FORD ESCORT · model year

1995 FORD ESCORT

725 NHTSA complaints, 106 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995FORDESCORT carries 725 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 106 crashes, 27 fires, 94 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1995 ESCORT is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 99 filings, followed by seat belts (78) and air bags:frontal (56). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1995 ESCORT. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

725
Complaints
106
Crashes
27
Fires
94
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

725 filings

Crashes Reported

106 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY99
SEAT BELTS78
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL56
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR33
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE22
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE21
AIR BAGS20
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION18
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE16
UNKNOWN OR OTHER16
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH14
SEAT BELTS:FRONT12

Recent Complaints

20180105SEAT BELTS

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.

Mileage: 151,000

20160401FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 85,000

20150909FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR EMITTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAT SHIELD AND FUEL TANK WERE CRACKED A NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,341. ...UPDATED 11/02/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED BECAUSE THE HOLD DOWN HARDWARE FOR THE HEAT SHIELD WAS NVER REMOVED PER THE REQUIRED REPAIR FOR THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 11/05/15.*JB

Mileage: 135,341

20141115FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

20141115SEAT BELTS

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

20140618FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 78,000

20140410SEAT BELTS

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

Mileage: 149,233

20130906FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 99,500

20130624SERVICE BRAKES

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

Mileage: 120,000

20130425POWER TRAIN

I HAVE REPLACED 3 SPEED SENSORS & 2 SPEEDOMETER CABLES & LITHIUM GREASE SENSE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND STILL HAVE TRANSMISSION OIL COMING UP THRU THE SPEED CABLE INTO THE DASH.IS THIS JUST A BAD PART OR IS THERE A CURE? *TR

Mileage: 200,000

20130106SEAT BELTS

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

Mileage: 125,000

20121228FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING GASOLINE, CAUSED BY A FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT OF THE FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK WALL. THE MECHANIC ALSO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V145000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

Mileage: 67,000

20120829FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 148,000

20120730SEAT BELTS

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

20110721FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, HE BEGAN TO SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. UPON ARRIVING AT HOME, THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETECTED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK, ALONG WITH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL SEEPAGE AROUND THE RUBBER AFFIXED TO THE FUEL TANK. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Mileage: 144,000

20110711FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED HIM TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND STATED HE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.

Mileage: 109,000

20110627FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAT SHIELD USED FOR THE TANK WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

Mileage: 102,000

20110210FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO AGREED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED WHICH CAUSED THE LEAK. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT SPECIFIC FAILURE ( NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V144000, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20101126FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GASOLINE BEGINS TO DRIP OUT OF FUEL TANK WHEN FUEL TANK IN HALF FILLED. *TR

Mileage: 100,130

20100917FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED THE DAY PRIOR TO NOTICING THE FAILURE. THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WAS READING ONLY ONE HALF FULL WHEN THE TANK SHOULD HAVE BEEN READING FULL. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V145000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY) AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

Compare 1995FORDESCORT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 FORD ESCORT have?
The 1995 FORD ESCORT has 725 NHTSA complaints, 106 crashes, 27 fires, 94 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 FORD ESCORT?
The most-complained component for the 1995 FORD ESCORT is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY with 99 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1995 FORD ESCORT safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.