Ford Escort Complaints

3,936 consumer complaints on file.

#831439November 30, 1998
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T WORK DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CABLE IS BROKEN AND THE SEAT BELT WON'T MOVE. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#701019November 30, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND SIGNAL SWITCH TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, REPLACED MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH 9 TIMES. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED TO CONSUMER MOTHER'S 1987 FORD ESCORT GT. FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICES WAS NON-COOPERATIVE WHEN CONTACTED WITH A FULL HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE. THE FACT THAT ANOTHER ESCORT DISPLAYED THE SAME SYMPTOMS RECEIVED THE ATTENTION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER TO PURSUE THE ISSUE BY HIRING A PRIVATE ATTORNEY. IN ADDITION, REPLACED BATTERY 3 TIMES/LED PANEL, AND STATOR WITHIN ALTERNATOR ALSO FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700987November 29, 1998
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
I HAVE NO CHILDREN AND ONLY RARELY USE THE REAR SEAT BELTS, WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS I HAVE TRANSPORTED A FRIEND'S CHILD IN A CHILD CARRIER LESS THAN TEN TIMES. ON THREE OCCASIONS A SEAT BELT HAS FULLY RELEASED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REWOUND UNTIL NOW ALL THREE ARE FULLY EXTENDED. SINCE I HAVE NEVER USED THESE BELTS I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THE FRONT SEATBELTS WORK WELL BUT HAVE LOST THEIR PLASTIC FLOOR GUIDES DUE TO BREAKAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#831391November 27, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE NOT STARTING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP ON SIX OCCASIONS. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED & PARTS REPLACEMENT MADE, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700907November 25, 1998
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY SHELL HAS MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THIS PART. I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE THERE IS A SHORTAGE THERE MAYBE A SITUATION ENDEMIC TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH THIS CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY ON THE FIRST OCCASION. THE CURRENT COST OF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $500.00. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, JOKL JOHNSON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700915November 25, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE FUSE FOR "ROOM" BURNT UP REPEATEDLY (AND WHEN IT DID, THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING.) MY SON FOUND THAT SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION LOCK BAR WHEN I PUT IN A NEW FUSE FOR "ROOM" TWO DAYS AGO. MY GUESS IS THAT THE IGNITION LOCK BAR HAS A DESIGN DEFECT; THAT SMOKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE REASON WHY THE "ROOM" FUSE HAD NEVER LASTED VERY LONG. THIS REMIND ME OF ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT CAME UP TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER THE CAR STAY UNDER THE SUN FOR HOURS. (I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS REPEATABLE--WHEN IT GOT ENOUGH SUNSHINE I ALWAYS GOT THE WHITE SMOKE.) I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THEIR CALL-BACK. THIS PROBLEM MIGHT ALSO BE IN THAT IGNITION LOCK BAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700916November 25, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, PARKING BRAKE
THE CAR THAT I HAD PURCHASED HAS NOT LIVED UP TO IT'S EXPECTATIONS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR, I PURCHASED IT IN SEPT. OF 1998, THE BRAKES HAVE COMPLETELY GONE OUT, THE EMERGENCY LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY EVEN THOUGHT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ON. WHEN PURCHASING THE CAR, I HAD EXPLAINED TO THE CAR DEALER THE I, BEING OF ONLY 19 YRS OF AGE AND THIS BEING MY FIRST BIG PURCHASE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO BUY A CAR THEN END UP HAVING TO PUT TONS OF MONEY INTO IT. I AM VERY UPSET AT THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY A SHORT WHILE, THE WARRANTY HAS PASSED (HOW CONVEINIENT) AND I REFUSE TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A FAULTY SENSOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#831264November 24, 1998
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE SEAT TRACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO "ROCK" WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE METAL AROUND THE MOUNTING NUT FATIGUED AND BROKE OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#831313November 24, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
AT ANY SPEEDS BRAKES WILL CONTINUOUSLY FAIL, CAUSING A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700861November 24, 1998
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SOME TIME IN MID SEPTEMBER 1998 THE TRACKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT BROKE. ABOUT 4 WEEKS LATER THE MOTOR FOR THE SEATBELT WENT. THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT STARTED JAMMING IN IT'S TRACKS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY SERVICE REP, AND HE SAID HE WOULD TALK TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER. WHEN I CONTACTED HIM AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CORP ON TO SEPERATE OCCATIONS. I'M TOLD THE COST TO REPLACE MY SEATBELTS (BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) WILL BE $760.00, AND THAT IT IS MY RESPONSBILITY. I STATED THAT THIS WAS A BASIC SAFTEY FEATURE AND THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD BY ALL THOSE THAT I CONTACTED, THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS UP THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#781603November 22, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
POSSIBLE WATER PUMP OR FAN BELT FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHILE DRIVING LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS, VEHICLE DID NOT TURNOVER, BUT CUT OFF AGAIN.* ET
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700811November 22, 1998
AIR BAGS
MY WIFE HIT A DEER ON INTERSTATE 90 NEAR ALBERT LEA, MN. RELATIVELY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR BUT SUFFICIENT TO DEPLOY BOTH AIR BAGS. THE DEPLOYMENT RESULTED IN A FRACTURE TO THE DASH AND WINDSHIELD THAT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THOSE PLUS ALL AIR BAG COMPONENTS. THE MAJORITY OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS BECAUSE OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE DEALER, ONE AIR BAG SENSOR IS UNIQUE IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND NOT READILY AVAILABLE. WE HAVE WAITED A NUMBER OF WEEKS TO GET THE SENSOR, OTHERWISE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER WILL NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE AS LONG AS A SAFETY COMPONENT IS INOPERATIVE. FORD SAYS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE DEALER TO RESOLVE. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THEY HAVE HAD THIS PART ON PRIORITY SHIPMENT FOR OVER THREE WEEKS AND IT STILL IS NOT AVAILABLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DAMAGE MAY HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS THOUGH IT WAS UNNECESSARY IN THIS PARTICULAR CRASH. HOWEVER IT IS UNEXCUSEABLE THAT THIS PART CAUSES THE MAJORITY OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, PLUS WE ARE UNABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE, WE LOSE NOT ONLY USE, WE LOSE WARRANTY, AND WE DO NOT HAVE A VERY SECURE FEELING ABOUT A PART THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, YET SO RARE THAT IT ONLY EXISTS IN A FEW PRODUCTION MODELS. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR SAFETY DEVICES, WE ARE GRATEFUL NO ONE WAS INJURED, WE WOULD BE MORE GRATEFUL TO GET OUR CAR BACK. WHY WOULD FORD PUT A SAFETY COMPONENT ON SUCH LIMITED SUPPLY? PLEASE IDENTIFY IF THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR MORE VEHICLE OWNERS. THANK YOU, CURT KEPHART SHOULD NOT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM BE REPLACED WITH SOMETHING MORE STANDARD?
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700797November 21, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THIS VEHICLE HAS TOTALLY INADEQUATE BRAKES. THIS IS THE ONLY NON-ABS CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED WHERE THE BRAKES CANNOT BE LOCKED UPINTENTIONALLY AT ANY SPEED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND ALL THEY DID WAS BLEED AND CLEAN THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD BRAKE PADS AND SHOES REPLACED, THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM BLED, NEW MASTER CYLINDER INSTALLED, PEDAL AND BOOSTER CLEARANCES CHECKED. NOTHING MAKES A DIFFERENCE. I HAVE SEEN FROM YOUR OTHER DEFECT REPORTS THAT THERE IS A 'REVISED POWER BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER' AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACT THE DEALERS PARTS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THEY DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#831119November 20, 1998
SEAT BELTS
IE 98074, THE DRIVER'S MOTORIZED SEAT BELT GETS STUCK IN MIDDLE OF THE SEATBELT TRACK WHICH WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. REPLACED THE DRIVER SEATBELT ONCE. SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#831134November 20, 1998
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE INTTERMITTENTLY POPPING NOISE WHICH APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN MAKING A TURN IT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE FRAME. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND WAS INFORMED CAUSE CANNOT BE FOUND/DUPLICATED/OR IF PROBLEM GET WORTH, BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#831046November 19, 1998
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKS OPENED , CAUSING CHILDREN TO FALL FROM THE VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAIL INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700730November 18, 1998
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#542641November 18, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING ASSEMBLY FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700671November 17, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKE PEDAL GOES 1/4 TO 1/2 WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE BRAKES ENGAGE. VERY SPONGY FEEL. TWICE HAVE ALMOST REARENDED OTHER CARS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING RUSH HOUR. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO LOCAL GOODYEAR SERVICE TO INSPECT BRAKES AND BLEED AIR FROM THE SYSTEM. THEY SAY BRAKE PADS AND SHOES ARE FINE AND THAT THEY FOUND NO AIR BUBBLES OR CONTAMINATED FLUID WHEN THEY TRIED BLEEDING THE SYSTEM. THEY SAID THAT FORD HAS A TSB OUT FOR THE ESCORT FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY UNSAFE AND IF FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL. FORD SHOULD BE REPLACING THESE PARTS AT THIER EXPENCE. MY FAMILYS SAFETY AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD WITH ME ARE AT RISK. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER YET; THIS REPORT IS TO DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM AND IS MY FIRST STEP IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WOMEN SEEM TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF WHEN DEALING WITH SERVICE MANAGERS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU COULD BE WITH RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700593November 14, 1998
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
AUTOMATIC DRIVER-SIDE SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONED AND IS NOT COVERED BYT WARRANTY ACCORDING TO FORD DEALERSHIP. I FEEL THIS IS A VALID SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED A NO CHARGE TO MYSELF. ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $350. FOR A NEW MOTOR. I AM WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT THE SHOULDER HARNESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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