WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY THERE IS A SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGHOUT VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD WAS FIXED. VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. *YH
1995 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Escort years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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: 81 of 576 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 152 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
54 reportsCONSUMER HAD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, THE ENGINE BLEW UP WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.*AK *SLC
AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHEN TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH, EVERYTHING WILL SHUT DOWN.*AK
MY CAR WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO. FORD MAINTENAINCE PUT NEW TIMING BELT ON ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND IT HASN'T BEEN STARTING RIGHT SINCE *AK
THE CAR STALLS AT STOPS ALOT NAD NOW IT STALED AND WONT EVEN RESTART!*AK
VEHICLE OVERHEATS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WILL BE COOL WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR. BUT, IF VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AIR WILL BECOME WARM. THEN, VEHICLE STARTS TO SPUDDER, AND JERK FOWARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC AND HAD RELAYS/ SENSORS, THERMOSTAT/ COOLAN…
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VEHICLE OVERHEATS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WILL BE COOL WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR. BUT, IF VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AIR WILL BECOME WARM. THEN, VEHICLE STARTS TO SPUDDER, AND JERK FOWARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC AND HAD RELAYS/ SENSORS, THERMOSTAT/ COOLANT FAN , AND RADIATOR REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE SINCE 1999. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WE PLEASE SEND ME TWO SIGNATURE CARDS FOR BOTH VEHICLES JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR ARE DAUGHTER ON 7/01/01 WHAT WAS FUNNY IS THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD WHEN WE GOT IT THEN 9 DAY'S LATER THE RAIDIATOR SATRTED TO LEAK THE SAME PLACE MY 92 TAURUS WAS LEAKING FROM THE DRIVE SIDE SEAL OF THE RAIDIATOR SO I CALLED FORD AND I WA…
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WE PLEASE SEND ME TWO SIGNATURE CARDS FOR BOTH VEHICLES JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR ARE DAUGHTER ON 7/01/01 WHAT WAS FUNNY IS THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD WHEN WE GOT IT THEN 9 DAY'S LATER THE RAIDIATOR SATRTED TO LEAK THE SAME PLACE MY 92 TAURUS WAS LEAKING FROM THE DRIVE SIDE SEAL OF THE RAIDIATOR SO I CALLED FORD AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHY THERE MAKING PARTS THAT ARE FAILING IN NOT ONE CAR MADE BUT TWO DIFFERENT CAR'S AND I ALSO WAS TOLD BUT VARIOUS MECHANICS THAT FORD KNOWS OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE TAURUS AND ESCORT BUT WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM WHY WOULD TWO DIFFERENT CARS FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS FORD KNOWS THE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE US HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE 3 MAIN THINGS TRANSMISSION RAIDAITOR AND EGNITION SWITCHS SO WHY ARE YOU NOT LOOKING IN TO THIS CONSUMER FRAUD I'LL BE GLAD TO FILE A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST FORD IF NEED BE AS THEY ARE SCREWING THE PUBLIC. *AK
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING AND IDLING HARD TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR SERVICE, THE SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALMOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30MPH. IF LEFT IDLING TOO LONG IT WOULD CUT …
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THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING AND IDLING HARD TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR SERVICE, THE SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALMOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30MPH. IF LEFT IDLING TOO LONG IT WOULD CUT OFF COMPLETELY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PRIVATE GARAGE AND UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE VALVES HAD DROPPED INTO A CYLINDER, THUS DESTRYOYNG THE PISTON. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHNICS TELL ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE SEEN BEFORE AND THAT THIS MODEL OF ENGINE IS"KNOWN" FOR THIS. *AK
EMISSION HOSE ELBOW HAS MELTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OUT AND DIE WHILE IDLING. *AK
PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING HAS BEEN COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
497V144000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Sep 3, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
97V145000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Sep 3, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ARIZONA. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
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.
94V197000 · Air Bags:frontal
Oct 11, 1994
TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM MODULE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MISSING. IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE MODULE CAN COME OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS WOULD NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER AND WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL AND TORQUE TO SPECIFICATION THE MOUNTING BOLTS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.
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
1RQ97010 · Fuel Tank Assembly
Opened Sep 11, 1997 · Closed May 22, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
There is no summary currently available
Illustration