IllustrationMileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
Electrical System
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #731803
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
279 reportsNO SUMMARY
MY OWNERS MAINTENANCE SCHEDUAL CALLS FOR THE TIMING BELT OF THE 1.8L ENGINE(ONLY)TO BE CHANGED AT 60K, WERE THE 1.9L ENGINE TIMEING BELT IS NOT LISTED. MADE MYSELF A REAL PAIN TO HAVE IT CHANGED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED IN MY VIEHICLE. NOW THAT THE BELT HAS BROKEN, I AM TOLD THAT IT IS MAY OWN STUPID FAULT. …
Read full complaint
MY OWNERS MAINTENANCE SCHEDUAL CALLS FOR THE TIMING BELT OF THE 1.8L ENGINE(ONLY)TO BE CHANGED AT 60K, WERE THE 1.9L ENGINE TIMEING BELT IS NOT LISTED. MADE MYSELF A REAL PAIN TO HAVE IT CHANGED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED IN MY VIEHICLE. NOW THAT THE BELT HAS BROKEN, I AM TOLD THAT IT IS MAY OWN STUPID FAULT. I LIKE TO DO THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ON THE CARS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS; WHERE DO I GO WRONG? I KNOW THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED, BUT WHY PUT IT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL NOT TO?
DEALER DAMAGED STEERING COLUMN DURING TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. BECAUSE OF THE COST INVOLVED, DEALER ONLY AGREED TO REPLACE ASSEMBLY WITH ONE FROM A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD. (COLLAPSEABLE PINS WERE SHEARED DURING STEERING WHEEL REMOVAL). BECAUSE OF T
SEAT BELT SENSORS AND RETRACTORS ARE INOPERATIVE. NLM
PE00 020; CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THERE IS A LINE AROUND THE SIDEWALL IN TWO SEPARATE PLACES LOCATED ON TWO FRONT TIRES. *AK
MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS ALWAYS READ HIGH SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. IN AN ATTEMPT TO COOL DOWN THE ENGINE WHILE I'M IN TRAFFIC, I HAVE TO TURN ON THE DEFROSTER. TO KICK IN THE ENGINE FAN. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS BROKEN AND WILL NOT MOVE BEYOND THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE MOTOR SO THAT IT WOULD NOT BURN OUT OR MELT THE PLASTIC INCASING. *AK
SEAT BELT FAILED DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY TO CONSUMER (HEAD,NECK AND BACK). *MJS
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
MOTOR BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED OPERATING. BELT STOPPED MIDWAY, AND REMAINED THERE WITH MOTOR STILL RUNNING. MOTOR WAS DISCONNECTED TO KEEP IT FROM BURNING UP. DRIVER HAD NO RESTRAINT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND REPAIRS WOULD BE DONE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
Official recalls
194V218000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.