IllustrationSHOULDER TRACK STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF DOOR AND FAILED AT THAT POINT
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 reportsTHE PARK ON THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT LOCK IN PARK WHEN PLACED IN PARK. THE VEHICLE CAN ALSO BE REMOVED FROM PARK WITH OUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ASH TRAY PLACEMENT, ASH FALLS ON THE CONSOLE AND WORKS ITS WAY INTO THE MECHANISM. *AK.ET.
TRANSMISSION FAILED TWO TIMES, SECOND FAILURE RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.
DUE TO DEFECTIVE COMUTER COMMAND CENTER, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GO, AND THEN IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OVER 45 MPH VEHICLE SHAKES AND HAS BAD VIBRATION. IT SEEMS LIKE THE FRONT END IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. THERE IS A TSB, AND FORD STATES THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECALL, BUT HAS NO SOLUTIONS. *AK
MOTOR SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO OPERATE. SEAT BELT WOULD NOT SLIDE ON THE TRACK. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. WHEN CONSUMER MANEUVERS THE STEERING WHEEL IN ONE DIRECTION, VEHICLE TURNS IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. THE CONSUMER OWNS TWO OF THE SAME VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVER STEERS STEERING WHEEL IN ONE DIRECTION, IT TURNS INTO THE OTHER DIRECTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T WORK DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CABLE IS BROKEN AND THE SEAT BELT WON'T MOVE. *AK *ML
MY SHELL HAS MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THIS PART. I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE THERE IS A SHORTAGE THERE MAYBE A SITUATION ENDEMIC TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH THIS CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY ON THE FIRST OCCASION. THE CURRENT COST OF REPAIR IS ES…
Read full complaint
MY SHELL HAS MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THIS PART. I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE THERE IS A SHORTAGE THERE MAYBE A SITUATION ENDEMIC TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH THIS CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY ON THE FIRST OCCASION. THE CURRENT COST OF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $500.00. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, JOKL JOHNSON
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