RoadVitals

1994 Ford Escort Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
30
Latest Jun 18, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 279 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Jun 18, 2007

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 ID
10193618
Incident
Jun 16, 2007
Mileage
94,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 2004

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071555
Incident
Mar 10, 2004
Mileage
55,580 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2004

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. *JB

NHTSA ID
10061083
Incident
Mar 1, 2004
Electrical
Filed Apr 22, 2003

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 ID
10016357
Incident
Apr 19, 2003
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
566361
Incident
Jun 11, 2002
Electrical
Filed Oct 11, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE AT AN IDLE PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND VEHICLE ENGINE RIVED UP. STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL VEHICLE IDLED FASTER. SHUT VEHICLE OFFAND RESTARTED IT. HAD VEHICLE SERVICE. THIS IS AS RESULT OF THE ENGINE COMPUTER CHIP SENDING WRONG INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID
8020682
Incident
Sep 20, 2002
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed Jul 5, 2002

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. *TT

NHTSA ID
8013315
Incident
Jun 30, 2002
Electrical
Filed Dec 11, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
8000601
ElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 1, 2001
Fire reported

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.*AK

NHTSA ID
897158
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Aug 22, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
894936
Electrical
Filed Aug 13, 2001

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.*AK

NHTSA ID
894179
Incident
Jul 10, 2001
Electrical
Filed May 2, 2001

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 ID
887262
Incident
May 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Sep 18, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
731803
Incident
Oct 17, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jul 26, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
709235
AirbagsElectrical
Filed May 27, 1999

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 ID
838517
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Feb 12, 1999
Crash reported

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 *ML

NHTSA ID
834805
Incident
Jan 12, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jan 22, 1998

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 ID
529690
Electrical
Filed Sep 3, 1997
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
815943
Incident
Aug 2, 1997
Electrical
Filed Aug 15, 1997

BATTERY CRACKED, CAPS FLEW OFF, LEAKING BATTERY ACID.

NHTSA ID
521033
Incident
Jul 27, 1997
Electrical
Filed Apr 24, 1997
Fire reported

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
811677
Incident
Apr 1, 1997
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 2, 1997

THE LATCH ON TRUNK STICKS.

NHTSA ID
516103
Incident
May 29, 1996
Electrical
Filed Feb 28, 1997
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
809544
Incident
Feb 27, 1997
Electrical
Filed Jan 22, 1997
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA ID
513973
Incident
Dec 21, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jan 10, 1997

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
807441
Electrical
Filed Dec 27, 1996
Fire reported

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
806800
Incident
Dec 21, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .