FaultScore

1994 Ford Escort electrical problems

32 of the 351 complaints about the 1994 Ford Escort are about the electrical system — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 74,790 miles.

F

32

Complaints

1

Crashes

8

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Switch 8 25.0%
Ignition 6 18.8%
Wiring 5 15.6%
12V/24V/48V Battery 3 9.4%
Electrical System 3 9.4%
Horn 2 6.3%
Front Underhood 1 3.1%
Module 1 3.1%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 3.1%
Interior/Under Dash 1 3.1%

Electrical System across every Ford Escort year

1984 14 1.6%
1985 10 1.2%
1986 21 2.5%
1987 31 3.6%
1988 85 9.9%
1989 77 9.0%
1990 58 6.8%
1991 122 14.3%
1992 44 5.1%
1993 40 4.7%
1994 32 3.7%
1995 53 6.2%
1996 19 2.2%
1997 151 17.7%
1998 51 6.0%
1999 47 5.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 94,000 miles Wilkesbarre, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO DIM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. AS OF JUNE 18, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, POWERTRAIN, AND # OF CYLINDERS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

NHTSA complaint #10193618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,580 miles Sewickley, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO START THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10071555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westport, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHEN THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE, SHE WAS INFORMED THE IGNITION AND CLUTCH PLATE HAD BEEN REPLACED AND THE PARTS WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THE IGNITION FAILED AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *AK THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10061083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Willimantic, CT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: I HAVE NO HEAD LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS OR TURN SIGNALS. POSSIBLE SHORT IN WIRING. DISCOVERED BURNT WIRES AT THE TOP OF THE HATCHBACK. TRIED TO DO A TEMPORARY FIX USING "BOOTS". DID NOT HELP. THE FAULTY WIRES POSSIBLY CAUSED THE MAIN AMP TO BLOW WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO GO. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10016357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phila, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT--BURNED OUT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

NHTSA complaint #566361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Peria, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING IGNITION STARTED TO CRANK, CAUSING IGNITION SWITCH TO MELT.*AK DEALER FOUND FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED MALFUNCTION TO BURN WIRE ON STARTER SOLENOID OFF CAUSING CAR TO TURNOVER BY ITSELF. BRAKE CALIPERS, ALTERNATOR, TWO AIR CONDITIONER POWER HOSES, MASTER CYLINDER, STARTER AND TIRES (TIRE INFORMATION UNKNOWN) HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #8013315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Peria, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING IGNITION STARTED TO CRANK, CAUSING IGNITION SWITCH TO MELT.*AK DEALER FOUND FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED MALFUNCTION TO BURN WIRE ON STARTER SOLENOID OFF CAUSING CAR TO TURNOVER BY ITSELF. BRAKE CALIPERS, ALTERNATOR, TWO AIR CONDITIONER POWER HOSES, MASTER CYLINDER, STARTER AND TIRES (TIRE INFORMATION UNKNOWN) HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #8013315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfax, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLS/ HESITATES AND MISFIRES WHILE DRIVING. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8000601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Geneva, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. IT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER BRAKES APPLIED. HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, THEN STOPPED. DRIVER LEFT VEHICLE , AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. WAS INFORMED THAT SENSOR WIRES TO IDLER HAD FUSED TOGETHER.

NHTSA complaint #897158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodbury, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED . IT WAS SERVICED 15 TIMES FOR ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.

NHTSA complaint #894936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Amhurst, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION, DEALER REPLACED IGNITION. ON 12 AUG 2001, CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO SHUT OFF ENGINE, KEY WOULD NOT TURN. CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC DISCONNECT BATTERY. VEHICLE AT DEALER AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #894179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER HAS REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH TWICE. THIS WILL BE THIRD TIME REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH. FORD CLAIMS THERE IS NO RECALL OR COMPLAINTS. VEHICLE IS STALLING AND KEY DOESN'T WANT TO COME OUT OF IGNITION. *AK FIRST ONE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #887262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW London, CT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #731803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Altoona, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DEALERSHIP IS GIVING TROUBLE: FIXED UNDER WARRANTY BUT STILL HAVE TO PAY AROUND $250

NHTSA complaint #709235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Island, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AIRBAG'S SENSOR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO A BUZZING NOISE AND A SMELL OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE CAME FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #838517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, FENDER WAS BENT, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER COULDN'T USE THE HORN DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING, DRIVER'S AIR BAG IS LOCATED ON THE SPACE WHERE THE HORN IS, AND HORN DOESN'T WORK. *AK

NHTSA complaint #834805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSES FUSE TO BLOW, WHICH RESULTS IN LIGHTING SYSTEM FAILING. DEALER REPAIRS WOULD WORK FOR A SHORT TIME THEN THE FUSE WOULD BLOW AGAIN. NOW THE CIRCUITS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #529690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reston, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY CRACKED, CAPS FLEW OFF, LEAKING BATTERY ACID.

NHTSA complaint #521033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #815943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Conway, AR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

HAZARD LIGHT FUSE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #516103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Conway, AR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #516103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marrimack, NH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE DASH BROAD AREAS WERE BURNED. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN ABOUT (4) HOURS. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #811677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centereach, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #513973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Granby, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, UNDER THE HOOD ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE BROKE OUT.

NHTSA complaint #809544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canden, ME

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

OWNER STATES THAT HER HORN WAS TO0 LOW, AND THAT SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERS AND THEY FIXED PROBLEM BUT OWNER STILL FEELS THAT HORN IS TO0 LOW TO BE HEARD.

NHTSA complaint #807441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Center Reach, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WIFE DROVE TO WORK; WENT INTO BLDG.; CO-WORKER NOTIFIED OWNER THAT VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES; FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED, PUT FLAMES OUT; POLICE ARRIVED ALSO; WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. HAD CONTACTED DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #806800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spring Hill, FL 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY EXPLODED, EMITTING ACID FUMES INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BURNING EYES/THROAT.

NHTSA complaint #508002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belgrade, ME

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #802029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Twinlake, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SPEED 5 MPH, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT IN CIRCUIT, CAUSING THE INGNTION SWITCH TO OVER HEAT AND CATCH ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #984728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oceanside, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

FIRE BROKE OUT UNDERDASH; ENTIRE DASHBOARD MELTED DOWN; VEHICLE PARKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR; VEHICLE TOTALED; REASON UNKNOWN. TT

NHTSA complaint #971012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Ford Escort problems

← Full 1994 Ford Escort report