Ford Escort Complaints

3,936 consumer complaints on file.

#10129205August 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
DT: THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS, NO NOISE BEFORE THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ALONG A CROWDED HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD AND WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THIS HAPPENED FRIDAY JULY 15TH, 2005. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127313August 12, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. RECALL 97V145000 WAS ISSUED BY FORD CONCERNING GAS TANK LEAKAGE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED HE SMELLED GAS AND WHEN HE LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE HE DISCOVERED GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE TANK ONTO THE HEAT SHIELD AND THE EXHAUST. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131867August 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NO WARNING LIGHT WHEN OIL PUMP FAILED. THIS NON-ACTION LED TO MY ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPAIRED. MILEAGE WAS AT APX. 45,000. WARRANTY RAN OUT, MUST PAY ON MY OWN. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY WITH THIS SINCE MY WARNING LIGHT DID NOT INFORM ME OF THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131740August 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD ESCORT FROM CARMAX IN MAY OF 2001. ABOUT 2-3 WKS LATER I CONSTANTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. I GOT TICKETED BY THE POLICE SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. THEN ONE DAY DRIVING FROM WORK MY ENGINE DIED. WITHOUT ANY WARNING AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO CARMAX AND THEY THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. WHENEVER I PUT THE AC ON THERE IS A RUMBLING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. FRANKLY THE CAR IS A LEMON AND I HAD NO IDEA BECAUSE THERE WAS NO REPORTS ON THE CAR AND I REMEMBERED ASKING THE SALES REP. IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAR THAT I NEEDED TO KNOW AND I WAS TOLD NO. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO BECAUSE I AM SPENDING MONEY ON THIS CAR FOR MANUFACTURER PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131462August 3, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK OF A 1995 FORD ESCORT, VIN [XXX] IS LEAKING GAS FROM HEAT SHIELD MOUNTS ON FUEL TANK. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM OF ESCORTS IN THIS YEAR, AND FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON 64,000 ESCORTS CITING A POSSIBILITY OF LEAKING FUEL RESULTING IN FIRE. ALTHOUGH MY ESCORT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1995, HAS THE 1.9L ENGINE, WAS MANUFACTURED IN THE AFFECTED HERMOSILLO, MEXICO PLANT, AND WAS SOLD IN THE COVERED STATE OF FLORIDA, BOTH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND AND FORD'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE STATE MY VIN IS INELIGIBLE FOR RECALL SERVICE. THEY STATE IT IS MOST LIKELY NARROWED EVEN FURTHER TO SPECIFIC DATES, BUT NEITHER DEALERSHIP NOR FORD THEMSELVES ARE WILLING TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER, AND NEITHER CAN STATE WITH SURELY THE CAR IS NOT COVERED. THE NHTSA RECALL IN QUESTION IS RECALL NUMBER 97V144000. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132352August 2, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
1997 FORD ESCORT FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO A LEAK IN THE RIGHT REAR SPRING COILS.*MR *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130856August 1, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DT: 1998 FORD ESCORT. BOTH OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. THE SEAT BELT STRAPS WILL NOT PULL OUT FROM THE SEAT, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THEM. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEAT BELT STOPPED RETRACTING. THIS WAS IN JUNE OF 2004. AND ON 7-25-05 THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT STOPPED RETRACTING. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HER THE SAME THING. THERE WERE NO OTHER KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN 2002. BUT, IT WAS JUST A FENDER BENDER TYPE ISSUE. NO ONE WAS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130599July 29, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THIS IS PERTAINING TO A 1997 FORD ESCORT, VIN [XXX] 1. MY HEATER CORE DEVELOPED A LEAK 2. I HAD THE HEATER CORE REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP--IN THE SERVICE TICKET THEY NOTED "AIR BAG LIGHT WILL BE ON. COOLANT DAMAGED AIR BAG MONITOR WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED" (PRIOR TO THIS, THE AIR BAG MONITOR APPEARED TO BE WORKING--I.E. THE DASH LIGHT SHOWED NORMAL OPERATION.) SINCE THEY HAD ALREADY PUT THE DASH BACK ON AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $800 TO TAKE IT BACK OFF AND REPLACE THE MONITOR, I WAITED UNTIL I HAD BOTH THE MONEY AND TIME. 3. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (02S44): THIS WAS TO HAVE A SHIELD PLACED OVER THE AIR BAG MONITOR TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS. 4. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FACT THAT THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY OCCURRED BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL ONLY COVERED PUTTING IN A SHIELD AND NOT THE REPAIR OF THE DAMAGE. 5. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ASKING THEM TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE RECALL AT NO COST TO ME BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL A SHIELD TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE. (THAT SEEMS TO ME LIKE CLOSING THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE ANIMALS HAVE LEFT). *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130338July 27, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
FUEL TANK LEAK FORD STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED RECALL #97V144000 & 97V145000 GAS TANK IS LEAKING UNDER REAR PASSENGER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129817July 24, 2005
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
THE 1994 FORD ESCORT IS A VERY POORLY MADE CAR. MOST OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS, THE MOTORS OF WHICH ALMOST ALWAYS FAIL. OURS WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE HAD A MANUAL SEATBELT INSTALLED-- AT OUR EXPENSE-- AND TODAY THAT MANUAL SEATBELT SAVED MY HUSBAND'S LIFE IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. IMAGINE IF HE HAD ONLY HAD A LAPBELT! FORD REPEATEDLY DENIES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT FOR EVERY 10 ESCORTS I SEE THAT WERE MADE ABOUT THE SAME TIME, 9 OF THEM HAVE AT LEAST ONE FAILED SEATBELT. IN ADDITION, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A ROLLOVER CRASH GOING SOME 75 MPH. I CAN'T SAY IF MY HUSBAND'S INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE HAD THE AIRBAG GONE OFF, BUT I DO KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10129752July 22, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT: THE VEHICLE WAS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. BOTH OF THE BACK COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. CONSUMER FOUND THIS OUT WHEN GETTING THE BRAKES INSPECTED. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, TIE RODS AND THE REAR STRUTS INCLUDING THE COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INSPECTION TOOK PLACE ON 7-8-05. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE ALL THE PARTS REPLACED. THEY WERE REPLACED ON 7-20/22-05. VEHICLE WAS SHAKING BEFORE HAND. CONSUMER KNEW THAT FORD COMPANY ISSUED A RECALL ISSUE CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR OTHER MODELS. *AK UPDATED 11/02/2005. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126469July 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND BURNED UP ALL OF THE WIRING. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108939July 22, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS
WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK THIS IS THE CONSUMER'S THIRD FORD ESCORT WITH BROKE REAR SPRINGS (1991, 1993 AND 1997). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129289July 19, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT: CONTACT STATES THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET WENT OUT ON 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONSUMER TELLING THAT IF SHE DID NOT HAVE THE SOCKET REPLACED IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE. BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY SAYID THAT ELECTRONIC PARTS WERW NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128663July 13, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 1995 FORD ESCORT, WITH THE ENGINE SIZE OF 1.9 LITTERS ESI. ON 6-29-05 THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL. SHE HAD TO GET A WRECKER TO TAKE IT TO THE REYNOLDS FORD DEALER 7320 NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 71312 PH. NO. 405-728-2411. AFTERWARDS SHE HAD FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE ON THE YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF HER VEHICLE; NHTSA CAMPAIGN I. D. NO. 97V145000 AND 97V144000. WHEN HER HUSBAND CONTACTED THE DEALER BY PHONE THEY TOLD HIM THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THE RECALLS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE FORD MANUFACTURER AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THE VIN NO. OF HER VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS TEN YEARS OLD. THERE ARE NO OTHER KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127883July 8, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 1998 FORD ESCORT WITH 32,000 MILES AND RECENTLY HAD THE AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL MODULE REPLACED.WHEN THE REPAIR SHOP ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE A NEW PART, THEY WERE TOLD THAT THIS PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND MAYBE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127682July 6, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK , WHEN SHE CALLED ME & SAID "DAD MY CAR HAS LOSS POWER & IS RUNNING VERY ROUGH". I TOLD HER TO PULL OVER & I WOULD BE THERE SHORTLY, SINCE SHE WAS ONLY ABOUT 8 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. AS I WAS PREPAIRING TO LEAVE, MY DAUGHTER CALLED ME BACK & SAID THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. I TOLD HER TO CALL 911 AND GET AWAY FROM THE CAR. IT TOOK ME LESS THAN 10 MINUTES TO GET THERE & BY THAT TIME THE FIREMEN HAD PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING GREAT, WITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127536July 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEATS
NOTICED THAT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING UP ON AND OFF, CHANGED SPARK PLUGS,WIRES, LIGHT WOULD GO OFF FOR A PERIOD AND THAN COME BACK ON. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY BETWEEN 65-70 MILES/HOUR WHEN I HURED A LOUD BANG , PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, I HAD THE CAR TAKING TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT THE VALVE SEAT IN THE HEAD HAD SEPERATED AND FELL INTO THE MOTOR. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE 1.9 MOTOR HAD A FLAW IN THE HEAD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS. THAN HE SHOWED ME ANOTHER ESCORT THAT6 HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST CAR HE SEENED WITH THIS PROBLEM. SECOND PROBLEM: I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 TRANSMITIONS WITH IN A YEAR, WHICH WAS COVERED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND POSSIBLY A 4TH. I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THE MOTOR WENT. THIRD PROBLEM: WHILE AT A STOP SIGN A WAS REAR ENDED AN ABOUT 30-35 MILES/HOUR, MY SEAT BELLT DID NOT HOLD ME AND MY SEAT COLLEPSED ON TOP OF MY CHILD WHO WAS IN A CAR SEAT BEHIND ME. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOPE ABOUT THE WEEK BEFORE THE MOTOR WENT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE TRANSMITION BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR NEW THAT THE VALVE WAS PREPERING TO FAIL. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD REDESIGNED THE HEAD, SO THIS PROBLEM COULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10127109June 30, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
DT: CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN A FIRE STARTED IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, AND HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 HOURS. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS FROM THE POWER CONTROL MODULE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127086June 29, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT LX. SHE HAS HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHEN SHE TOUCHED THE CAR IT WOULD SHOCK HER, ESPECIALLY WHILE TOUCHING THE MEDAL SIDE OF THE CAR, AND COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF IT SHOCK HER. ALSO, COULD SMELL SOME TYPE OF CHEMICAL IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM IT COULD BE THE SPARK PLUGS, BALANCING OF THE CAR. SINCE SHE HAS HAD THE VEHICLE SHE COULD NOT USE THE ALARM SYSTEM BECAUSE IT WORE OUT THE BATTERY. THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE CAR SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT START. THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED EVEN THE FIRST WEEK AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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