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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

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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
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180,000 miles · Feb 24, 2004
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. TRIED TURNING THEM ON AND OFF, STILL DIDN'T WORK. THE ONLY REASON THERE WAS NO FIRE OR CRASH IS BECAUSE I USED MY HAZARD LIGHTS TO FIND MY WAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. HEADLIGHTS, BEING UP THERE WITH "TIRES", ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES …

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. TRIED TURNING THEM ON AND OFF, STILL DIDN'T WORK. THE ONLY REASON THERE WAS NO FIRE OR CRASH IS BECAUSE I USED MY HAZARD LIGHTS TO FIND MY WAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. HEADLIGHTS, BEING UP THERE WITH "TIRES", ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES A CAR CAN HAVE, AND THEM FAILING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY IS NOT SOMETHING I PARTICULARLY ENJOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10058922

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2000
Exterior Lighting

PLASTIC LENSES OF HEADLIGHT LENSES BECAME OPAQUE AND CAUSED VISUAL DIFFICULTIES WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #864389

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 1998
Exterior Lighting

TAIL LIGHT BULB WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE SOCKET, IT IS FUSED IN. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED, CONSUMER DEALS WITH MECHANIC THAT HAS THE SOCKET ON ORDER, IT HAS BEEN TWO WEKS SINCE THE ORDER WAS IN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824737

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 1997
Exterior LightingFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON PERIODICALLY. HEADLIGHTS SOMETIMES WORK ONLY ON HIGH BEAM. IN ADDITION, FUEL CUT OFF LIGHT SOMETIMES FLASHES. ALSO, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808816

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 1995
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting

WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON CAR ACCELERATES AND DECELERATES ON ITS OWN. TT AIR CONDITIONER ALSO MAKES NOISES AND HAS AN ODOR. TRANSMISSION TAKES 3 TO 4 ATTEMPTS BEFORE ENGAGING IN REVERSE. STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK. HATCHBACK DOES NOT OPEN AND CLOSE PROPERLY. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE LENSE IS CRACKED. FRONT BUMPER IS NOT ALI…

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WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON CAR ACCELERATES AND DECELERATES ON ITS OWN. TT AIR CONDITIONER ALSO MAKES NOISES AND HAS AN ODOR. TRANSMISSION TAKES 3 TO 4 ATTEMPTS BEFORE ENGAGING IN REVERSE. STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK. HATCHBACK DOES NOT OPEN AND CLOSE PROPERLY. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE LENSE IS CRACKED. FRONT BUMPER IS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. DOORS ARE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY, CAUSING THEM NOT TO CLOSE PROPERLY. WINDOW SEAL BROKE CAUSING WIND NOISE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #973461

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