Ford Escort Complaints

3,936 consumer complaints on file.

#10070836January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS
LAST THURSDAY MY HUSBANDS 1997 FORD ESCORT CAUGHT FIRE, AND WE THINK IT WAS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR. IT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED, AND WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HAD THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. BUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED FELL IN EXACTLY WITH WHAT THE RECALL LETTER SAID WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DIDN'T GET IT FIXED. WE WOULD LIKE THIS MATTER FURTHER INVESTIGATED BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP ONLY INSTALLED ANOTHER FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR INTO OUR CAR INSTEAD OF FIXING IT LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. NEITHER MY HUSBAND OR I WERE INJURIED WHEN THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE, BUT THAT WAS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD. IF WE CAN PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE THEN WE SHOULD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070873January 15, 2004
SEAT BELTS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AS YOU ARE DRIVING THE BACK OF THE SEAT WILL DROP DOWN. I HAD TAKEN IT IN TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND MADE COMMENT OF THIS TO WHICH I WAS TOLD I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT OVER THE YEARS AND MILES, IS THAT THE SEATBELT STRAP AT THE LAP CAN CATCH ON THE RELEASE LEVER OF THE SEAT AND ANY SHIFTING IN POSITION WILL PULL ON THE LEVER AND RELEASE THE SEAT BACK. THIS IS JUST A WARNING TO OTHERS AS IT CAN CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT AS IT CATCHES THE UNSUSPECTING DRIVER OFF GUARD WHEN THE BACK OF YOUR SEAT FALLS. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN OVER A DOZEN TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070930January 15, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING GAS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF THE PLASTIC TANK. THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT FROM SOME UNKNOWN REASON THIS CAR'S VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BUILT IN HERMOSILLO, MEXICO AND IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA WHICH ARE BOTH CRITERIA OF THE RECALL. I CONTACTED FORDS CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT. AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE OR EXPLAIN WHY IT IS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071153January 15, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT WILL NOT ENGAGE. INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071316January 15, 2004
SUSPENSION
BOTH BACK REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. MY CAR HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY EXCESSIVE WEIGHT IN THE BACK SEAT. WHY WOULD THESE BREAK? THIS HAS WAY TO LITTLE MILEAGE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. FORD IS RECALLING TAURUS AND VOYAGERS....WHAT ABOUT ESCORT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] (NIGHT) OR [XXX] EXT [XXX] (DAYTIME). I WOULD HOPE THAT FORD WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AND START RECALLING THE FORD ESCORTS. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071377January 15, 2004
TIRES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HELLO, MY COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE REAR COIL SPRINGS OF '98 ISH ESCORTS. IN MY CASE, THE FIRST SPRING FAILED AT ABOUT 80,000 KMS AND THE SECOND WAS CONFIRMED JUST TODAY WHILE HAVING A TIRE REPLACED DUE TO A PUNCTURE. THREE GARAGES HAVE MADE UNSOLICITED COMMENTS CONCERNING THE AWFUL COILS DELIVERED WITH THE CAR WONDERING IF THEY (THE REAR COILS) HAD FAILED YET. INITIALLY I WAS SKEPTICAL OF THE MECHANICS MOTIVES; NOW I JUST FUME WHEN I HEAR THESE COMMENTS. IF THIS IS SUCH A PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T FORD MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO REDRESS THIS PROBLEM? NOW I'M WONDERING WHETHER THAT BUSTED COIL WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR YESTERDAY'S PUNCTURED TIRE - THE GARAGE THOUGHT THIS WAS CERTAINLY NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069569January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, TIRES
BLOWN OR CRACKED HEAD GASKET PVC HOSE HOLE 62,000 RIDING ON FREEWAY NO INDICATION LIGHTS CAR LOST POWER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070263January 15, 2004
SEAT BELTS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON APRIL 11, 1995 I PURCHASED A NEW 1995 FORD LX, 1.9L SEFI , VIN# [XXX]. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS AND SETTLING INTO IT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM WHAT TO ME SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE STEERING COLUMN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TEST DRIVEN AND I WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY JUST NEW ENGINE NOISE AND IT WOULD STOP. AS TIME WENT ON THE CLICKING CONTINUED. I CALLED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES THEN I JUST GAVE UP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING OKAY AND HAD CAUSED NO CONCERN. ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1997 (CLICKING NOISE STILL THERE) I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR OTHER PROBLEMS. AS INVOICE STATES, NOISE MAY BE COMING FROM ENGINE AREA. ON MAY 22, 2002 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT JUST STOPPED!!!!! REFERENCING NORTH CENTRAL FORD INVOICE NO. [XXX] (WHICH IS ATTACHED) YOU CAN SEE THE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED. IN REFERENCE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED INVOICE, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED, ONE OF THE PHONE CALLS I RECEIVED WAS TO EXPLAIN THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SNAPPED. PLEASE NOTICE THAT YOU WILL FIND NOWHERE MENTIONED THAT VALVES OR ANYTHING ELSE WAS CHECKED. BY THE TIME ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE, THE CLICKING NOISE HAD BECOME MORE APPARENT AND THEY WERE MADE AWARE THAT IT WAS STILL THERE. NOW FOR THE GRAND FINALE, ON APRIL 29, 2003 I DROVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY STORE AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT THE CLICKING NOISE TURNED INTO A NOISE AS IF THE ENGINE WERE GOING TO EXPLODE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND IT WAS TAKEN TO NORTH CENTRAL FORD. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC THOUGHT PUSH ROD HAD GONE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MORE THAN ONE MECHANIC (ASE CERTIFIED) WHO CLEARLY BELIEVES THAT THE VALVES SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST CHECKED WHEN THAT BELT BROKE. THIS [XXX] VEHICLE WAS MY PRIDE AND JOY IT WAS PAMPERED. THE MILEAGE ON IT WAS A MERE 74,639. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070296January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE CAR HAD 2400 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BEEN PRE OWNED. THEY SOLD IT TO ME SAYING IT WAS NEW BUT SOMEONE ELSE PUT 2400 MILES ON IT. NOW I FELL THATS THE REASON WHY MY TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELEY. FORD HAS DENIED ME A AWA BECAUSE THEY SAID I'M NOT A LOYAL CUSTOMER JUST BECAUSE I GOT MY TRANSMISSION SERVICED SOMEWHERE ELSE. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT PLEASE E-MAIL/CALL ME AT ANY TIME TO TELL ME WHAT STEPS I COULD TAKE TO HAVE FORD PAY SOME/ALL OF THE COST OF REPAIR TO MY TRANSMISSION. THANKS AGAIN, KEON WALKER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070426January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SEAT BELTS
TRIES TO ACCELERATE AND PUSH THROUGH STOPLIGHTS WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. ACCELERATES WITH OUT ME AND EVEN TRYING TO BRAKE WON'T STOP. STOP AND PUT IT IN PARK AND IT REVS THE ENGING TO VERY HIGH RPM'S.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070580January 15, 2004
TIRES, SUSPENSION
I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN SO MANY TIMES TO EVEN COUNT. 9 TIMES SINCE MAY 28TH FOR THE SUSPENSION. THEY HAVE REPLACED CV JOINT 3 TIMES, STRUTS, AXLE SUSPENSIONS ALL ON THE LEFT SIDE. FRIDAY, JULY 11TH THE HAVE REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE. AND YESTERDAY JYLY 14TH THE CRACKING NOISE IS BACK. THE EXACT NOISE IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR MANY TIMES. WHICH I BELIEVE HAVE CAUSED MY TIRES TO GO BALD. BUT FORD DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068870January 15, 2004
SEAT BELTS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ATOMATIC SEATBELT IS NOT RUNNING IN IT'S TRACK CONTINUOUSLY. IT HAS DECIDED TO WORK WHEN AND IF IT FEELS LIKE IT. THE PAINT STARTED PEELING ON THE TOP OF THE TRUNK IN 1998 OR 99 APPROXIMATELY, I HAVE NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO GET THE PAINT FIXED. I DID HOWEVER GET THE SIDE PAINTED WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN 1993. THAT PAINT HAS BUBBLED. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT COST ME, I THINK JUST MY INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE AT THAT TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068872January 15, 2004
SEAT BELTS
THE CABLE FOR THE SEATBELT IS MANGLED, AND THE SEATBELT (SHOULDER) DOES NOT WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069107January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SEAT BELTS
ENGINE DEVELOPED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THE ONLY REASON IT COST 600.00 WAS THAT I REPAIRED IT MYSELF. SEATBELTS AND TRANSMISSION HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069164January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM EXPERIENCING STALLING PROBLEMS WHEN I STOP AT LIGHTS OR THE VEHICLE IS IDLING. IT LOOSES COMPRESSION. I HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AROUND 35,000 MILES..NOW AT 47,000 MILES I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. ORIGINALLY THEY REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AND AIR INTAKE VALVE SO FAR PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED AS TO WHY IT'S STALLING AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069199January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN
CAR IDLED AT 4-5 RPM BUT WAS NOT ACCELERATING. FELT TREMENDOUS PULLING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. UPON DECELERATION ALL SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR SHUT DOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054234January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS
ON DECEMBER, 17TH, IN THE EVENING, MY HUSBAND WAS ON ROUTE 20, IN MARLBOROUGH, MA. HE HAD MADE A WRONG TURN AND WAS GOING 2 MPH, DOING A K-TURN, WHEN BOTH THE AIRBAGS IN HIS 1998 FORD ESCORT INFLATED. HE HAS A STANDARD SHIFT CAR. AT THE TIME OF THE FAULTY INFLATION, AS HE WAS STRUCK BY THE AIRBAG IN THE HEAD, HIS FEET CAME OFF THE PEDALS AND THE CAR STALLED, ROLLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HITTING A CURB. WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT HE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THESE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HAD HE NOT MADE THE WRONG TURN, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY. AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH ON ROUTE 495, I DON'T BELIEVE HIS OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN SO GOOD, AFTER THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. HE SUFFERS STILL FROM NECK AND BACK PAIN FROM THE INCIDENT. THE IMPORTANT POINT TO NOTE HERE IS THAT HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. THE AIRBAGS JUST DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN, WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. WE CALLED FORD THE NEXT DAY TO REPORT THIS. THEY SAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT US WITHIN 7-10 DAYS. TWO AND A HALF WEEKS WENT BY, AND NO ONE CALLED. MY HUSBAND CALLED FORD AGAIN. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. MY HUSBAND THEN CALLED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER. A REGIONAL REP. WAS GOING TO BE AT THAT LOCATION THE FOLLOWING DAY. HE CALLED US, STATING THAT WITHIN A FEW DAYS FORD WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH US. A FEW DAYS WENT BY, AND HE TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO, WE HAD TO FILE CERTAIN PAPERWORK FIRST BEFORE FORD WOULD TALK TO US. THE PAPERWORK ARRIVED THE NEXT DAY. IT REQUESTS SUCH THINGS AS "COMPLETE HISTORY OF OIL CHANGES AND ANY WORK PERFORMED ON THE CAR". IT IS A GENERIC FORM, NOT APPLICABLE TO FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEIR LACK OF CARING ABOUT CONSUMER PROTECTION. WHAT FORD SHOULD HAVE DONE, WAS TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE POSSESSION OF THE CAR FOR AS LONG AS THEY NEEDED TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. FORD APPARENTLY HAS NO INTEREST IN ASSESSING THE REASON FOR THE FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10054041January 14, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE'S RPMS STAY HIGH AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED. *MR THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PEDAL WASN'T STICKY NOR WAS THE THROTTLE CABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RARELY ILLUMINATED. THIS PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW 0 DEGREES). THE RPMS REVVED HIGH AND CONTINUED TO RISE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE "SOLVED" THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MINUTES OR UNTIL THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE AIR INTAKE VALVE WAS CLEANED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *PH *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054073January 14, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN MAKING LEFT/RIGHT TURNS THROTTLE STUCK. VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO STOP VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053225January 14, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
I HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN MY 1999 FORD ESCORT, WHICH I AM SECOND OWNER OF. I CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER FROM WHERE PURCHASED AS USED CAR, YORK MOTORS, WHOM TOLD ME TO CONTACT LOCAL FORD DEALER, GALPIN FORD. TONY PACINI, AT GALPIN, CONTACTED SCOTTSDALE FORD ENGINEER, WITH PICS I PROVIDED OF DEFECT. AFTER A FEW WEEKS ENGINEER WAS ABLE TO COME TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND SEE IT UP CLOSE. ENGINEER CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR QUARTER PANEL FOR THE CAR HAD BEEN "PRESSED TO THIN" IN THE MANUFACTURING PHASE. I GOT THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR, AS THEY REQUESTED, FOR APPROX. $1500.00. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THIS FITS UNDER THEIR "GOOD WILL" POLICY AND I WOULD BE LUCKY IF FORD WILL PAY FOR 50% OF THE REPAIRS. THE DAMAGE IS AN OPEN GASH OF 17" IN THE REAR DOOR CASING. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, WHOM RIDE IN THE BACK AND CAN CUT THEMSELVES SEVERLY WITH THIS FAULT. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP, WHERE I GOT ESTIMATE AND WHOM TOLD ME TO DO THIS COMPLAINT, THE REPAIR PROCEDURE THAT FORD INITIALLY REQUESTED WOULD HINDER THE PROPER CRASH COMPRESSION OF THE CAR AND THEREFORE INCREASE DANGER IN AN ACCIDENT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAD ORIGINALLY ASKED THE FORD ENGINEER AND MR. PACINI THAT IF FORD WAS NOT WILLING TO CONSUME THE COST OF REPAIRS, THAT I WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE THEM THE CAR AND TAKE MY CHOICE OFF THEIR USED CAR LOT, WITH NO DIFFERENCE IN MY CAR PAYMENTS OR COST. JUST A FLAT OUT TRADE. IF YOU NEED THE CORRESPONDENCES I HAVE ENCURRED WITH FORD I WOULD BE GLAD TO FORWARD THEM TO YOU WITH PICTURES OF THE FAULT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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