The 1995 Ford Escort has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 93,840 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 725 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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…
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.
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
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.
AIR BAGS94V2180001994-11-10240 affected
Defect
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.
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.
AIR BAGS94V1970001994-10-1129,000 affected
Defect
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
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.
Complaints by component
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
99
SEAT BELTS
78
6crashes6injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
56
50crashes2fires39injuries1deaths
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
33
4crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
22
1crashes1fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
21
4crashes5injuries
AIR BAGS
20
8crashes11injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
18
1crashes
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
16
2fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
16
1crashes
Total complaints725
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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.”
“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…”
“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…”
“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”
“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”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationRQ97010 Opened 1997-09-11 · closed 2000-05-22
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1995 Ford Escort as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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