GARAGE WAS OPENED AND THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL.SAW A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND THAT HAD LEAKED FROM VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED FUEL TANK HAD DEVELOPED A HOLE IN IT THAT CAUSED THE LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
RECALL 97 V 145 000/FUEL TANK: VEHICLE IS LEAKING FROM FUEL TANK. NOTIFIED DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
WHILE DRIVNG, CONSUMER SMELLED GAS IN THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT HE COULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE, WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL TANK, DID NOT…
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WHILE DRIVNG, CONSUMER SMELLED GAS IN THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT HE COULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE, WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL TANK, DID NOT APPLY TO HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*JB
CONSUMER STATES FOR A FEW WEEKS SHE WAS SMELLING GAS IN THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE GAS TANK CONTAINED A CRACK.*YH
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