← New search

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
97,000 miles · Nov 1, 2006
Exterior LightingFireInjury

HEADLIGHT COVER CLOUDED FROM AGE. DRIVERS CAN'T SEE WELL AT NIGHT. I'VE NOTICED THAT ALL ESCORTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED A RECALL ON REPLACEMENT LIGHTING THAT LEADS TO SUGGEST THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT COVERS. WHY ISN'T MANUFACTURE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS? ESPECIALLY SAFETY PARTS. PRE…

Read full complaint

HEADLIGHT COVER CLOUDED FROM AGE. DRIVERS CAN'T SEE WELL AT NIGHT. I'VE NOTICED THAT ALL ESCORTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED A RECALL ON REPLACEMENT LIGHTING THAT LEADS TO SUGGEST THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT COVERS. WHY ISN'T MANUFACTURE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS? ESPECIALLY SAFETY PARTS. PREVIOUS OWNER HIT SOMETHING SLIGHTLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE LIGHTING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172397

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2002
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS HAVE BOTH FAILED, METAL DEFLECTOR HAS FALLEN OFF BOTH ASSEMBLIES (LEFT AND RIGHT). CANNOT BE RETRIEVAL FROM CLOSED HOUSING HEADLIGHT BEAM GOES UPWARD TOWARD ONCOMING DRIVERS AND AT THE SAME TIME NOTICE LOWER ILLUMINATION.

NHTSA ODI #566310

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2002
Exterior Lighting

CONSUMER STATES HEAD LIGHT LENS IS DISCOLORING, IT IS NOT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE AT NIGHT. *YD

NHTSA ODI #566025

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 1999
Exterior Lighting

THIS REPORT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC ON THE HEADLIGHT UNIT. I HAD NOTED PROBLEMS WITH ROAD LIGHTING BY MY CAR FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND HAVE USED THE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO ILLUNIATE THE ROADS. (I DO NOT DRIVE MUCH AT NIGHT.) RECENTLY, THE ROAD ILLUMINATION BY THE FORD ESCORT WAGON BECAME SO POOR…

Read full complaint

THIS REPORT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC ON THE HEADLIGHT UNIT. I HAD NOTED PROBLEMS WITH ROAD LIGHTING BY MY CAR FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND HAVE USED THE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO ILLUNIATE THE ROADS. (I DO NOT DRIVE MUCH AT NIGHT.) RECENTLY, THE ROAD ILLUMINATION BY THE FORD ESCORT WAGON BECAME SO POOR, I AND MY FAMILY TRIED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS WORKED, BUT ILLUMINATION WAS NOT GETTING PAST THE DETERIORATED PLASTIC WHICH HAS NOT HELD UP TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE SUBTLE AND TAKES A WHILE TO DEVELOP. BECUASE OF THAT, THE CONSUMER IS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WHERE I TAKE MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOLD ME THIS WAS A PROBLEM. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD HEAD LIGHT UNITS WHICH I CONSIDER NO LONGER SAFE FOR DRIVING AND HAD FORD INSTALL NEW UNITS. I HAVE NOTICED A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMINATION. I NOW CONSIDER THESE PLASTIC UNITS TO BE POTENTIALLY UNSAFE FOR THE PUBLIC AS THEY DETERIORATE. I AM SURE OTHERS MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD. I BELIEVE THAT ACCIDENTS WILL BE CAUSED WHEN THE UNIT PLATIC BECOMES SO CLOUDED AS TO BLOCK THE LIGHT AND NO PROVIDE PROPER ROAD ILLUMINATION. ODI IS MORE THAN WALCOME TO EXAMINE MY OLD HEADLIGHT UNITS.

NHTSA ODI #715392

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1998
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR THE DRIVER. DRIVER THINKS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM CONCERNING THE HEAD LIGHTS NOT BEING BRIGHT WHEN IT IS DARK /FOGGY OR RAINING. CONSUMER DOES NOT WISH TO HAVE HER PHONE NUMBER LISTED. PLEASE WRITE HER IF THERE IS …

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR THE DRIVER. DRIVER THINKS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM CONCERNING THE HEAD LIGHTS NOT BEING BRIGHT WHEN IT IS DARK /FOGGY OR RAINING. CONSUMER DOES NOT WISH TO HAVE HER PHONE NUMBER LISTED. PLEASE WRITE HER IF THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820639

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.