IllustrationENGINE HAD OVERHEATED/ MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *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
What owners actually said
576 reportsWHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND AT TIME OF DRIVING ENGINE STALLED. *AK
FORD HAS RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING FAULTY SPEEDOMETERS IN ESCORTS, WINDSTARS, TAURUSES, AND THUNDERBIRDS FOR THE 1994-1996 MODEL YEARS. THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER DRIVERS WHO HAVE POOR DEPTH PERCEPTION AND WHO RELY HEAVILY ON THEIR SPEEDOMETERS TO JUDGE THEIR SPEED IN TRAFFIC. I A…
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FORD HAS RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING FAULTY SPEEDOMETERS IN ESCORTS, WINDSTARS, TAURUSES, AND THUNDERBIRDS FOR THE 1994-1996 MODEL YEARS. THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER DRIVERS WHO HAVE POOR DEPTH PERCEPTION AND WHO RELY HEAVILY ON THEIR SPEEDOMETERS TO JUDGE THEIR SPEED IN TRAFFIC. I AM A POLICE OFFICER AND I AM DISTURBED BY FORD'S SEEMINGLY UNSYMPATHETIC ATTITUDE TOWARD THIS PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THIS WAS TSB NUMBER 98-5A-15. NLM
DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO GO BACK AFTER CLOSING DRIVER SIDE DOOR. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
MOTOR BELT STAYING IN OPEN POSITION WITH MOTOR RUNNING. CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT MOTOR TO KEEP IT FROM BURNING UP. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATT…
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MOTOR BELT STAYING IN OPEN POSITION WITH MOTOR RUNNING. CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT MOTOR TO KEEP IT FROM BURNING UP. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
WHEN USING SEAT BELT IT WILL NOT OPERATE IN A SAFETY WAY DUE TO CABLE MOTOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON MAKING A SUDDEN STOP SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT WHICH FORCED DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING INJURIES TO OCCUPANT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK DEALER REPLACED SEATBELT. *SLC
AUTOMATIC DRIVER SEATBELT IS STUCK AND NO LONGER OPERABLE. *JB
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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