Ford Escort Complaints (1986)

45 consumer complaints on file.

#10236821August 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM WRITING YOU TODAY ABOUT A SITUATION THAT OCCURRED JULY 3RD 1986 IN MORTON GROVE ILLINOIS AT 11:52P.M. I AM THE MOTHER OF A 2 YEAR OLD THAT WAS BURNED TO DEATH IN A 1986 FORD ESCORT THAT WAS NOT ON IN THE PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE. YES IT HAS BEEN OVER 20 YEARS, BUT DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TIME I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYONE TO LISTEN TO MY STORY. WELL, THIS PARTICULAR CAR WAS A RENTAL FROM BUDGET RENTAL IN GLENVIEW ILLINOIS AND WE WERE ON A FAMILY OUTING. ALL WAS WELL AND THEN WE STOPPED OFF TO GET SOME FIRE WORKS. I COULD ONLY AFFORD SMOKE BOMBS AND SPARKLES. NEEDLESS TO SAY WHEN THIS HORRIFIC EVENT OCCURRED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE REASON THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THAT IS NOT TRUE. YOU CAN'T START A FIREWORK WITHOUT A LIGHTER. THE RENTAL CAR DID NOT HAVE A CIGARETTE LIGHTER OR THERE WERE NO MATCHES. I FOUND A NEWS ARTICLE DATE IN THE VIRGINIAN PILOT, APRIL 18, 1996, TEN YEARS LATER STATING THAT THERE WAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM IN CARS DATED AS FAR BACK AS 1984. PLEASE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH THIS MINI MOVIE PLAYING IN MY HEAD OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH NO RESOLUTION. THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY OR FAME. MY CHILD DIED BEFORE HE COULD SEE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE WITH HIS FAMILY. HERE IS A COPY OF THE ARTICLE. I NEED HELP. THIS INCIDENT HAS CRUSHED MY FAMILY. MY OLDEST SON AND I HAD TO WITNESS THIS UNABLE TO HELP MY BABY. YOU WONDER WHY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO WRITE THIS LETTER, IT IS VERY HARD FOR ME TO DO THIS NOW. I NEED CLOSURE. EVERY YEAR ON THIS DATE, I SIT AT HIS GRAVE SITE AND WONDER WHAT WENT WRONG. I RENT CARS ALL THE TIME AND I AM IN FEAR OF ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. BUT IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN FACT OF A PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGED 10 YEARS LATER, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. YOUR COMPANY HAS IMPROVED DURING TRIAL AND ERROR, HOWEVER, DID MY SON HAVE TO DIE DURING THE ERROR PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10068586April 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CONSUMER BECAME ILL FROM THE FUMES THAT EMITTED FROM THE HEATER/AC SYSTEM. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE HEATER/RADIATOR SYSTEM HOWEVER THE CONSUMER REMAINED ILL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011043June 4, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET IT STARTED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#894595August 17, 2001
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED THAT ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON AND STAY ON THROUGH OUT TRAVEL .DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, TECHNICIAN CUT INDICATION LIGHT OFF 4 TIME WITH COST TO CUSTOMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#734369October 15, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007035October 14, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE ENGINE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESURFACES AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. A CALIFORNIA JUDGE HAS ORDERED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COMPLY UNLESS THE NHTSA ORDERS THEM TO DO SO. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS TO NOT ENDANGER MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734328
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#734328October 14, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESURFACES AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. A CALIFORNA JUDGE HAS ORDERED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COMPLY UNLESS THE NHTSA ORDERS THEM TO DO SO. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS TO NOT ENDANGER MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#734155October 12, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 3 YEARS, CAR WAS STALLING AT LOW SPEED. THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RETURNING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872737October 11, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT IGNITION WENT BAD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL . IGNITION WAS REPLACED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#843411July 26, 1999
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS PREMATURLEY RUSTED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#829286October 21, 1998
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, AND VEHICLE WENT DOWNHILL. FRONTAL IMPACT, ONE INJURY TO DRIVER. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, NO RECALL LISTED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#539774September 9, 1998
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
QUARTER PANEL OVER REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAS WEAKENED TIRE IS BENT IN SLIGHTLY FROM HOLE DEVELOPED RIGHT NEXT TO SHOCK WITHIN INCHES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#523513October 3, 1997
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
LEFT REAR UNIBODY IS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS NOTHING IS HOLDING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ON VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#602281November 22, 1996
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CARBURETOR FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#802319September 12, 1996
STRUCTURE:BODY
RUST DEVELOPED IN SUSPENSION OFF THE WELL, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#985468June 10, 1996
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VENTS, THEN SUDDENLY VEHICLE INTERIOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#504877May 30, 1996
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#984819May 24, 1996
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DRIVEN ON FRWY, PARKED IN PARKING LOT, TOOK VEHICLE OFF PARKING LOT, ABOUT 1/4 MILE LATER SAW FLAMES COMING FROM HOOD, FIRE DEPT ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#984351May 13, 1996
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, TURNED IGNITION ON AND VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#984372May 10, 1996
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR THREE MINUTES AND THEN IT WENT UP IN FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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