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

Suspension complaints

37 reports

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Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2001

Suspension

BOTH REAR SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN, CAUSING UNDO WEAR OF REAR TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #750230

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2001

Suspension

COMMON FAILURE PROBLEM OF 1995 TO 2000 FORD EXSCORTS -- REAR SPRING BREAKAGE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE PUNCTURE OF REAR TIRE BY SPRING. REPLACEMENT SPRINGS DO NOT BREAK -- ONLY THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IS A PROBLEM ACCOURDING TO TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746435

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2001

Suspension

HAD INSPECTION, WAS TOLD THAT THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND THAT THEY WERE GOING EARLY ON ALL ESCORTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746296

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2001

Suspension

RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. *AK THE REAR SPRING BREAKING IS COMMON ON THESE MAKE OF VEHICLE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #880650

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2001

Suspension

Read full complaint

I JUST READ ABOUT THE FORD WINSTAR FRONT COIL SPRINGS BREAKING IN THE NEWSPAPER AND NOW THAT I BROWSE THIS SITE, IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM ON MANY OTHER FORD CARS. MY 1995 ESCORT FRONT LEFT SPRING SNAPPED CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO BE SLASHED. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT SO SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. I MANAGED TO CHANGE THE TIRE AND GET THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER THAT WAS NEARBY. UPON INSPECTION, I COULD SEE THAT THE SPRING HAD SNAPPED (CLEAN BREAK) LIKE IF A SEAM IN THE COIL HAD FAILED. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER, THEY DID NOT KNOW OF THIS BEING A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGE AS THERE WAS NO RECALL. NOW THAT I SEE THAT THIS APPEARS TO HAPPEN ON MANY FORD CARS. ....... I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE COIL SPRINGS ON FORDS MAY HAVE HIDDEN DEFECTS CAUSING THEM TO SNAP WITHOUT WARNING.. SHOULD YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL ME. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740240

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2000

Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED FOR BRAKES AND TECHNICIAN FOUND A BROKEN REAR SPRING LEAF WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #876819

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2000

Suspension

REAR SPRINGS CRACKED AND ARE SHIFTING, MECHANIC SAID, MOST WAGONS CRACK AROUND 30000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #733239

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2000

Suspension

ALSO EXPERIENCE RATTLING IN DASHBOARD AND DOOR SIDES SINCE MILEAGE REACHED 30K. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718931

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 1999

Suspension

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707443

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 1999

Suspension

NOT A TIRE PROBLEM, ALL ARE UP TO SPECK. BAD SHAKE IN STEARING WHEEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P185/70/14 )

NHTSA ODI #702594

Official recalls

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.

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

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