Ford Escort Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 185 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the Ford Escort across 7 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (129). The words owners use most often: “fuel tank” (46% of reports).
- 185fuel system, gasoline complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 19%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fuel tank: mentioned in 86 of 185 complaints (46%)
- Heat shield: mentioned in 22 of 185 complaints (12%)
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 46 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 185 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 5 an injury.
Ford Escort fuel system, gasoline complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel System, Gasoline complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Escort | 1 | 1% | 19,000 |
| 2000 Escort | 2 | 2% | 36,855 |
| 1999 Escort | 13 | 4% | 48,890 |
| 1998 Escort | 19 | 5% | — |
| 1997 Escort | 13 | 2% | 96,000 |
| 1996 Escort | 8 | 4% | — |
| 1995 Escort | 129 | 22% | 100,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Model years: 1995
Problem: 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.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Model years: 1995
Problem: 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.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
1997 ford escort rubber fill pipe deteriorates spilling gasoline on ground when refilling fuel tank. *tr
I purchased my se in november of 2006 with less than 83k miles on it. Three months after purchasing it, one of the head gaskets cracked. I had the head repaired, and less than two months after that the head cracked again. I had the engine replaced. I have now had new heads, new engine, new fuel…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Escorts have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 185 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline for the Ford Escort. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Escort fuel system, gasoline?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the Ford Escort?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel tank”, in 86 of 185 complaints, followed by “heat shield” (22).
Other Ford Escort problems
See all Ford Escort problems.