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1994 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Escort years

Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 14 of 279 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 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

51 crash reports16 fire reports34 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

54 reports
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115,404 miles · Jun 23, 2011
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 94V218000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 94V218000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,404.

NHTSA ODI #10408678

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2005
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

THE 1994 FORD ESCORT IS A VERY POORLY MADE CAR. MOST OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS, THE MOTORS OF WHICH ALMOST ALWAYS FAIL. OURS WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE HAD A MANUAL SEATBELT INSTALLED-- AT OUR EXPENSE-- AND TODAY THAT MANUAL SEATBELT SAVED MY HUSBAND'S LIFE IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. IMAGINE IF HE HAD ONLY…

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THE 1994 FORD ESCORT IS A VERY POORLY MADE CAR. MOST OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS, THE MOTORS OF WHICH ALMOST ALWAYS FAIL. OURS WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE HAD A MANUAL SEATBELT INSTALLED-- AT OUR EXPENSE-- AND TODAY THAT MANUAL SEATBELT SAVED MY HUSBAND'S LIFE IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. IMAGINE IF HE HAD ONLY HAD A LAPBELT! FORD REPEATEDLY DENIES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT FOR EVERY 10 ESCORTS I SEE THAT WERE MADE ABOUT THE SAME TIME, 9 OF THEM HAVE AT LEAST ONE FAILED SEATBELT. IN ADDITION, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A ROLLOVER CRASH GOING SOME 75 MPH. I CAN'T SAY IF MY HUSBAND'S INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE HAD THE AIRBAG GONE OFF, BUT I DO KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10129817

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2003
Air Bags

CONSUMER STATED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH IS FLASHING, INDICATING THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. IS AFRAID THAT THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY AFTER READING THE OWNER'S MANUAL. CONSUMER TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM IT WOULD COST HIM $89.00, AND TO REPAIR IT WOULD COST $100.00 …

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CONSUMER STATED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH IS FLASHING, INDICATING THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. IS AFRAID THAT THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY AFTER READING THE OWNER'S MANUAL. CONSUMER TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM IT WOULD COST HIM $89.00, AND TO REPAIR IT WOULD COST $100.00 PER HOUR. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARING ON DASHBOARD WAS A RECALL FOR SOME FORD ESCORTS, BUT NOT FOR HIS VEHICLE. HE NEED EDHELP WITH THE REPAIR COST.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10033871

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT FULLY EXPAND AT THE TIME OF CAR ACCIDENT. CAR WAS TOTAL PER INSURANCE COMPANY. SEAT BELT SAVED DRIVER FROM FURTHER INJURY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #755360

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Air Bags

SRS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED AIR BAG CIRCUIT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIOAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #895931

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

WE HAD AN ACCIDENT JULY 19,2001. OUR AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. WE HAVE BOTH FRONT AND REAR DAMAGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #751722

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE AIR BAG HAS BROKEN 3 OF MY RIBS AND FAILED TO DEPLOY BEFORE I HIT MY HEAD ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT IS WHAT A POLICE HAD TOLD ME. I HAD BURNS AND ALOT OF BRUISING DUE TO THE AIR BAG IN MY CAR. PLUS ALOT OF HEADACHES AND NECK INJURIES BECAUSE OF THAT FAILURE TO DEPLOY SOON ENOUGH AND THEN WHEN IT DID LOOKOUT. THEY NEED TO…

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THE AIR BAG HAS BROKEN 3 OF MY RIBS AND FAILED TO DEPLOY BEFORE I HIT MY HEAD ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT IS WHAT A POLICE HAD TOLD ME. I HAD BURNS AND ALOT OF BRUISING DUE TO THE AIR BAG IN MY CAR. PLUS ALOT OF HEADACHES AND NECK INJURIES BECAUSE OF THAT FAILURE TO DEPLOY SOON ENOUGH AND THEN WHEN IT DID LOOKOUT. THEY NEED TO RECALL AND RETROFIT THESE CARS WITH THE AIRBAGS THAT WONT HARM A WOMEN LIKE ME THAT IS OF SMALLL STATURE AND THAT 9 AND 3 POSITION DOESNT WORK MY ARMS STILL GOT BURNED. I STILL GOT HURT AND MY FEELING ON THESE THINGS IS I HATE THEM. IF I COULD HAVE THEM TAKEN OUT I WOULD. OR BE ABLE TO TURN THEM OFF WHEN I AM DRIVING. ALL OWNERS SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION WETHER THEY WANT THEM ON OR NOT. NOONE SHOULD MAKE THAT DECISION FOR THE OWNER OF THE CAR EXCEPT THEM.I HAD 3 ACCIDENTS ALL WITH AIRBAGS DEPLOYING AND THERE IS NOT ONE INCIDENT WHERE I DIDNT GET BRUISES OR BURNS OR BROKEN RIBS AND MY NECK KNOCKED OUT OF WHACK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #750327

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS AT INTERSECTION WAITING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE, AND VEHICLE IN BACK OF HER HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED/PUNCTURED, AND CHEMICALS FROM AIRBAGS CAUSED THIRD DEGREE BURNS ON RIGHT SIDE OF HER FACE. HER EYE SIGHT WAS DAMAGED, A…

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CONSUMER WAS AT INTERSECTION WAITING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE, AND VEHICLE IN BACK OF HER HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED/PUNCTURED, AND CHEMICALS FROM AIRBAGS CAUSED THIRD DEGREE BURNS ON RIGHT SIDE OF HER FACE. HER EYE SIGHT WAS DAMAGED, AND VEHICLE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881598

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH AND WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #878894

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2000
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE INVOVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A CONCRETE CURVE AT A IMPACT OF 20-25 MPH, AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #860546

Official recalls

1

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.