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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 →

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 1999
Seat Belts

SEATBELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, SHOULDER(AUTOMATIC) STUCK AND WOULD NOT WORK, HAD T WORKED ON, SUUCK AND REPLACED IT WITH A USED ONE. THIS ONE STUCK AND WE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE FROM THE DEALER. NOW THE NEW ONE HAS STUCK AND WILL NOT FUNCTION, WE HAVE PUT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS INTO THE BELT AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. WE A…

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SEATBELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, SHOULDER(AUTOMATIC) STUCK AND WOULD NOT WORK, HAD T WORKED ON, SUUCK AND REPLACED IT WITH A USED ONE. THIS ONE STUCK AND WE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE FROM THE DEALER. NOW THE NEW ONE HAS STUCK AND WILL NOT FUNCTION, WE HAVE PUT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS INTO THE BELT AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. WE ARE VERY UPSET.

NHTSA ODI #715701

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

DUE TO A STRESS CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK FUEL IS LEAKING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE TANK ARE WEARING INTO THE FIBERGLASS TANK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES TO FIX TANK. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #853549

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER HIT A DEER DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EXPERIENCED DEPLOYMENT IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG EXPERIENCED A DELAY WHICH RESULTED IN INJURY TO DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC

NHTSA ODI #853495

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS GETTING ON FREEWAY. CARS HAD STOPPED AHEAD, I WAS PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, CAR SLOWED A LITTLE BUT WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED GETTING ONTO SHOULDER BUT CARS WERE GOING AROUND ME ONTO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE OF RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC. CONTINUED PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESULTS. BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED BUT LO…

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BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS GETTING ON FREEWAY. CARS HAD STOPPED AHEAD, I WAS PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, CAR SLOWED A LITTLE BUT WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED GETTING ONTO SHOULDER BUT CARS WERE GOING AROUND ME ONTO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE OF RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC. CONTINUED PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESULTS. BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED BUT LOCKED AND CAR SLID INTO 1999 LINCOLN, RESULTING IN FRONT-END DAMAGE. BRAKES WORKED AFTER CRASH. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE SUDDEN FAILURE AND THEN CONTINUE TO WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #715432

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. WOULD ACT INDEPENDENTLY, RELEASING ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. TRIED TO EXIT VEHICLE AFTER STOPPING, & SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP & INFORMED BY MECHANIC NOT UNDER WARRANTY & WOULD NOT REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853447

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE STOPPED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT BY THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE A ROD WAS BLOWN. CONTACTED THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853424

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 1999
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #715094

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER TUNE UP AND TIMING BELT WAS FIXED A WEEK AND HALF LATER, AROUND THE 16TH OF OCTTOBER, CAR KEPT CUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC, AND THEN IT JUST WOULD NOT START. HAD TO BE TOWED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, CAR JUST DIED. LUCKILY, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OFF MAIN STREET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853029

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 1999
Seat Belts

IN COLD CLIMATE DRIVER'S SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SEATBELT NOT TO RETRACT, WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER HAD ADDED ANLUBRICANT ON DRIVER'S SEAT BELT, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852948

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1999
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852486

Official recalls

4

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.

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

1

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