IllustrationWHILE TURNING AT 30 MPH STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
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 →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: 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
Steering complaints
13 reportsFIRESTONE TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH ONE OF THE TIRES HAVING BEEN PATCHED. *SLC
DRIVER HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, POSSIBLY FELL ASLEEP AND RAN OFF THE ROAD , CAR WENT OVER ENBANKMENT AND HIT HEAD-ON AGAINST ROCKS. DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE THROUGH WINDSHIELD ABOUT 30-35 FEET DUE FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC SEATBELT. AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WAS IN FORWARD POSTION ON THE AUTOMATIC RAIL, AND BOTH DOORS WERE…
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DRIVER HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, POSSIBLY FELL ASLEEP AND RAN OFF THE ROAD , CAR WENT OVER ENBANKMENT AND HIT HEAD-ON AGAINST ROCKS. DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE THROUGH WINDSHIELD ABOUT 30-35 FEET DUE FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC SEATBELT. AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WAS IN FORWARD POSTION ON THE AUTOMATIC RAIL, AND BOTH DOORS WERE COMPLETELY CLOSED. ALSO BATTERY WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE . DEFECT RESULTED IN DEATH OF DRIVER.*AK
WARMED-UP ENGINE STALLS AT STOPS, AT IDLE. *AK
THE CONSUMERS MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT HAS COME OFF TRACK SO OFTEN THE HE HAS PULLED THE FUSE SO THEY WOULD RETRACT ANYMORE UNTIL THEY WERE FIXED. NLM
BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, TIE ROD CAME UNATTACHED TO WHEEL, WHEEL FELL SIDEWAYS. HAD CAR IN FOR SERVICE EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT--SAID IT COULD BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CAR WAS FINE BEFORE BEING SERVICED, MADE "CLANKING" SOUNDS UPON TURNING AFTER PICKING CAR UP FROM DEALER. SAVED PARTS-…
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BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, TIE ROD CAME UNATTACHED TO WHEEL, WHEEL FELL SIDEWAYS. HAD CAR IN FOR SERVICE EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT--SAID IT COULD BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CAR WAS FINE BEFORE BEING SERVICED, MADE "CLANKING" SOUNDS UPON TURNING AFTER PICKING CAR UP FROM DEALER. SAVED PARTS--TIE ROD WAS STRIPPED. *AK
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.
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY & NOTICED STEERING WAS HARD. PULLED OVER. ANOTHER MOTORIST LIFTED HOOD & NOTICED THAT A BELT WAS BROKEN. CALLED A TOW TRUCK & VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC CHECKED UNDERHOOD & NOTICED POWER STEERING SHAFT HAD SNAPPED. ALSO, THE BOLTS HOLDING THE PULLEY FOR SERPENTINE BELT HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY. *AK
VEHICLE'S STEERING IS VERY POOR.
WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE TIE ROD END BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
Official recalls
194V055000 · 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
1EA94002 · 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