433 of the
5,050 complaints filed about the Ford Escort
are about the fuel system —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
The rubber fuel filler neck hose that connects the metal fuel filler neck to the gas tank failed for the first time in 2013. During fueling, a large pool of gasoline leaked onto the pavement under the vehicle, presenting an environmental and fire hazard. The filler neck hose was replaced with a Ford OEM hose purchased from a local Ford dealer in Sacramento, CA. The replacement hose failed in a similar manner the original hose in less than two years time - thus requiring replacement in 2015. A genuine Ford OEM replacement was obtained from a dealer in the Sacramento area and installed. This hose failed in less than 2 years time, in 2017. Again a replacement hose was obtained from a Sacramento area Ford dealer ind installed. This hose then failed in 2019 and was replaced with another Ford dealer-obtained part... which failed in 2021 and was replaced with another Ford dealer-obtained part. The hose has failed again in less than 2 years time. It is apparent that the replacement parts that Ford has been selling through their dealers are made of a material that is not suitable for the application. Since the original part lasted 16 years, it should be possible to make a replacement part last a similar period of time. The vehicle has been a 'one family' ownership since purchased new in 1997, so the service history is well known by the present owners. The (lack of quality) of this part presents a safety and environmental hazard. Similar quality issues have been reported by other owners of the same vehicle. It is likely that other vehicle models are experiencing similar issues if the supplier of this part is also supplying other similar parts. See Ford Escort Owners Association online forum (with search feature) to read about other's experiences with these parts - here's a few: https://www.feoa.net/threads/gas-filler-neck-hose-cracking.112610/post-1076796 https://www.feoa.net/threads/fuel-hose-tank-to-filler-neck-how-long-should-it-last.105585/post-995753
NHTSA complaint #11530867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILLER LINE FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10864409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10852903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10762556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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...
NHTSA complaint #10655158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10604316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10542338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10490346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10472960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ESCORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, EXCESSIVE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S VOLUNTARY RECALL PERTAINING TO THE FUEL TANK HOWEVER THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT PERFORMED NUMEROUS TEMPORARY REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF UPDATED 08/08/2012 *JS UPDATED 2/25/13 *CN UPDATED 03/11/2013
NHTSA complaint #10464384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ESCORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, EXCESSIVE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S VOLUNTARY RECALL PERTAINING TO THE FUEL TANK HOWEVER THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT PERFORMED NUMEROUS TEMPORARY REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF UPDATED 08/08/2012 *JS UPDATED 2/25/13 *CN UPDATED 03/11/2013
NHTSA complaint #10464384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10413883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10411743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10409079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10381440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10356146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK AREA ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK CRACKED DUE TO THE HEAT SHIELD. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10354529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD ESCORT. FATIGUE CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN TUBE AND THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN AN INTERNAL FIRE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE, BECAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 92V117000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 151000.
NHTSA complaint #10290381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.