IllustrationNHTSA ID# 97V144000, RECALLS 1995 FORD ESCORTS FOR CRACKS IN THE FUEL TANKS. I BOUGHT A USED FORD ESCORT AND A CRACK HAS DEVELOPED EXACTLY AS STATED IN THE RECALL. I E-MAILED FORD BUT THEY SAY MY VIN # HAS NO RECALLS ON IT. AND WILL NOT HELP EVEN AFTER TELLING THEM OF THE RECALL INFORMATION. *JB
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 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS AND DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAK TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) AND WILL NOT HONOR THE REPLACEMENT. A N…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS AND DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAK TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) AND WILL NOT HONOR THE REPLACEMENT. A NEW FUEL TANK WOULD COST $470. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,445 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,345. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAT SHIELD WAS NOT REMOVED FROM THE TANK AND THE HEAT CAUSED THE TANK TO CRACK UPDATED *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. HE NOTICED A FUEL LEAK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,708. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS OF THE DEFECT. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. ON JULY 31,2007, THE FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING. THE VEHICLE USED UP A TANK OF GAS IN A 12-HOUR PERIOD. RECALL NUMBER 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND FAILURE SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK IS CRACKED AND LEAKING. HE STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL #'S 97V144000 AND 97V145000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME FAILURES AS NOTED IN THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK IS CRACKED AND LEAKING. HE STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL #'S 97V144000 AND 97V145000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME FAILURES AS NOTED IN THE RECALLS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
THE MOTORIZED RETRACTING SHOULDER BELT FOR THE DRIVER'S SAFETY BELT CEASED WORKING AND IS STUCK IN THE NON-LOCKED POSITION AS IF THE DRIVER IS GETTING IN OR OUT OF THE CAR. AN EMERGENCY CRANK IS PROVIDED TO MANUALLY MOVE THE BELT ALONG THE TRACK BUT IT WILL NOT MOVE. THE MOTOR FOR THE BELT DRIVE SEEMS TO BE OK BUT THE CABLE IN T…
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THE MOTORIZED RETRACTING SHOULDER BELT FOR THE DRIVER'S SAFETY BELT CEASED WORKING AND IS STUCK IN THE NON-LOCKED POSITION AS IF THE DRIVER IS GETTING IN OR OUT OF THE CAR. AN EMERGENCY CRANK IS PROVIDED TO MANUALLY MOVE THE BELT ALONG THE TRACK BUT IT WILL NOT MOVE. THE MOTOR FOR THE BELT DRIVE SEEMS TO BE OK BUT THE CABLE IN THE TRACK SEEMS TO BE STUCK. AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR IS $600.00 AND THE MOTOR AND CABLE TRACK IS OVER $400.00. *TR
I OWN A 1995 FORD ESCORT WAGON THAT WAS IN COLORADO FOR 11 YEARS, AND THIS YEAR -- 2007 -- I MOVED TO PHOENIX ARIZONA. LAST WEEK I NOTICED A LEAK UNDER THE CAR AND SUSPECTED IT WAS GASOLINE. I WAS ALBE TO CONFIRM IT YESTERDAY AND NOTICED IT HAD BECOME MUCH WORSE. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER, AND SUSPECTED A DEFECT AFTER THEY D…
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I OWN A 1995 FORD ESCORT WAGON THAT WAS IN COLORADO FOR 11 YEARS, AND THIS YEAR -- 2007 -- I MOVED TO PHOENIX ARIZONA. LAST WEEK I NOTICED A LEAK UNDER THE CAR AND SUSPECTED IT WAS GASOLINE. I WAS ALBE TO CONFIRM IT YESTERDAY AND NOTICED IT HAD BECOME MUCH WORSE. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER, AND SUSPECTED A DEFECT AFTER THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A CRACKED FUEL TANK. I SUSPECTED THAT THIS WAS ABNORMAL AND DID A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH WHICH LEAD ME TO THIS WEBSITE AND A HOST OF INFORMATION OF AN EXISTING RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK WHEN IT IT RESIDES IN AREAS WITH A HOT CLIMATE AND FLUCTUATING EXTREMES IN TEMPERATURE. I DID FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE VIN AND COULD DETERMINE THAT THIS CAR HAD ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE TANKS INSTALLED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, AND INSISTS THAT I AM THE ONE WHO MUST PURSUE REMUNERATION. I AM HERE GIVING NOTICE OF THE EXISTENCE OF ANOTHER CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND ALSO NOTICE OF THE FAILURE OF BELL FORD TO COMPLY WITH COMPENSATION TO ME OF THIS SERVICE AND PARTS FOR NO FEE.
SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING AND JAMMED IN ITS GUIDE TRACK. *TR
MAKING LEFT HAND TURN AND WAS HIT ON PASSENGER SIDE. MY SEAT BELT BROKE. CAR WAS TOTALED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE SMELLED OF GASOLINE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE WAS OBSERVED IN THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, CRACKS WERE OBSERVED IN THE GAS TANK. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 97V144000 PERTAINING TO THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE SMELLED OF GASOLINE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE WAS OBSERVED IN THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, CRACKS WERE OBSERVED IN THE GAS TANK. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 97V144000 PERTAINING TO THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
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