THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT'S TOO TIGHT. *MR *NLM
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.
What owners actually said
576 reportsUPON ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN, FORTUNATELY BOTH IN A WAY THAT HAD NOT CAUSED TIRE DAMAGE. SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES GREATLY AND CREATES BUZZING-LIKE NOISE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 55 MPH. MR
CONSUMER STATES HE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH CAUSED A LEAK . NLM CONSUMER NOTICED GAS LEAKING UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK NEXT TO THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT. REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT OTHER 1995 ESCORTS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS SHOWN IN THE SAFETY …
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CONSUMER STATES HE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH CAUSED A LEAK . NLM CONSUMER NOTICED GAS LEAKING UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK NEXT TO THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT. REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT OTHER 1995 ESCORTS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS SHOWN IN THE SAFETY RECALL. *MR
VEHICLE MANUFACTURED AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT IN SEPT 1995. DEVELOPED CRACK IN FUEL TANK NEAR HEAT SHIELD, CAUSING FUEL LEAK. APPLIED PATCH TO REPAIR LEAK BUT IT CRACKED AGAIN. REFER TO RECALLS FROM NHTSA 97V144000 AND 97V145000 REGARDING SAME PROBLEM. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK
THE DRIVERS SHOULDER HARNESS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN ITS TRACKING SYSTEM. I CONTACTED A DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX. BUT IS THIS NOT A MAJOR SAFTY PROBLEM, AND WHY WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS IS FORD NOT EXCEPTING RESPONSIBILTY. THIS IS A VERY LARGE CONCERN FOR ME AS WELL AS MY SPOU…
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THE DRIVERS SHOULDER HARNESS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN ITS TRACKING SYSTEM. I CONTACTED A DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX. BUT IS THIS NOT A MAJOR SAFTY PROBLEM, AND WHY WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS IS FORD NOT EXCEPTING RESPONSIBILTY. THIS IS A VERY LARGE CONCERN FOR ME AS WELL AS MY SPOUSE.*AK
THE KEY WAS PUT INTO THE IGNITION BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE IGNITION REMAINED LOCKED. NLM
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
PLASTIC MOLDED FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FUEL AROUND MOUNTING BRACKET. OWNER NOTICED A PUDDLE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND SAW THAT GAS GAUGE SHOWED A 1/4 LESS THAN WHAT IT WAS BEFORE. *AK CONSUMER NOTICED RECALLS 97V145 AND 97V144, HOWEVER HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *SLC
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CONSUMER STARTED UP VEHICLE. THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE AREA, AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
OUR FAMILY CAR'S FUEL TANK LEAKS GASOLINE AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO REPAIR IT JUST BECAUSE THE STATE WHERE WE PURCHASED IT(WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER) AND REGISTERED IT IN DOESN'T HAPPEN TO BE INCLUDED IN FORD'S SELECTIVE GEOGRAPHIC RECALL, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURING LOCATION(HERMOSILLO, MEXICO) AND DATE OF A…
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OUR FAMILY CAR'S FUEL TANK LEAKS GASOLINE AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO REPAIR IT JUST BECAUSE THE STATE WHERE WE PURCHASED IT(WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER) AND REGISTERED IT IN DOESN'T HAPPEN TO BE INCLUDED IN FORD'S SELECTIVE GEOGRAPHIC RECALL, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURING LOCATION(HERMOSILLO, MEXICO) AND DATE OF ASSEMBLY IS THE SAME AS THE 64,600 1995 FORD ESCORTS UNDER THEIR GEOGRAPHIC RECALL. GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE TANK ONTO A HOT EXHAUST PIPE IS A HUGE SAFETY DISASTER JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN, BUT APPARENTLY A LIFE IN IOWA IS NOT WORTH AS MUCH AS A LIFE IN ARKANSAS, A STATE COVERED BY THE GEOGRAPHIC RECALL. ONE ALLEGED JUSTIFICATION FOR GEOGRAPHIC RECALLS IS IT IS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS REGIONS WHERE PROBLEMS ARE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR AND IN THE CASE OF THE LEAKING FUEL TANKS, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE HOTTEST AREAS. PROBLEM IS, THIS KIND OF THINKING IGNORES THE REALITY OF TODAY'S MOBILE SOCIETY. OUR VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM WILLEY FORD IN AMES, IA, BUT WE HAVE DRIVEN IT TO FLORIDA, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA AND MICHIGAN, WHICH ARE ALL COVERED BY FORD'S SELECTIVE GEOGRAPHIC RECALL. YET CONSISTENCY IS LACKING BECAUSE ONE OF THE HOTTEST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY APPARENTLY ARE NOT COVERED BY THE GEOGRAPHIC RECALL, DEATH VALLEY, CA, WHILE MUCH MORE TEMPERATE REGIONS, SUCH AS MICHIGAN, ARE. AND METEOROLOGISTS MAY CONFIRM THAT THE IOWA SUMMER HEAT INDICES CAN OFTEN SURPASS MANY SOUTHERN STATES. IT IS WITHOUT QUESTION TOTALLY UNFAIR THAT TWO GEOGRAPHIC RECALLS EXIST (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 97V14400 & 97V145000) THAT CLEARLY PLACE IOWANS' LIVES AT RISK JUST TO SAVE A HUGE AUTOMAKER SOME MONEY. FURTHER, THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC & MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT REQUIRES RECALLS FOR SAFETY DEFECTS AND TREATS ALL VEHICLES EQUALLY REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE SOLD OR REGISTERED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ALERT.*AK
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
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