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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.

About this comparison →

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

23 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

TIRED TO WORK WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER OF HONDA TO NO AVAIL. THEY WON'T HELP ME AND THE SOLD THE VEHICLE AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN WORKING CONDITION. *NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #766335

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THIS WAS TSB NUMBER 98-5A-15. NLM

NHTSA ODI #561013

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED FOR BRAKES AND TECHNICIAN FOUND A BROKEN REAR SPRING LEAF WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #876819

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2000
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH STEERING WHEEL GOT STUCK. AT TIMES STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, AND LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. ALSO, UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #870063

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DESPITE REPAIRS TO THE BRAKES, THEIR IS NO RESOLUTION TO THE CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE BULLITEN 980318985A19 THIS HAS OCCURRED BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE THE BRAKES FIXED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS SEEMS TO M…

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DESPITE REPAIRS TO THE BRAKES, THEIR IS NO RESOLUTION TO THE CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE BULLITEN 980318985A19 THIS HAS OCCURRED BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE THE BRAKES FIXED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS SEEMS TO MAKE THIS CAR UNSAFE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #723722

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

BRAKES FAILED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, BRAKES WORKED AFTER ACCIDENT WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721922

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

I AM A FEMALE AND THE AUTO PLACE TREATS ME LIKE I KNOW NOTHING BUT, I HAD RECEIVED ALOT OF INJURIES AND I WANT TO KNOW THE REASON BEHIND THIS AND TO GET SOME HELP TO FIND OUT WHY IT DID. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721096

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS GETTING ON FREEWAY. CARS HAD STOPPED AHEAD, I WAS PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, CAR SLOWED A LITTLE BUT WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED GETTING ONTO SHOULDER BUT CARS WERE GOING AROUND ME ONTO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE OF RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC. CONTINUED PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESULTS. BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED BUT LO…

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BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS GETTING ON FREEWAY. CARS HAD STOPPED AHEAD, I WAS PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, CAR SLOWED A LITTLE BUT WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED GETTING ONTO SHOULDER BUT CARS WERE GOING AROUND ME ONTO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE OF RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC. CONTINUED PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESULTS. BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED BUT LOCKED AND CAR SLID INTO 1999 LINCOLN, RESULTING IN FRONT-END DAMAGE. BRAKES WORKED AFTER CRASH. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE SUDDEN FAILURE AND THEN CONTINUE TO WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #715432

Mileage unknown · May 12, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE ROTORS, PADS AND CALIPERS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #535325

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM MASTER CYLINDER AREA NOT FRONT BRAKES REPLACED

NHTSA ODI #524803

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