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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 →

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

33 reports
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6,000 miles · Mar 31, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

IN 1992 I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 1993 ESCORT GT SPARTANBURG, SC. THE 1ST PART OF THE YEAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER, THE CAR WAS IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP TO DATE FOR HESITATION, FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ODD NOISES AND OTHER THINGS. I FILED FOR LEMON LAW IN 1993-94 IN TEXAS. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MOTOR, COULD TAKE UP TO A M…

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IN 1992 I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 1993 ESCORT GT SPARTANBURG, SC. THE 1ST PART OF THE YEAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER, THE CAR WAS IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP TO DATE FOR HESITATION, FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ODD NOISES AND OTHER THINGS. I FILED FOR LEMON LAW IN 1993-94 IN TEXAS. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MOTOR, COULD TAKE UP TO A MONTH BEFORE I GOT THE CAR BACK. WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD SUPPLY A LOANER CAR I WAS TOLD NO. WITHOUT FINANCES TO RENT A CAR TO GET TO & FROM WORK (50 MLS DAILY) I COULD NOT ACCEPT THE OFFER AT THAT TIME WITHOUT THEM PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION. OVER THE YEARS, IT'S BEEN 1 PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. SINCE 1994, I REPLACED 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, NUMEROUS DIAGNOSTIC MACHINES TO FIND WHY IT WOULD STALL IN IDLE AND NO ACCELERATION AFTER CAR WARMED UP& OTHER THINGS. IN 1995, THE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A CRACK AT SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN & THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT TOP OF TANK RESULTING IN FUMES & GAS LEAKING WHEN FILLED. THREE FORD DEALERSHIPS SAID ONLY 1992 FORD ESCORTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1992. THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT, DRIVER SIDE QUIT WORKING. WE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE BUT STILL WON'T WORK. SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING. TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS CAN'T FIX NOR TWO AUTO ELECTRICIANS. I CONTACTED FORD AGAIN UNDER LEMON LAW, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A ONE TIME OFFER. SINCE I REFUSED THE FIRST OFFER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. RECOMMENDED I SELL THE CAR AND BUY ANOTHER ONE. I CAN NOT POSSIBLY PUT THESE PROBLEMS ON SOMEONE ELSE? THIS WAS TOTALLY UNETHICAL. I"VE BEEN LOYAL TO FORD SINCE IN MY TEENS. THIS IS MY 2ND FORD ESCORT & MY FIRST/ONLY NEW VEHICLE I EVER OWNED. I STILL HAVE THE CAR & WOULD REALLY LIKE FORD TO DO RIGHT BY ME IN THIS SITUATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10186626

48,000 miles · Aug 16, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT A USED LOT. AFTER 90 DAYS THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WENT OUT. BOUGHT IT WITH 48,000 MILES. WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS, AND THEY SAID IT HAD TOO MUCH WEAR FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAME OFF, THE SHOCKS WERE BAD, THE TIRES WERE AL DEFECTIVE, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DE…

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DT: PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT A USED LOT. AFTER 90 DAYS THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WENT OUT. BOUGHT IT WITH 48,000 MILES. WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS, AND THEY SAID IT HAD TOO MUCH WEAR FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAME OFF, THE SHOCKS WERE BAD, THE TIRES WERE AL DEFECTIVE, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER FROM WHO THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WAS OUT BUSINESS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10133008

27,000 miles · Dec 6, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS. THE BELT WILL TIGHTEN INADVERTENTLY, FEELING AS IF CONSUMER WAS BEING CHOKED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WILL COST $400.00. *AK....ALSO, FRONT FENDER AND MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE FENDER IS PEELING PAINT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CO…

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CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS. THE BELT WILL TIGHTEN INADVERTENTLY, FEELING AS IF CONSUMER WAS BEING CHOKED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WILL COST $400.00. *AK....ALSO, FRONT FENDER AND MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE FENDER IS PEELING PAINT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND GOES OFF WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES AT STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHENEVER CONSUMER APPLIES THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10103195

180,000 miles · Jan 14, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE'S RPMS STAY HIGH AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED. *MR THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PEDAL WASN'T STICKY NOR WAS THE THROTTLE CABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RARELY ILLUMINATED. THIS PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW 0 DEGREES). THE RPMS REVVED HIGH AND CONTINUED TO RISE WHEN THE PROBLE…

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VEHICLE'S RPMS STAY HIGH AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED. *MR THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PEDAL WASN'T STICKY NOR WAS THE THROTTLE CABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RARELY ILLUMINATED. THIS PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW 0 DEGREES). THE RPMS REVVED HIGH AND CONTINUED TO RISE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE "SOLVED" THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MINUTES OR UNTIL THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE AIR INTAKE VALVE WAS CLEANED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *PH *NM

NHTSA ODI #10054041

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE PROBLEMS USUALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE REFUSE TO SPEED UP, THE RPM INDICATOR WILL TURN, THE ENGINE WILL RUN, BUT THE FORWARD MOTION JUST DIES. FIXED BY PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE. FEELS LIKE A DESIGN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #9005426

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

WHILE TRAVELING HEARD NOISE FROM UNDER VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK HEAT SHIELDS ARE COMING LOOSE AND ARE RATTLING, TSB 98-20-10 HAS BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #894435

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

PLEASE REFER TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS 95185, 95153 AND 95132. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE MODE ON MY CAR. AS NOTED AND CLEARLY STATED IN THE TSB'S, THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. FORD REFUSES TO PROVIDE A FREE FIX AND OR RECALL TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION FOR OUT OF WARRANTY CARS. I COULD ALSO MAKE A CASE THAT THIS…

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PLEASE REFER TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS 95185, 95153 AND 95132. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE MODE ON MY CAR. AS NOTED AND CLEARLY STATED IN THE TSB'S, THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. FORD REFUSES TO PROVIDE A FREE FIX AND OR RECALL TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION FOR OUT OF WARRANTY CARS. I COULD ALSO MAKE A CASE THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT A PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS FAILURE WOULD LIKELY THINK THAT THEY WERE HAVING AN ENGINE FAILURE CAUSING THEM TO DIVE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. IMAGINE BEING IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL FO A SUDDEN SEEING YOUR TEMP GAUGE MAX TO THE HIGH SIDE AND STAY THERE! FORD REPAIR UTILIZING THE "REPAIR" KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM IS OVER $350.NO SAFETYD EFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #743570

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY AT ANY SPEED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #872873

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE STALLS AND MY MECHANIC IS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHY

NHTSA ODI #734114

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

SMELLED OF GAS, UPON GETTING OUT OF THE CAR NOTICE GAS POURING FROM THE CAR, SEAT DONT LOCK PROPERLY, HEAD GASKET REPLACED

NHTSA ODI #9000921

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