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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.

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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

Seats complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2001
SeatsFire

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OFF POSITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY IGNITED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHICH SPARKED UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT, BURNING THE INTERIOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #895029

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2001
Seats

THE PART ABOVE THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT GO BACK TO PROTECT THE PASSENGER, THE MOTORS MAKES NOISES BUT DOES NOT WORK

NHTSA ODI #745927

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2001
Seats

DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BENT AND EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY IN RECLINED POSITION FOR NO APPARENT REASON OTHER THAN NORMAL USE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ABUSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE, MY COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCESS OF $400, AS A NEW SEAT FRAME WAS DETEMINED TO BE NECESSARY. IT SEEMS THE VEHICLE SEAT BACK D…

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DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BENT AND EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY IN RECLINED POSITION FOR NO APPARENT REASON OTHER THAN NORMAL USE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ABUSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE, MY COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCESS OF $400, AS A NEW SEAT FRAME WAS DETEMINED TO BE NECESSARY. IT SEEMS THE VEHICLE SEAT BACK DOES NOT HAVE DURABILITY TO WITHSTAND NORMAL EVERYDAY USE OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD. I BELIEVE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING SEAT BACK FAILURES IN GENERAL, AND I JUST WANTED TO BE CERTAIN THIS CONCERN WAS ADDED TO THE INFORMATION YOU MAY BE REVIEWING ON THE MATTER. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #743014

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2001
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

VAN IN FRONT MADE A "U" TURN. CAUSING ESCORT TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND BE REARENDED AFTER DRIVING 45MPH. UPON IMPACT, FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. PASSENGER'S SEATBACK HIT CHILD'S SEAT, CHILD NOT IN SEAT, ALSO, CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO NOTBEING ABLE TO SEE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRI…

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VAN IN FRONT MADE A "U" TURN. CAUSING ESCORT TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND BE REARENDED AFTER DRIVING 45MPH. UPON IMPACT, FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. PASSENGER'S SEATBACK HIT CHILD'S SEAT, CHILD NOT IN SEAT, ALSO, CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO NOTBEING ABLE TO SEE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED BACK & LEG INJURIES. EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #877818

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 1999
Seat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN A 3/4 CAR INCIDENT HAPPENED. VEHICLE WAS HIT ON BOTHE SIDES AND THEN REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS RELEASED FROM THE RAIL, CONSUMER WAS LAID INTO THE BACK SEAT, THE SEAT BACK WAS BROKEN/ BENT/DISTORT…

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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN A 3/4 CAR INCIDENT HAPPENED. VEHICLE WAS HIT ON BOTHE SIDES AND THEN REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS RELEASED FROM THE RAIL, CONSUMER WAS LAID INTO THE BACK SEAT, THE SEAT BACK WAS BROKEN/ BENT/DISTORTED, CONSUMER WAS INJURED. THERE IS AN OPEN IVESTIGATION ATTHIS TIME-(IE-98-074). *AK

NHTSA ODI #836360

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 1999
Seats

SHOULDER TRACK STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF DOOR AND FAILED AT THAT POINT

NHTSA ODI #702257

Official recalls

4

97V144000 · 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

1

RQ97010 · 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