RoadVitals

1995 Ford Escort Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
19
Latest May 1, 2006
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.
3%
of 576 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.
2
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 steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 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 steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectricalSeat belts+3 more
Filed May 1, 2006

WHEN ON HIGHWAY 55 MPH OR MORE TRANSMISSIONS ACTS LIKE IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL HAVE NO OVERDRIVE OR DRIVE THEN ALSO SLIPS IN AND OUT. ALSO HAVE LIKE POWER SURGES WHEN USING THE HEATER IN THE CAR THE ENGINE REVS UP AND DOWN LIKE YOU ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL EVEN WHEN IN PARK HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THESE ISSUES YET. ALSO HAVE HAD THE REAR WIPER MOTOR AND STUFF REPLACED AND STILL DO NOT GET WASHER SOLVENT TO REAR WIPER THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BACK WINDOW DOES NOT WORK EITHER CAUSES STILL UNKNOWN IT IS A 1995 FORD ESCORT LX WAGON WITH ONLY 73000 MILES 1.9 L. *NM

NHTSA ID
10156484
Incident
Apr 27, 2006
Mileage
70,000 mi
EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Jun 11, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY THERE IS A SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGHOUT VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD WAS FIXED. VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID
8011517
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Steering
Filed Mar 27, 2002

WHILE PARKING CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO ROTATE STEERING WHEEL 360 DEGREES. NLM *YH

NHTSA ID
8006517
Incident
Mar 26, 2002
Steering
Filed Jan 28, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A MINOR COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002938
Steering
Filed Sep 17, 2001

WHILE ADJUSTING DRIVER'S SEAT STEERING COLUMN WAS PULLING TOWARDS CONSUMER . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
896369
Steering
Filed May 1, 2001

FORD HAS RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING FAULTY SPEEDOMETERS IN ESCORTS, WINDSTARS, TAURUSES, AND THUNDERBIRDS FOR THE 1994-1996 MODEL YEARS. THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER DRIVERS WHO HAVE POOR DEPTH PERCEPTION AND WHO RELY HEAVILY ON THEIR SPEEDOMETERS TO JUDGE THEIR SPEED IN TRAFFIC. I AM A POLICE OFFICER AND I AM DISTURBED BY FORD'S SEEMINGLY UNSYMPATHETIC ATTITUDE TOWARD THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
744767
Steering
Filed Feb 22, 2001

RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, CASUING LOSS OF STEERING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
881092
AirbagsBrakesSteering
Filed Sep 8, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH STEERING WHEEL GOT STUCK. AT TIMES STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, AND LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. ALSO, UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID
870063
Incident
Sep 4, 2000
Steering
Filed Dec 26, 1999

HEARD GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNED WHEELS A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO WHEN IT WEATHER IS COLD, CAN HEAR GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNING IN A CURVE. CAR ALSO SLIPS MOMENTARILY LIKE IT IS SLIDING. REPORTED TROUBLE TO DEALER IN JAN 1997 AND THEY SAID STEERING WAS OK. I ASSUMED THAT THE TIRES JUST NEEDED TO BE WARMED UP. ON DEC 24, 1999 I HAD NATIONAL TIRE AND BATTERY AND 2 OTHER AUTO MECHANICS CHECK CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT BUSHING IN RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS WORN OUT. ONE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE CLAMPS HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION TO THE BODY WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF AND HE TIGHTENED CLAMP, WHICH MADE PROBLEM A SOME BETTER. I AM TAKING CAR TO HAVE IT REPAIRED TOMMORROW ( 12-27-99)

NHTSA ID
716449
Steering
Filed Jun 11, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
707444
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Steering
Filed Dec 1, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. WHEN CONSUMER MANEUVERS THE STEERING WHEEL IN ONE DIRECTION, VEHICLE TURNS IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. THE CONSUMER OWNS TWO OF THE SAME VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
831480
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Steering
Filed Dec 1, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVER STEERS STEERING WHEEL IN ONE DIRECTION, IT TURNS INTO THE OTHER DIRECTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
831478
Incident
Feb 4, 1998
Steering
Filed Nov 18, 1998

SYMPTOM: NOISE LIKE A MUFFLER BRACKET FAILURE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS. STEERING NOT CHANGED. DEALER REPORTED TIE ROD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. PART REPLACED OUT OF WARRANTY 1/2 COST COVERED BY FORD. DEALER REPORTS NO ACTUAL ROAD FAILURES OF ESCORT TIE ROD ENDS BUT SEVERAL (INCLUDING THIS ONE) HAVE BEEN AT THE POINT OF FAILURE (PRINCIPALLY HELD TOGETHER BY THE RUBBER MOUNTING IN THE TIE ROD END). TIE ROD FAILURE IS VERY SERIOUS SINCE THE DRIVER LOSES ALL STEERING CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
700730
Incident
Nov 18, 1998
AirbagsSteering
Filed Jul 30, 1997

PREMATURE INNER TIE ROD FAILURE CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL WITH LITTLE WARNING.

NHTSA ID
516360
SteeringTires & wheelsTransmission
Filed Feb 11, 1997

GOODYEAR TIRES BLEW OUT. (2ND VEHICLE ON 514699)

NHTSA ID
602889
Steering
Filed Dec 17, 1996

ON GOING PROBLEM WITH SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER GOING 65 MPH, DEALERS CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
806438
SteeringSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Dec 2, 1996

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HAS IRREGULAR STEERING CONTROL AND ROUGH RIDING, INAPPROPIATE TIRE WEAR. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE CAN NOT BE ALIGNED PROPERLY DUE TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DESIGN WHICH IS CAUSING IRREGULAR STEERING AND TIRE WEAR. *SLC

NHTSA ID
805791
Incident
Nov 1, 1996
ElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 6, 1996

VEHICLE WILL STALL DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *AK DEALER REPLACED NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. WHEN TURNING LEFT/RIGHT, VEHICLE MAKES A GROANING NOISE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
800534
Incident
Jul 4, 1996
Steering
Filed Mar 8, 1995

CONSUMER RENTED A CAR FROM BUDGET RENT CAR THE STEERING LOCK UP CONSUMER TRY TO TURN RIGHT CAR WHEN LEFT. TT

NHTSA ID
961645
Incident
Mar 4, 1995

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

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .