IllustrationRIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. *AK THE REAR SPRING BREAKING IS COMMON ON THESE MAKE OF VEHICLE. *YH
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 reportsSERPENTINE BELT LOCKING UP WHILE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD THE MOTORIZED SOUND WHILE ENGINE WAS CUT OFF AND DOORS ARE AJAR.
WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT FRONT BRIDGESTONE (TURANZA P175-65R14 81T) THE BELT HAD BROKEN IN THE TIRE CAUSING A FLAT TIRE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME HARD TO HANDLE. NLM
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45PH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE . VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT ENGINE BLEW A ROD/THERE WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AND IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
MOTORIZED SEATBELT TRACK ON MY 1995 FORD ESCORT LX FAILED. IT LOCKED INTO A POSITION WHEN DOOR WAS CLOSED , WHERE THE BELT WOULD CROSS MY NECK. I HAD TO STOP ADBRUPTLY ON TIME AND BADLY BRUSED MY NECK. FORD SAYS IT WILL COST AN EXCESS OF 500. 00$ TO FIX THEIR DESIGN FLAW. I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FORD SHOULD DO MORE ABO…
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MOTORIZED SEATBELT TRACK ON MY 1995 FORD ESCORT LX FAILED. IT LOCKED INTO A POSITION WHEN DOOR WAS CLOSED , WHERE THE BELT WOULD CROSS MY NECK. I HAD TO STOP ADBRUPTLY ON TIME AND BADLY BRUSED MY NECK. FORD SAYS IT WILL COST AN EXCESS OF 500. 00$ TO FIX THEIR DESIGN FLAW. I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FORD SHOULD DO MORE ABOUT IT.*AK
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…
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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
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SEAT WILL NOT COMPLETELY EXTEND FROM RETRACTING MECHANISM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT HAS FAILED, WILL NOT RETRACT, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION.*AK
VAN IN FRONT MADE A "U" TURN. CAUSING ESCORT TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND BE REARENDED AFTER DRIVING 45MPH. UPON IMPACT, FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. PASSENGER'S SEATBACK HIT CHILD'S SEAT, CHILD NOT IN SEAT, ALSO, CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO NOTBEING ABLE TO SEE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRI…
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VAN IN FRONT MADE A "U" TURN. CAUSING ESCORT TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND BE REARENDED AFTER DRIVING 45MPH. UPON IMPACT, FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. PASSENGER'S SEATBACK HIT CHILD'S SEAT, CHILD NOT IN SEAT, ALSO, CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO NOTBEING ABLE TO SEE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED BACK & LEG INJURIES. EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT.*AK
VEHICLE DOES NOT IDLE CORRECTLY AND HAS STALLED A COUPLE TIMES, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. NLM
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