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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

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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001
Interior LightingUnknown Or Other

THE LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN OUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, JUST THE PART WHERE THE METERS ARE ENCASED. THE SEATBELTS HAVE BEEN GOING BAD OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 3 YEARS. THE LEFT FRONT SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT ALWAYS RETRACT, NOR DOES THE RIGHT FRONT SHOULDER STRAP. IN THE BACK, THE LEFT REAR SHOULDER STRAP NO LONGER RETRACTS S…

Read full complaint

THE LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN OUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, JUST THE PART WHERE THE METERS ARE ENCASED. THE SEATBELTS HAVE BEEN GOING BAD OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 3 YEARS. THE LEFT FRONT SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT ALWAYS RETRACT, NOR DOES THE RIGHT FRONT SHOULDER STRAP. IN THE BACK, THE LEFT REAR SHOULDER STRAP NO LONGER RETRACTS SO THAT IT IS NOW FOREVER LOOSE AND FLOPPY...USELESS. DEALERSHIPS HAVE INFORMED US THAT SERVICING THIS PROBLEM IS UPWARDS OF $500 . WE HAVE HEARD OF OTHER OWNERS OF ESCORTS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. TO US THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE SERVICED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER, BUT THE DEALERSHIPS INFORM US THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #750869

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737363

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.