IllustrationFUEL IS LEAKING FROM UPPER PART OF FUEL TANK, BY THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT. EXACTLY SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 97V144000 FUEL TANK. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL AND WOULD NOT BE SERVICED FREE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *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 reportsGAS WAS LEAKING FROM SEAMS OF THE FUEL TANK. GAS LEAKED WHEN IT FILLED UP PAST SEAMLINE OF THE TANK. MANFACTURER HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THATVEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF A RECALL. *AK
THE AIRBAG COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND GO OFF. IT HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES. CONTACTED CHARAPP FORD AND INFORMED ME THE FIRST TIME THAT TO BRING THE CAR IN WHEN THE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE SECOND TIME IT CAME ON AND WENT OFF, THEY TOLD ME TO BRING MY CAR IN. BROUGHT MY CAR IN ON 7/25/00 AND TOLD ME THAT THEY…
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THE AIRBAG COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND GO OFF. IT HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES. CONTACTED CHARAPP FORD AND INFORMED ME THE FIRST TIME THAT TO BRING THE CAR IN WHEN THE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE SECOND TIME IT CAME ON AND WENT OFF, THEY TOLD ME TO BRING MY CAR IN. BROUGHT MY CAR IN ON 7/25/00 AND TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANY DIAGNOSTIC TESTING UNTIL THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND FLASHED. SAID THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY ISSUE AS FAR AS IT WAS COMING ON AND OFF, AND THAT IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE IN THAT CONDITION. COME BACK WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF. *AK
THE SPRINGS ACTUALLY BROKE INTO PIECES, WHICH IS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE THICKNESS OF THE SPRINGS - TRANSMISSION ONLY WENT OUT AT 82,000 MILE, WHICH IS ALSO HARD TO BELIEVE. BUT AFTER SPEAKING WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO REPAIR THEM, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE FORD ESCORT TRANSMISSIONS USUALLY GO OUT AT 60,000 MILES. T…
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THE SPRINGS ACTUALLY BROKE INTO PIECES, WHICH IS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE THICKNESS OF THE SPRINGS - TRANSMISSION ONLY WENT OUT AT 82,000 MILE, WHICH IS ALSO HARD TO BELIEVE. BUT AFTER SPEAKING WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO REPAIR THEM, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE FORD ESCORT TRANSMISSIONS USUALLY GO OUT AT 60,000 MILES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND FORD IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. THE PERSON WHO IS REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION AT THIS TIME IS GOING TO BEING ON HIS 5TH FORD ESCORT WITHIN IN A WEEK ESTIMATING THE MILEAGE INFROMATION OF BEING REPLACED BETWEEN 54,000 AND 85,000 MILES. WHY CAN THIS NOT BE A RECALL???? PLEASE ADVISE. *AK
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT MOVE BACK OR FOURTH, BUT THE MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN. BELT IS STUCK 3/4 OF THE WAY ON THE RAIL, CLOSEST TO THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, OWNER WAS TOLD THAT FORD WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURING THOSE TYPE OF BELTS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
THE PLASTIC GAS TANK CRACKED. NLM
DRIVER MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT FAILED IN THE FORWARD POSITION. THIS EFFECTIVLY ELIMINATED THE SAFETY FEATURE OF THE SHOULDERBELT FOR A THREE WEEK PERIOD WHILE THE PART WAS ORDERED. ACCORDING TO NHSTA ON-LINE STATISTICS, FAILURE OF A PAT OF THE MOTORIZED SHOLDERBELT SYSTEM IS THE MOST COMMONLY REPORTED PART FAILURE ON THIS YEAR…
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DRIVER MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT FAILED IN THE FORWARD POSITION. THIS EFFECTIVLY ELIMINATED THE SAFETY FEATURE OF THE SHOULDERBELT FOR A THREE WEEK PERIOD WHILE THE PART WAS ORDERED. ACCORDING TO NHSTA ON-LINE STATISTICS, FAILURE OF A PAT OF THE MOTORIZED SHOLDERBELT SYSTEM IS THE MOST COMMONLY REPORTED PART FAILURE ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE. BEING MY PROFESSION IS SAFETY, I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN WITH THIS PART BROKEN, DRIVERS MAY NOT GET IT REPAIRED. I ALSO FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS FAILURE INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER. *AK
FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK FROM TANK. OWNER DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE ABOUT RECALL 97V144000, BUT EXPERIENCED THE EXACT PROBLEM. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER SINCE JUNE/2000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN JAN OF 96' I HAD TO HAVE THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE SAFETLY SEAT BELT REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY). SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT REPLACED (WHICH WAS PUT IN WRONG). I WILL BE RETURNING TO HAVE THAT ONE FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE. BUT NOW THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER SEA…
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AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN JAN OF 96' I HAD TO HAVE THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE SAFETLY SEAT BELT REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY). SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT REPLACED (WHICH WAS PUT IN WRONG). I WILL BE RETURNING TO HAVE THAT ONE FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE. BUT NOW THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THESE SEAT BELTS CONTINUALLY MALFUNCTION. WHY IS IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE A SEAT BELT EVERY THREE YEARS? BEFORE THIS IS ALL OVER WITH I WILL HAVE HAD TO PUT IN FOUR NEW SEAT BELTS IN A CAR THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ONLY 4 1/2 YEARS. *AK
FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING FUEL. VEHICLE WILL BE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER.*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