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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 →
279Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
327
1991162
1992379
1993279
1994576
1995205
1996543
1997
Compare all Escort years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
79Air Bags
54Electrical System
30Engine And Engine Cooling
30Service Brakes, Hydraulic
21
All reported categories
Power Train
19Suspension
18Visibility
14Steering
11Fuel System, Gasoline
6Seats
6Tires
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Exterior Lighting
5Equipment
4Structure
4Fuel System, Other
2Interior Lighting
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Unknown Or Other
2Child Seat
1Parking Brake
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: 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

Power Train complaints

19 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 1996
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT THREE TIMES, PURCHASE CAR NEW. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982395

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1996
Power TrainFire

WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED, THE TRANSMISSION CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #978951

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 1995
Power Train

PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW HAVE 11,000 MILES NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. TT

NHTSA ODI #976535

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 1995
Power TrainCrashInjury

VEHICLE JUMPED INTO PARK WHILE GOING 50MPH AND SLAMED IN A DITCH. TT

NHTSA ODI #969706

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 1995
Power Train

TRANSMISSION DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)*SD

NHTSA ODI #484530

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1995
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PADS WEAR PREMATURELY. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #485312

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1995
Parking BrakePower Train

AUTO-TRAN: WHILE UN LOW GEAR TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP/COULD NOT START VEHICLE UNTIL SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #966333

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1995
Power TrainSuspension

VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY VIBRATES/PULLS TO THE LEFT. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #481993

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO A CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK.

NHTSA ODI #480085

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.