IllustrationWHILE DRIVING OR STOPPING VEHICLE STALLED. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED SPARK PLUG AND GASKET. BUT VEHICLE VEHICLE STILL NOT WORKING.*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 reportsTHROTTLE STUCK AND ACCELERATED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES.*AK
MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED MOVING BACK AND FORTH ON RETRACTOR, LEAVING DRIVER UNPROTECTED. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY DEALERSHIP AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
AT 45MPH SPEEDOMETER JUMPS FROM 50 TO 80 CONTINUOUSLY AND A CONSTANT BUZZING. *AK
NHTSA RECALL NO. 97V144/ FORD RECALL NO. 97S80. CRACK IN FUEL TANK NEAR HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKING FROM TANK. WE CONTACTED FORD AND WERE TOLD THIS RECALL WAS REGIONAL DUE TO CLIMATE. WE FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM DID INFACT OCCUR IN MASSACHUSETTS ALSO. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A NATIONAL RECAL…
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NHTSA RECALL NO. 97V144/ FORD RECALL NO. 97S80. CRACK IN FUEL TANK NEAR HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKING FROM TANK. WE CONTACTED FORD AND WERE TOLD THIS RECALL WAS REGIONAL DUE TO CLIMATE. WE FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM DID INFACT OCCUR IN MASSACHUSETTS ALSO. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A NATIONAL RECALL. FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS - IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD THE RECALL BEEN NATIONAL.
SOMETIMES WHEN I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR AND GET BACK IN IT WITHIN AN HOUR OR 2 IT THE CAR WILL START BUT WILL NOT HOLD AN IDLE. IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET THE CAR GOING I HAVE TO HAVE MY FOOT ON THE CLUTCH AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME AND AFTER 10-15 MIN IT WILL 'CATCH' AND STAY RUNNING. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AN…
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SOMETIMES WHEN I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR AND GET BACK IN IT WITHIN AN HOUR OR 2 IT THE CAR WILL START BUT WILL NOT HOLD AN IDLE. IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET THE CAR GOING I HAVE TO HAVE MY FOOT ON THE CLUTCH AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME AND AFTER 10-15 MIN IT WILL 'CATCH' AND STAY RUNNING. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND I TOOK IT IN TO WALDORF FORD AND THEY LOOKED AT IT WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRENTY AND THEY SAID THEIR WAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS FALLS WITHIN THE LAWSUIT THAT IN PENDING IN MARYLAND. PLEASE CONTACT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO SEE IF THIS CAN BE RESOLVEDTHANK YOU
REAR SPRINGS CRACKED AND ARE SHIFTING, MECHANIC SAID, MOST WAGONS CRACK AROUND 30000 MILES.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH STEERING WHEEL GOT STUCK. AT TIMES STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, AND LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. ALSO, UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
WHEN I REMOVED MY FOUR YEAR OLDS SAFETY SEAT TO CONVERT IT TO A BOOSTER SEAT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTED. THE ONE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE STOPPED RETRACTING APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD …
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WHEN I REMOVED MY FOUR YEAR OLDS SAFETY SEAT TO CONVERT IT TO A BOOSTER SEAT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTED. THE ONE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE STOPPED RETRACTING APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $430.00 TO REPLACE BOTH SEAT BELTS. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT THESE WERE NOT OVERLY USED SEAT BELTS. ONE SEAT BELT HAD A CAR SEAT STRAPPED INTO IT FOR 4 YEARS. HAD I NOT BEEN CONVERTING THE CAR SEAT, I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN OF THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF SEAT BELTS THAT WERE FAILING, AND NOT FROM EXCESSIVE USE I MIGHT ADD, MY CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. *AKY
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