1995 Ford Escort: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 576 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is seat belts (25% of complaints); the 1994 and 1996 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 576 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The passive seat restraint does not retract fully. This occurs when you turn the vehicle off. It has to be manually disconnected. When turning the vehicle on it hesitates before retracting to drivers body. The car is stationary when this occurs.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Dec 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford escort. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor in the vehicle. The contact also stated that the fuel was observed leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 97v144000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact also mentioned that the replacement part for the repair would not be available. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Mar 2016
“Strong order of gas from gas tank, took it to mechanic, said I have a hole in gas tank... Drivers side seat belt , clicking noise, wires came out , hanging, now belt is stuck...had to remove fuse, to stop loud annoying clicking noise... *tr”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Nov 2014
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford escort. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor emitted from the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Dec 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford escort. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the fuel tank leaked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated that the fuel tank was cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 99,500.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Aug 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford escort. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 mph he depressed the brake pedal but the brakes would not respond. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the brake line was leaking brake fluid. The contact replaced the front brakes. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Apr 2013
“Passenger side automatic seatbelt quit working in the middle of the track, the cable was hanging down, got grease allover, including on me. Disconnected everything ,and through in garbage. *tr”Owner report · Seat Belts · Feb 2013
“Hello, I have a 1995 ford escort with the automatic seat belt. Have replaced the track and hardware. The problem still happens ..... The / or one of the guide cables comes out of the track casing and the lock refuses to shuttle. The motor does a click-click ..... Click-click and the lock tries to shuttle but does not. Is there a fix for this? What is going on in the shuttle track? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jan 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford escort. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited an overpowering odor of gasoline fuel. The contact was able to locate fuel leaking from the fuel tank. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and stated there were no recalls fro the fuel leak failure. The failure and the current mileage was 148,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Aug 2012
“The seat belt on the driver side is stuck in the open position, which gets in the way of the wheel and provides no safety support were I to get in a crash. Also the passenger sides seat belt often goes wild and continuously opens and closes on the passengers neck when trying to exit the vehicle. I can not afford to cover the costs of this repair and feel that ford should do so considering it puts the driver in great danger. *tr”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jul 2012
When filing, owners marked a crash in 75 of these complaints and injuries in 70 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL AND TORQUE TO SPECIFICATION THE MOUNTING BOLTS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG MODULE.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1995 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Escort by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1995 Ford Escort reliable?
NHTSA has 576 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 1995 Ford Escort. The most complained-about area is seat belts (25% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Escort problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 99,650 miles or less.
Does the 1995 Ford Escort have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.