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1993 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Escort years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Ford Escort are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
379Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
101
1990327
1991162
1992379
1993279
1994576
1995205
1996
Compare all Escort years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
109Vehicle Speed Control
49Fuel System, Gasoline
46Electrical System
40Service Brakes, Hydraulic
34
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
33Power Train
30Visibility
20Suspension
19Steering
13Seats
9Structure
9Tires
9Unknown Or Other
8Exterior Lighting
5Equipment
4Fuel System, Other
4Latches/locks/linkages
4Wheels
3Air Bags
2Interior Lighting
2Fuel/propulsion System
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes, Air
1

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: 22 of 379 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 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

31 crash reports15 fire reports25 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

40 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2001
Electrical System

I FEEL FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALL ALL DEFECTIVE CARS. I FEEL THEY KNEW THEY WERE PUTTING DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHS IN ESCORTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY CAR IS A 1993 ESCORT THAT HAD A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, THAT WAS AT A GAS STATION WHEN IT HAPPEN TO START SMOKING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IF IT WOULD HAVE…

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I FEEL FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALL ALL DEFECTIVE CARS. I FEEL THEY KNEW THEY WERE PUTTING DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHS IN ESCORTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY CAR IS A 1993 ESCORT THAT HAD A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, THAT WAS AT A GAS STATION WHEN IT HAPPEN TO START SMOKING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IF IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE LIKE THE SOME OF THE OTHER CARS, IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I THINK FORD DOESN'T TAKE HUMAN LIVES INTO THEIR CONSIDERATION. THEY ONLY SEE DOLLAR SIGNS. I AM A STYLIST AND I SEE WELL OVER A 90 PEOPLE A DAY AND I WILL BE SURE TO TELL THEM NOT TO BUY A FORD. IT IS VERY SAD THAT PEOPLE NO LONGER TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT THEY DO OR MAKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #739288

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #876351

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2000
Electrical System

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING OR WILL NOT START, CONSUMER BELIEVES IT'S A FAULTY IGNITION WHICH IS BEING RECALL IN CALIFORNIA. NLM

NHTSA ODI #556630

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION FOR OVER 30 MINUTES WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE DASH AREA. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #866415

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2000
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

DAY BOUGHT..GAS BEGAN POURING OUT OF TANK WHILE DRIVING...RELAY SWITHCH PROBLEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #720787

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1999
Electrical System

HAD PUT KEY IN IGNITION TO START VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START. WOULD NEED TO JIGGLE KEY IN IGNITION TO START VEHICLE. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO LOCK UP AFTER KEY WAS REMOVED. BEEN TO DEALER. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER VEHICLE NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850364

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1999
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND THEN VEHICLE DIDN'T START UP AGAIN, NO PRIOR WARNING. MADE STRANGE NOISES, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. CONTACTED DEALE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849896

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #708489

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 1999
Electrical SystemVisibility

THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH HAS A PROBLEM, IT SHUTS THE HEATER FAN OFF. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH HAS A SHORT CIRCUT IN IT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833752

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 1998
Electrical SystemSteering

THE FUSE FOR "ROOM" BURNT UP REPEATEDLY (AND WHEN IT DID, THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING.) MY SON FOUND THAT SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION LOCK BAR WHEN I PUT IN A NEW FUSE FOR "ROOM" TWO DAYS AGO. MY GUESS IS THAT THE IGNITION LOCK BAR HAS A DESIGN DEFECT; THAT SMOKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE REASON WHY THE "ROOM" FUSE HAD NEVER…

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THE FUSE FOR "ROOM" BURNT UP REPEATEDLY (AND WHEN IT DID, THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING.) MY SON FOUND THAT SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION LOCK BAR WHEN I PUT IN A NEW FUSE FOR "ROOM" TWO DAYS AGO. MY GUESS IS THAT THE IGNITION LOCK BAR HAS A DESIGN DEFECT; THAT SMOKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE REASON WHY THE "ROOM" FUSE HAD NEVER LASTED VERY LONG. THIS REMIND ME OF ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT CAME UP TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER THE CAR STAY UNDER THE SUN FOR HOURS. (I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS REPEATABLE--WHEN IT GOT ENOUGH SUNSHINE I ALWAYS GOT THE WHITE SMOKE.) I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THEIR CALL-BACK. THIS PROBLEM MIGHT ALSO BE IN THAT IGNITION LOCK BAR.

NHTSA ODI #700915

Official recalls

1

94V055000 · Seats

Mar 26, 1994

THE LOCK PLATE OF THE DRIVER SIDE INBOARD SEAT TRACK ADJUSTERS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATION TO THE FABRICATION PROCESS WHICH CAUSES THE SEAT NOT TO FULLY ENGAGE IN CERTAIN SEATING POSITIONS NEAR THE MID-POINT OF THE SEAT TRACK TRAVEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE SEAT CAN MOVE, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN REDUCED OCCUPANT PROTECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE INBOARD SEAT TRACK.

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

EA94002 · Fuel Pump Wiring Shortage

Opened Jan 28, 1994 · Closed Jan 31, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available