1995 Ford Escort complaints

REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN. *JB

MY FAMILY PURCHASED TWO BRAND NEW 95 AND 96 FORD ESCORTS IN 96. STARTING A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE 95 FORD ESCORT STARTED SMELLING OF GAS. IT WAS NOTED THAT ON THE GAS FILLER ASSEMBLY, BETWEEN THE METAL FILLER TUBE AND THE METAL GAS TANK, THE RUBBER TUBING WAS CRACKED AND GAS WAS SPREAD ON THE TANK AND ALSO WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVED, THERE WAS GAS ON THE DRIVEWAY. WE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS MORE THAN 3 YEARS AND 36,000 MILES AND SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS. WE ALSO LOOKED UNDER OUR 96 FORD ESCORT AND THOUGH THERE WAS NO LEAK, IT HAS CRACKING AS WELL. IF YOU COULD LOOK INTO THIS, WE'D APPRECIATE IT. *PH

CONSUMER SMELLED GAS AND NOTICED A LEAKAGE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT. RELATED RECALL 97V144000, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND A SPLIT/CRACK IN THE GAS TANK AND THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL#97V144000. *SCC **CONSUMER REQUEST CALL BACK FROM ODI INVESTIGATOR**

CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS WIFE HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WIFE SUSTAINED WRIST INJURIES BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE FUEL TANK AS STATED IN RECALL # 97 V 144 000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *JB *NLM

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE, AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER SAID A SPRING BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

THERE WAS A GAS LEAK WHERE THE GAS TANK WAS MOUNTED TO THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO FILL THE GAS TANK. THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK WAS UNKNOWN. *AK THE GAS TANK LEAKED THROUGH A CRACK IN THE HARD PLASTIC WHICH WAS USED TO SECURE THE MOUNT OF THE HEAT SHIELD AND COVER TO THE PLASTIC TANK WHICH WAS HOT WELDED TO THE SOFTER PLASTIC TANK AND OVER TIME THE STRESS ON THE MOUNT CAUSED THE CRACK. THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FOR THREE YEARS. FORD STATED THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER # WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (#97V144000). *SCC *JB

1995 FORD ESCORT WAGON,REAR COIL SPRING FAILURE(BROKEN) EVEN THE REPLACEMENT SPRINGS ARE PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING, WHY DON'T THESE LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR? WHAT RENUMERATION CAN I EXPECT FROM FORD?*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAK AND OVERHEAT. CONSUMER FEELS A FIRE MAY START AS A RESULT. *AK

I HAVE SMELLED GAS FOR ABOUT 1.5 TO 2 YEARS AFTER FILLING UP, THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO OVERFLOW. FILLED UP AND NOTICED LARGE POOL OF GAS UNDER CAR. TOWED VEHICLE TO HOUSE BECAUSE OF LARGE LEAK COMING FROM FRONT MOUNT OF PLASTIC GAS TANK. *NLM

PROBLEM WITH FUEL TANK LEAKAGE. *MR THE CONSUMER OBSERVED A FUEL LEAK ON THE GROUND. THE FUEL TANK WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW DESIGN. *SCC *JB

THE DRIVERS SIDE HARNESS STRAP WOULD NOT HOLD. *NLM. *AK

THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT CONTINUOUSLY FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE BELT BEING INOPERATIVE. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, DUE TO THE TREAD SEPARATING. *JB ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES ON VEHICLE WERE REPLACED, DUE TO THE TREAD SEPARATING. *MR

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DID NOT LOCK, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER NOT TO BE RESTRAINED. *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT READ THE CORRECT SPEED. *JB

THE FRONT SHOULDER HARNESS SEATBELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS STUCK MID-TRACK, WHICH CAUSES THE SEATBELT TO REST ACROSS YOUR NECK. DURING ANY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, THIS WOULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BE IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED OR NOT RESTRAINED AT ALL, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY, EVEN DEATH. A CALL (AND TRIP) TO THE DEALER GOT ME NOWHERE, THEY SAY I WILL HAVE TO PAY OVER $500.00 TO HAVE THE SEATBELT AND ITS COMPONENTS REPAIRED AND/OR REPLACED. *NLM

THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *NLM

THE LEFT FRONT SAFETY BELT BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. *JB THE LEFT FRONT SLIDING TRACT OF THE SEAT BELT WERE REPLACED. SCC

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT, CRUISE CONTROL, AND PAINT ON HOOD. TS

FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL ONTO HOT EXHAUST PIPE. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COVER VEHICLE IN SAFETY DEFECT RECALL. *TT

THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO PRESS THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS *NLM

CONSUMER VEHICLE IS HAVING SAME DEFECT WITH IT'S FUEL TANK LEAKING AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 97 V 145 000, BUT VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. PH

PLASTIC FUEL TANK STARTED LEAKING CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. I CONTACTED TWO LOCAL FORD DEALERS AND BOTH TOLD ME THAT THE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS IN FORD ESCORTS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND WERE SUBJECT TO EMERGENCY MAJOR RECALLS. AFTER RESEARCH ON RECALLS 97V144 AND 97V145, BOTH DEALERSHIPS TELL ME THAT FOR SOME REASON MY VIN NUMBER IS EXCLUDED BUT BOTH DEALERSHIPS FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN DEFECT AND POSES A "SEVERE" SAFETY HAZARD TO LIFE. I CONTACTED FORD CONSUMER SERVICE ND THEY BASICALLY SHINED ME ON. I FEEL FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHY IF THEY RECALLED 64,600 OTHER 1995 FORD ESCORTS WITH LEAKING PLASTIC FUEL TANKS WOULD THEY EXCLUDE MY VEHICLE. THIS DEMONSTRATES GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY. AND , FOR A CONSUMER THAT HAS BOUGHT 6 "NEW" FORD CARS SINCE JANUARY 2001, IT TELLS ME THAT I DON'T WANT TO BUY ANYMORE NEW FORDS. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER TO CONVINCE FORD TO STAND BEHIND THE OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THANKS, JASON HOLLAND, ESQ. **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770830

I CANNOT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN MY 1995 FORD ESCORT STATION WAGON. THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN THOUGH THE IGNITION IS TURNED TO OFF AND THE KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED. THERE HAVE BEEN 4 IGNITION SWITCHES INSTALLED IN THIS CAR, BUT THE LOCKSMITH DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS THE PROBLEM. HE BELIEVES THAT SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING IN THE COMPUTER THAT TELLS THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS CAR WAS TO REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE AND THEN REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DO WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING.

WHEN I HAD THE CAR IN TO REPAIR A LEAKING RADIATOR I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR SPRINGS OF THE CAR WERE BROKEN - THESE WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TWO REAR TIRES WHICH HAD BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO THE BROKEN SPRINGS. SIX MONTHS LATER BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE PUNCTURING THAT TIRE - PER THE GARAGE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS ARE BROKEN AND MUST BE REPLACED. SINCE I'VE HAD THE CARE IN TWO DIFFERENT GARAGES I'VE HEARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCORTS.

RADIATOR LEAKING WHERE CHEAP PLASTIC SIDE IS CRIMPED TO THE CORE ONLY FIX IS NEW RADIATOR. THANKS FOR BUILDING SUCK A CHEESEY AND UNREPAIRABLE RADIATOR! DT

HEAD GASKET BLOWN ONLY 64K MILES AND A NICE $700 REPAIR BILL. FOR A CAR THAT DEPRECIATED 75% ANYWAYS! DT

THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK FOUR INCHES ABOVE THE LOCK POSITION. IT CAN NOT BE MOVED USING THE MECHANICAL OVER RIDE. A FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HAS INSPECTED IT AND CLAIMS THE TRACK ITSELF IS DAMAGED AND AS A RESULT, THE MOTOR IS BURNED OUT. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS MORE THAN $500. THERE ARE A NUMBER IF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE, INCLUDING AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY FORD SERVICE PERSONAL THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD. IT IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION, AS THE DRIVER IS NOT SECURELY STRAPPED IN, EVEN WHEN FASTENING THE BELT MANUALLY, BECAUSE IT IS TOO FAR FROM THE SHOULDER TO PROTECT THE DRIVER IN A COLLISION. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769306

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT'S TOO TIGHT. *MR *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING. MR

UPON ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN, FORTUNATELY BOTH IN A WAY THAT HAD NOT CAUSED TIRE DAMAGE. SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES GREATLY AND CREATES BUZZING-LIKE NOISE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 55 MPH. MR

CONSUMER STATES HE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH CAUSED A LEAK . NLM CONSUMER NOTICED GAS LEAKING UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK NEXT TO THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT. REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT OTHER 1995 ESCORTS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS SHOWN IN THE SAFETY RECALL. *MR

VEHICLE MANUFACTURED AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT IN SEPT 1995. DEVELOPED CRACK IN FUEL TANK NEAR HEAT SHIELD, CAUSING FUEL LEAK. APPLIED PATCH TO REPAIR LEAK BUT IT CRACKED AGAIN. REFER TO RECALLS FROM NHTSA 97V144000 AND 97V145000 REGARDING SAME PROBLEM. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

THE DRIVERS SHOULDER HARNESS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN ITS TRACKING SYSTEM. I CONTACTED A DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX. BUT IS THIS NOT A MAJOR SAFTY PROBLEM, AND WHY WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS IS FORD NOT EXCEPTING RESPONSIBILTY. THIS IS A VERY LARGE CONCERN FOR ME AS WELL AS MY SPOUSE.*AK

THE KEY WAS PUT INTO THE IGNITION BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE IGNITION REMAINED LOCKED. NLM

TIRED TO WORK WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER OF HONDA TO NO AVAIL. THEY WON'T HELP ME AND THE SOLD THE VEHICLE AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN WORKING CONDITION. *NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

PLASTIC MOLDED FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FUEL AROUND MOUNTING BRACKET. OWNER NOTICED A PUDDLE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND SAW THAT GAS GAUGE SHOWED A 1/4 LESS THAN WHAT IT WAS BEFORE. *AK CONSUMER NOTICED RECALLS 97V145 AND 97V144, HOWEVER HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CONSUMER STARTED UP VEHICLE. THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE AREA, AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

OUR FAMILY CAR'S FUEL TANK LEAKS GASOLINE AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO REPAIR IT JUST BECAUSE THE STATE WHERE WE PURCHASED IT(WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER) AND REGISTERED IT IN DOESN'T HAPPEN TO BE INCLUDED IN FORD'S SELECTIVE GEOGRAPHIC RECALL, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURING LOCATION(HERMOSILLO, MEXICO) AND DATE OF ASSEMBLY IS THE SAME AS THE 64,600 1995 FORD ESCORTS UNDER THEIR GEOGRAPHIC RECALL. GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE TANK ONTO A HOT EXHAUST PIPE IS A HUGE SAFETY DISASTER JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN, BUT APPARENTLY A LIFE IN IOWA IS NOT WORTH AS MUCH AS A LIFE IN ARKANSAS, A STATE COVERED BY THE GEOGRAPHIC RECALL. ONE ALLEGED JUSTIFICATION FOR GEOGRAPHIC RECALLS IS IT IS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS REGIONS WHERE PROBLEMS ARE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR AND IN THE CASE OF THE LEAKING FUEL TANKS, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE HOTTEST AREAS. PROBLEM IS, THIS KIND OF THINKING IGNORES THE REALITY OF TODAY'S MOBILE SOCIETY. OUR VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM WILLEY FORD IN AMES, IA, BUT WE HAVE DRIVEN IT TO FLORIDA, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA AND MICHIGAN, WHICH ARE ALL COVERED BY FORD'S SELECTIVE GEOGRAPHIC RECALL. YET CONSISTENCY IS LACKING BECAUSE ONE OF THE HOTTEST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY APPARENTLY ARE NOT COVERED BY THE GEOGRAPHIC RECALL, DEATH VALLEY, CA, WHILE MUCH MORE TEMPERATE REGIONS, SUCH AS MICHIGAN, ARE. AND METEOROLOGISTS MAY CONFIRM THAT THE IOWA SUMMER HEAT INDICES CAN OFTEN SURPASS MANY SOUTHERN STATES. IT IS WITHOUT QUESTION TOTALLY UNFAIR THAT TWO GEOG

CONSUMER STATES THAT FUEL IS LEAKING FROM TANK. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE STRAPS FROM FUEL TANK NEAR HEAT SHIELD MOUNTING HAVE CAUSED STRESS ALLOWING THE GAS TANK TO LEAK GAS.*JB

BOTH REAR SHOULDER HARNESS SEATBELTS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. *AK

CONSUMER HAD SEEN DRIPPING GAS FROM THE FUEL TANK. VEHICLE CHECKED BY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THERE WERE CRACKS IN FUEL TANK. CURRENT RECALL 97V144 DID NOT INCLUDE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE CHECKED AND WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE SUPPORTING TABS FOR A HEAT SHIELD WAS CRACKED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT FORD REPLACE THE GAS TANK. *SCC

THERE WAS A GAS SMELL, THE NEXT DAY WENT IN FOR A ROUTINE CHECK. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A GAS LEAK. DEALER REMOVED HEAT SHIELD AND HELD DOWN THE END TABS, AND REPLACED THE GAS TANK. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GAS TANK WAS CRACKED FROM THE TABS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS STILL A STRONG GAS SMELL. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT SMELL IT. (DEALER CHECKED COMPLETELY AND CLEANED PADS UNDER TANK AND SAID THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE SMELL) AS OF 7-31-02, THE SMELL STILL EXISTS. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE PADS SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRY AND THE SMELL SHOULD GO AWAY, THEY FOUND NO LEAKS. *SCC

GAS TANK HEAT SHIELD THAT IS ATTACHED TO FUEL TANK IS WARPED AND LEAKING GASOLINE FROM GAS TANK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE DEFECTIVE GAS TANK HEAT SHIELD WAS ON RECALL BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNWILLING TO COVER THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *YH

WHILE FILLING GAS TANK FUEL WAS SPILLING OUT FROM BOTTOM DUE TO A CRACK . CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

FUEL TANK HAS A CRACK ON THE INSIDE. THERE IS GASOLINE LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY THERE IS A SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGHOUT VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD WAS FIXED. VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. *YH

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE BROKEN. THE CAR DOES NOT CARRY HEAVY LOADS, AND THE ROADS TRAVELED UPON ARE NOT ROUGH. THE CAR HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILAGE, 88,000. WHEN INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC INVOLVED INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCORT. THIS COMMENT WAS FURTHER SUBSTANTIATED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THE AUTO PARTS DEALER WHERE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE PURCHASED. WHEN CONTACTING A FORD DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER I SPOKE WITH SEEMED FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM, STATING THAT IF THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100,000 MILES, I WOULD BE COVERED. HOWEVER, SHE LATER CAME BACK AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL IN EFFECT. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, I WOULD EXPECT THERE WOULD BE SOME SORT OF RECALL NOTICE. FURTHERMORE, I WAS TOLD, THAT IF THE SPRING SHIFTED WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TIRE, CAUSING A SEVERE BLOWOUT AND ACCIDENT.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK