Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 442 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Ford Escort, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 104 | 24% |
| Vehicle speed control | 48 | 11% |
| Fuel system | 39 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 32 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 30 | 7% |
| Power train | 29 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 29 | 7% |
| Visibility | 19 | 4% |
| Suspension | 18 | 4% |
| Steering | 13 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING IN OCTOBER 2003, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING ABOUT FEBRUARY 2004, AUTOMATIC BELT RETRACTORS TRY TO MOVE THEN STOP. A GRINDING / WHIRRING CAN BE HEARD AT TIMES
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
INITIALLY, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID, WHICH WAS BELOW MINIMUM REQUIRED. I HAVE NOW FILLED THE REQUIRED LEVEL. YESTERDAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE - NO COMPRE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ESCORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A MECHANIC'S GARAGE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE, THE OTHER VEHICLES IN THE GARAGE, AND THE GARAGE ITSELF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
AS BRIEFLY AND SUCCINTLY AS I CAN; MY FATHER WAS DRIVING A 1993 FORD ESCORT STATION WAGON ON ONE OF THE LAST DAYS OF WINTER WHEN HE APPARENTLY HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE. HE DID GO LEFT OF CENTER AND WAS HIT BY AN ONCOMIN
NHTSA complaint: Structure
IN 1992 I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 1993 ESCORT GT SPARTANBURG, SC. THE 1ST PART OF THE YEAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER, THE CAR WAS IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP TO DATE FOR HESITATION, FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ODD NOISES AND OTHER TH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL* -THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SHOULDER RESTRAINT AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WERE NOT WORKING IN HER 1993 FORD ESCORT AND SHE DISCOVERED THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR HER VEHICLE. SHE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPA
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THE BRAKES ON OUR 1993 FORD ESCORT LOCKED UP CAUSING CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER, BOTH FRONT CALIPERS, BOTH ROTORS, ALL HOSES AND PADS. THIS BRAKE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1993 Ford Escort. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
THE OFFSET TOE ADJUSTING PIN CAN FRACTURE UNDER CONDITIONS SUCH AS TORSIONAL LOADS, FLEXING MOTION, IMPACT LOADS, AND OVERTORQUING.
Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL ANDAN ACCIDENT.
Fix: DANA WILL PAY FOR REPLACEMENT AND LABOR COSTS OF THE ADJUSTMENT PIN WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE INSTALLING FACILITY AND THE VEHICLE OWNER. THESE PINS SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A FORD ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PIN ASSE
THE LOCK PLATE OF THE DRIVER SIDE INBOARD SEAT TRACK ADJUSTERS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATION TO THE FABRICATION PROCESS WHICH CAUSES THE SEAT NOT TO FULLY ENGAGE IN CERTAIN SEATING POSITIONS NEAR THE MID-POINT OF THE SEAT TRACK TRAVEL.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE SEAT CAN MOVE, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN REDUCED OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE INBOARD SEAT TRACK.
| Reliability raw | 71 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 44 | below average |
| Efficiency | 51 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 442 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 104 of them (24%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.