IllustrationMY CAR HAS ONLY 17,000 MILES AND THE "HEAD GASKETS" ARE LEAKING. WHEN I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THE I WAS PASSED THE "3 YEAR/36'000 MILES WARRANTY" AND THE REPAIR WILL NOT BE COVERED. I'M BEING TOLD BY MY REGULAR MECHANIC THAT "HEAD GASKETS" SHOULDN'T FAIL AT SUCH A LOW MILES DRIVEN!!!
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.
75 crash reports19 fire reports53 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
54 reportsWE ARE JUST SUPRISED THAT THE CAR WOULD NEED A VALVE JOB AFTER ALL IT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. WE BOUGHT IT WITH THE ORIGANAL WARRENTY AND PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRENTY TO 60,000 MILES WHICH HAS NOW EXPIRED. WE HAVE BEEN GOOD WITH DAILY MAINTNENCE AND HAVE HAD THE CAR IN ON MANY WARRENTY REPAIRS. HAVE HEARD THAT FORD HAS BEEN HA…
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WE ARE JUST SUPRISED THAT THE CAR WOULD NEED A VALVE JOB AFTER ALL IT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. WE BOUGHT IT WITH THE ORIGANAL WARRENTY AND PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRENTY TO 60,000 MILES WHICH HAS NOW EXPIRED. WE HAVE BEEN GOOD WITH DAILY MAINTNENCE AND HAVE HAD THE CAR IN ON MANY WARRENTY REPAIRS. HAVE HEARD THAT FORD HAS BEEN HAVING SOME COMPLAINTS ON THE CYLINDERS MALFUNCTIONING.
EVERY TIME I STOP AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT, THE CAR DIES. AT TIMES JUST TRYING TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE CAR DIES. A FRIEND HAS A 95 ESCORT AND HE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. ANOTHER FRIEND HAS A 95 PROBE AND SHE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND COULD NOT FIND THE REASON. IS THERE A DEFECT IN THE 95…
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EVERY TIME I STOP AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT, THE CAR DIES. AT TIMES JUST TRYING TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE CAR DIES. A FRIEND HAS A 95 ESCORT AND HE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. ANOTHER FRIEND HAS A 95 PROBE AND SHE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND COULD NOT FIND THE REASON. IS THERE A DEFECT IN THE 95 FORDS?*AK
ENGINE JUST QUIT WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD. MECHANIC SAID CRANKSHAFT BROKE & NEW ENGINE NEEDED
ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON REPEATEDLY DUE TO TIMING BELT BEING BROKEN. YH
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TIME IT HAS A SMELL DISCRIBED AS SWEET AND ICE COLD. SHORTLY AFTER BEING IN THE VEHICLE YOUR HEAD POUNDS, YOUR EYES WATER . YOUR NOSE RUNS, I BECOME SO ILL IT MAKES ME THROW UP.*AK
WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE STOPPED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT BY THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE A ROD WAS BLOWN. CONTACTED THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK
AFTER TUNE UP AND TIMING BELT WAS FIXED A WEEK AND HALF LATER, AROUND THE 16TH OF OCTTOBER, CAR KEPT CUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC, AND THEN IT JUST WOULD NOT START. HAD TO BE TOWED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, CAR JUST DIED. LUCKILY, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OFF MAIN STREET. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, ENGINE STALLED OUT. WAS NO WARNING CONCERNING ENGINE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN & NEED TO BE REPLACED. HAD CONTACTED DEALER & MANUFACTURER & WAS INFORMED BY BOTH ENGINE HAD 3 YEAR WARRANTY. *AK
SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS USED PROGRAM VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES, THE BACK TOP BRAKE LIGHT NUMEROUS TIMES (FUSE) THE BRAKES AT LEAST TWICE AND WHEN MY SON WAS HIT DURING THE WINTER THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HE HAD BACK INJURIES HIS PASSENGER HAD CHEST PAINS FROM THE SEAT BELTS, WE DID REPLACE T…
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SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS USED PROGRAM VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES, THE BACK TOP BRAKE LIGHT NUMEROUS TIMES (FUSE) THE BRAKES AT LEAST TWICE AND WHEN MY SON WAS HIT DURING THE WINTER THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HE HAD BACK INJURIES HIS PASSENGER HAD CHEST PAINS FROM THE SEAT BELTS, WE DID REPLACE THE TIMING BELT THIS YEAR AND THAN IN JULY THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING AND THE MECHANIC (PRIDE AUTO) STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED THIS OCCURED WHILE DRIVING APPX. 25 HRS PER MILE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HELP US STATING THAT WE GOT 99,000 MILES OUT OF IT. WE ARE VOLUNTARILY RETURNING THE VEHICLE, THEY ARE GIVING US A HARD TIME ABOUT IT.
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