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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

Steering complaints

19 reports
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70,000 miles · May 1, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

WHEN ON HIGHWAY 55 MPH OR MORE TRANSMISSIONS ACTS LIKE IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL HAVE NO OVERDRIVE OR DRIVE THEN ALSO SLIPS IN AND OUT. ALSO HAVE LIKE POWER SURGES WHEN USING THE HEATER IN THE CAR THE ENGINE REVS UP AND DOWN LIKE YOU ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL EVEN WHEN IN PARK HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THESE ISSUES …

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WHEN ON HIGHWAY 55 MPH OR MORE TRANSMISSIONS ACTS LIKE IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL HAVE NO OVERDRIVE OR DRIVE THEN ALSO SLIPS IN AND OUT. ALSO HAVE LIKE POWER SURGES WHEN USING THE HEATER IN THE CAR THE ENGINE REVS UP AND DOWN LIKE YOU ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL EVEN WHEN IN PARK HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THESE ISSUES YET. ALSO HAVE HAD THE REAR WIPER MOTOR AND STUFF REPLACED AND STILL DO NOT GET WASHER SOLVENT TO REAR WIPER THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BACK WINDOW DOES NOT WORK EITHER CAUSES STILL UNKNOWN IT IS A 1995 FORD ESCORT LX WAGON WITH ONLY 73000 MILES 1.9 L. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156484

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineSteering

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

NHTSA ODI #8011517

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2002
Steering

WHILE PARKING CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO ROTATE STEERING WHEEL 360 DEGREES. NLM *YH

NHTSA ODI #8006517

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2002
SteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A MINOR COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8002938

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2001
Steering

WHILE ADJUSTING DRIVER'S SEAT STEERING COLUMN WAS PULLING TOWARDS CONSUMER . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896369

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2001
Steering

FORD HAS RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING FAULTY SPEEDOMETERS IN ESCORTS, WINDSTARS, TAURUSES, AND THUNDERBIRDS FOR THE 1994-1996 MODEL YEARS. THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER DRIVERS WHO HAVE POOR DEPTH PERCEPTION AND WHO RELY HEAVILY ON THEIR SPEEDOMETERS TO JUDGE THEIR SPEED IN TRAFFIC. I A…

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FORD HAS RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING FAULTY SPEEDOMETERS IN ESCORTS, WINDSTARS, TAURUSES, AND THUNDERBIRDS FOR THE 1994-1996 MODEL YEARS. THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER DRIVERS WHO HAVE POOR DEPTH PERCEPTION AND WHO RELY HEAVILY ON THEIR SPEEDOMETERS TO JUDGE THEIR SPEED IN TRAFFIC. I AM A POLICE OFFICER AND I AM DISTURBED BY FORD'S SEEMINGLY UNSYMPATHETIC ATTITUDE TOWARD THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #744767

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2001
Steering

RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, CASUING LOSS OF STEERING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881092

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 · Dec 26, 1999
Steering

HEARD GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNED WHEELS A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO WHEN IT WEATHER IS COLD, CAN HEAR GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNING IN A CURVE. CAR ALSO SLIPS MOMENTARILY LIKE IT IS SLIDING. REPORTED TROUBLE TO DEALER IN JAN 1997 AND THEY SAID STEERING WAS OK. I ASSUMED THAT THE TIRES JUST NEEDED TO BE WARMED UP. ON DEC 24, 1999 I HAD N…

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HEARD GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNED WHEELS A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO WHEN IT WEATHER IS COLD, CAN HEAR GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNING IN A CURVE. CAR ALSO SLIPS MOMENTARILY LIKE IT IS SLIDING. REPORTED TROUBLE TO DEALER IN JAN 1997 AND THEY SAID STEERING WAS OK. I ASSUMED THAT THE TIRES JUST NEEDED TO BE WARMED UP. ON DEC 24, 1999 I HAD NATIONAL TIRE AND BATTERY AND 2 OTHER AUTO MECHANICS CHECK CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT BUSHING IN RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS WORN OUT. ONE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE CLAMPS HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION TO THE BODY WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF AND HE TIGHTENED CLAMP, WHICH MADE PROBLEM A SOME BETTER. I AM TAKING CAR TO HAVE IT REPAIRED TOMMORROW ( 12-27-99)

NHTSA ODI #716449

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 1999
Steering

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707444

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