IllustrationREAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN. *JB
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
What owners actually said
576 reportsMY FAMILY PURCHASED TWO BRAND NEW 95 AND 96 FORD ESCORTS IN 96. STARTING A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE 95 FORD ESCORT STARTED SMELLING OF GAS. IT WAS NOTED THAT ON THE GAS FILLER ASSEMBLY, BETWEEN THE METAL FILLER TUBE AND THE METAL GAS TANK, THE RUBBER TUBING WAS CRACKED AND GAS WAS SPREAD ON THE TANK AND ALSO WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVED, …
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MY FAMILY PURCHASED TWO BRAND NEW 95 AND 96 FORD ESCORTS IN 96. STARTING A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE 95 FORD ESCORT STARTED SMELLING OF GAS. IT WAS NOTED THAT ON THE GAS FILLER ASSEMBLY, BETWEEN THE METAL FILLER TUBE AND THE METAL GAS TANK, THE RUBBER TUBING WAS CRACKED AND GAS WAS SPREAD ON THE TANK AND ALSO WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVED, THERE WAS GAS ON THE DRIVEWAY. WE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS MORE THAN 3 YEARS AND 36,000 MILES AND SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS. WE ALSO LOOKED UNDER OUR 96 FORD ESCORT AND THOUGH THERE WAS NO LEAK, IT HAS CRACKING AS WELL. IF YOU COULD LOOK INTO THIS, WE'D APPRECIATE IT. *PH
CONSUMER SMELLED GAS AND NOTICED A LEAKAGE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT. RELATED RECALL 97V144000, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND A SPLIT/CRACK IN THE GAS TANK AND THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL#97V144000. *SCC **CONSUMER …
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CONSUMER SMELLED GAS AND NOTICED A LEAKAGE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT. RELATED RECALL 97V144000, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND A SPLIT/CRACK IN THE GAS TANK AND THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL#97V144000. *SCC **CONSUMER REQUEST CALL BACK FROM ODI INVESTIGATOR**
CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS WIFE HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WIFE SUSTAINED WRIST INJURIES BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE FUEL TANK AS STATED IN RECALL # 97 V 144 000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *JB *NLM
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE, AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER SAID A SPRING BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
THERE WAS A GAS LEAK WHERE THE GAS TANK WAS MOUNTED TO THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO FILL THE GAS TANK. THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK WAS UNKNOWN. *AK THE GAS TANK LEAKED THROUGH A CRACK IN THE HARD PLASTIC WHICH WAS USED TO SECURE THE MOUNT OF THE HEAT SHIELD AND COVER TO THE PLASTIC TANK WHICH WAS HOT WELDED…
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THERE WAS A GAS LEAK WHERE THE GAS TANK WAS MOUNTED TO THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO FILL THE GAS TANK. THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK WAS UNKNOWN. *AK THE GAS TANK LEAKED THROUGH A CRACK IN THE HARD PLASTIC WHICH WAS USED TO SECURE THE MOUNT OF THE HEAT SHIELD AND COVER TO THE PLASTIC TANK WHICH WAS HOT WELDED TO THE SOFTER PLASTIC TANK AND OVER TIME THE STRESS ON THE MOUNT CAUSED THE CRACK. THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FOR THREE YEARS. FORD STATED THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER # WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (#97V144000). *SCC *JB
1995 FORD ESCORT WAGON,REAR COIL SPRING FAILURE(BROKEN) EVEN THE REPLACEMENT SPRINGS ARE PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING, WHY DON'T THESE LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR? WHAT RENUMERATION CAN I EXPECT FROM FORD?*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAK AND OVERHEAT. CONSUMER FEELS A FIRE MAY START AS A RESULT. *AK
I HAVE SMELLED GAS FOR ABOUT 1.5 TO 2 YEARS AFTER FILLING UP, THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO OVERFLOW. FILLED UP AND NOTICED LARGE POOL OF GAS UNDER CAR. TOWED VEHICLE TO HOUSE BECAUSE OF LARGE LEAK COMING FROM FRONT MOUNT OF PLASTIC GAS TANK. *NLM
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