1995 Ford Escort complaints

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. A PIECE OF COIL SPRING HAD PUNCTURED TIRE. CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM TIRE.*AK *YD

CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND, UPON INSPECTION HE SAW THAT COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN. *AK. CONSUMER STATES THE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE ON DEC-7-2000, AND THE FRONT COIL SPRING ON MARCH 25, 2002 WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO A BRAND NEW TIRE.*JB

WHILE PARKING CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO ROTATE STEERING WHEEL 360 DEGREES. NLM *YH

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RESTRAINT SAFETY BELTS WOULD LOCK ON AN IMPACT OF 5 MPH AND THAT A HARD PULL ON THE BELTS SHOULD ACUATE LOCKING MECHANISM, HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT OCCUR, BOTH BELTS FAIL TO LOCK DURING A HARD PULL.

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30-40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING AFTER REPLACED. *YH

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A MINOR COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

AUTOMATIC SEATBELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. SHE CANNOT USE SEATBELT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER BROKE THE SEAT BELT AND REPLACED DRIVERS SEAT BELT MOTOR AND TRACK FOR FREE, NOW IT'S BROKE AGAIN. *YD

FUEL TANK INLET TUBE FULLY ROTTED BEHIND GAS CAP, CAUSING ANY REFUELING EFFORT TO COMPLETELY SPILL ON GROUND (HOLE IS SIZE OF LEMON). CAN NOT REFUEL CAR ANY MORE UNTIL THE INLET TUBE IS REPLACED. THIS IS A SURE FIRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FROM FORD TO REPAIR THIS? I HAVE NEVER HAD A TROUBLE OF THIS NATURE IN 34 YEARS OF OWNING CARS. I SUSPECT DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURE OR DESIGN OF THE TUBE TO ALLOW RUST CORRISION TO THE POINT A LARGE SIZE GAPING HOLE RESULTS. THANK YOU. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERITTENTLY. *TT

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHACEING THE CAR. THE REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AND PULL UP THE TENSION OF THE BELTS. THESE BELTS WILL NOT PROTECT THE REAR PASSENGERS FROM INJURY. FORD STATES THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BELTS AND IT WILL COST ALMOST $500.00 TO FIX THEM FOR US. THE FORD DEALER IN EL PASO, TX (ON MONTANA STREET) LET MY WIFE DRIVE AWAY WITH REAR SEATBLETS THAT WILL NOT HOLD OUR CHILDREN IN THIER SEATS IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE, THEY SAID THAT IF WE HAD COME TO THEM BEFORE 48,000 MILES THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED THEM AT NO CHARGE. I EXPECTED THEM TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELTS AT NO CHARGE (AND STILL DO).

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY AND IGNITION SWITCH CONTINUOUSLY. CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD.

WHEN VEHICLE GOT 37000 MILES SPEEDOMETER STARTED FLUCTUATING BACK AND FORTH. CONSUMER HAD SPEEDOMETER REPLACED. ALSO, AT 38000 MILES REPLACED SPEEDOMETER, STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. CONSUMER COULDNOT TELL SPEED VEHICLE WAS GOING. CONTACT DEALER AND DEALER WANTED TO CHECKOUT VEHICLE WITH A CHARGE.*AK

CONSUMER HAD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, THE ENGINE BLEW UP WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.*AK *SLC

THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS IN MY ESCORT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AND ONE OF THEM HAS NOT FOR OVER A YEAR. I PAID AROUND $120 TO GET A NEW PART TO FIX THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IN 2000 AND IT BROKE AGAIN 8 MONTHS LATER, WE RETURNED IT TO FORD BECAUSE IT HAD A YEAR WARRANTY AND THEY UNWILLINGLY GAVE A REPLACEMENT BUT INFORMED US THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL A YEAR FROM THE ORIGINAL PARTS PURCHASE DATE (4 MORE MONTHS). IT STILL DOESNT WORK ALL THE TIME. THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT IS STUCK ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK SO IT CAN NOT BE USED AT ALL. THERE IS ONLY LAP BELT RESTRAINT THERE NOW. I DONT THINK I NEED TO KEEP PAYING TO FIX AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THESE CARS. MY SISTER HAD A 1994 ESCORT A YEAR NEWER THAN MINE AND SHE HAD TO REPLACE HER AUTO. SEATBELT ONCE IN THE 2 YEARS SHE OWNED IT. SO I KNOW IT CANT JUST BE A FLUKE IN MY CAR.

WHEN PUTTING KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION SWITCH KEY GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CYLINDER. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHEN TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH, EVERYTHING WILL SHUT DOWN.*AK

DOOR TO GARAGE WAS OPENED AND THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL.SAW A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND THAT HAD LEAKED FROM VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED FUEL TANK HAD DEVELOPED A HOLE IN IT THAT CAUSED THE LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

MY CAR WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO. FORD MAINTENAINCE PUT NEW TIMING BELT ON ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND IT HASN'T BEEN STARTING RIGHT SINCE *AK

I COULD NOT PUT AN ACCURATE DATE OR MILEAGE BECAUSE I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 100,000 MILE CHECK UP. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (VARSITY FORD) TOLD ME THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. HOWEVER, I HAD NO INDICATION THEY WERE BROKEN (THE CAR STOPS BOUNCING AT LESS THAN 2.5 BOUNCES). I HAVE NOW TAKEN IT TO A LOCAL SHOP, ILLI'S AUTO IN ANN ARBOR, MI, AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE FRACTURED. SINCE I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, IT MAKES NO SENSE. THE REPAIR BILL IS $963.00. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO HAD TO HAVE THE REAR SPRINGS (MOUNTS AND STRUTS) REPLACED FOR THE SAME REASON. FURTHERMORE, THE REPAIR PLACE MY FRIEND TOOK HIS ESCORT TO SAID THAT REPLACING THE REAR SPRINGS HAS BECOME A "STANDARD REPAIR". THIS SHOULD NOT BE. MY OFFICE-MATES 1995 FORD CONTOUR HAD FRONT SPRINGS THAT BROKE. THEY DID A RECALL ON THOSE. YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED.*AK

THE CAR STALLS AT STOPS ALOT NAD NOW IT STALED AND WONT EVEN RESTART!*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SLOWLY DIED FIRST THE RADIO SHUT OFF THEN THE WIPERS STOPPED, LIGHTS SHUT OFF THEN THE CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED ON ABOUT 8 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE I HAD MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAD OVER $1,200 PUT INTO IT IN THE LAST YEAR AND THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED. THE MECHANIC AT FORD TOLD ME IF I WANTED THE CAR TO BE SAFE I'D BE BETTER OFF GETTING A NEW CAR. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THE CAR HAD BEEN WRECKED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT BUT I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT BY THE DEARLERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY WITHOUT RUNNING AND THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION AND THE FOUR WAYS WILL START FLASHING AS WELL AS IT HAPPENS AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. FORD TOLD ME THE LAST TIME IT WAS THERE TO BE FIXED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS COLLAPSED BUT WHEN I HAD ANOTHER MECHANIC GO TO CHANGE THE STEERING COLUMN HE FOUND THAT IT WASN'T COLLAPSED AND THAT FORD HAD LEFT OUT 5 BOLTS THAT HELD IT IN AND IT WAS ONLY IN THERE WITH 2 BOLTS WHICH WERE NOT TIGHTENED AND COULD BE TURNED BY HAND WHICH WAS CAUSING THE COLUMN TO ABLE TO BE PULLED OUT TOWARDS THE DRIVER BY ABOUT 3 INCHES AND THEN PUSHED BACK INTO PLACE.*AK

COIL SPRING BROKEN AT BOTTOM, BEHIND PLASTIC COVER. WAS TOLD THIS FAILURE IS COMMON IN ESCORT WAGONS.*AK

REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING A HOST OF COIL SPRING BREAKAGE ON THIS AND SIMILAR FORD MODELS. THEY WERE RECOMMENDING THAT ALL CUSTOMERS WITH SPRING PROBLEMS WRITE TO FORD IN HOPES OF FORCING A RECALL - HA!. *AK

RECALL 97 V 145 000/FUEL TANK: VEHICLE IS LEAKING FROM FUEL TANK. NOTIFIED DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

WHILE ADJUSTING DRIVER'S SEAT STEERING COLUMN WAS PULLING TOWARDS CONSUMER . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVNG, CONSUMER SMELLED GAS IN THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT HE COULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE, WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL TANK, DID NOT APPLY TO HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*JB

SRS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIOAL INFORMATION.*AK

MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS FAILED. AT TIME OF FAILURE, SEAT BELT WAS RETRACTING, AND REMAINED IN MIDDLE OF THE TRACK. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND DID NOT REPAIR SEAT BELTS WHEN VEHICLE WAS OVER 50,000 MILES. MANUFACTURER BACKED DEALERSHIP.*AK

CONSUMER STATES FOR A FEW WEEKS SHE WAS SMELLING GAS IN THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE GAS TANK CONTAINED A CRACK.*YH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OFF POSITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY IGNITED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHICH SPARKED UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT, BURNING THE INTERIOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS HIT WHILE PARKED IN THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WHICH SHOVED VEHICLE INTO THE CURB. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO BODY SHOP. DID FRONT END ALIGNMENT, AND REPLACED TIRE. YEAR LATER WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, FRONT LEFT TIRE STARTED SMOKING. TOOK BACK TO DEALER TO BE RECHECKED. ALSO, TIRE WAS WORN ON INSIDE. CONSUMER STATED DEALER CALLED TIRE COMPANY TO FIX TIRE, AND DEALER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE.*AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WILL BE COOL WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR. BUT, IF VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AIR WILL BECOME WARM. THEN, VEHICLE STARTS TO SPUDDER, AND JERK FOWARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC AND HAD RELAYS/ SENSORS, THERMOSTAT/ COOLANT FAN , AND RADIATOR REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE SINCE 1999. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FUEL LEAKAGE DUE TO HEAT SHEILD ATTACHMENT, HOLE IN GAS TANK DUE TO SCREWS. *AK

BOTH REAR SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN, CAUSING UNDO WEAR OF REAR TIRES. *AK

GAS TANK HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK IN IT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LEAK FUEL. EALER SAYS THAT VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN SERVICED FOR FUEL TANK RECALL.*AK

FUEL WOULD LEAK OUT OF FUEL TANK. GASOLINE FUMES WOULD SEEP INSIDE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED OF RECALLS 97V145000/97V144000 CONCERNING CRACKED FUEL TANK. NEEDED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALLS DUE TO VIN. OWNER EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM.*AK

BOTH REAR SEAT SHOULDER/SEAT HARNESS SYSTEMS FAILED 6 MONTHS APART. *AK

WE PLEASE SEND ME TWO SIGNATURE CARDS FOR BOTH VEHICLES JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR ARE DAUGHTER ON 7/01/01 WHAT WAS FUNNY IS THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD WHEN WE GOT IT THEN 9 DAY'S LATER THE RAIDIATOR SATRTED TO LEAK THE SAME PLACE MY 92 TAURUS WAS LEAKING FROM THE DRIVE SIDE SEAL OF THE RAIDIATOR SO I CALLED FORD AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHY THERE MAKING PARTS THAT ARE FAILING IN NOT ONE CAR MADE BUT TWO DIFFERENT CAR'S AND I ALSO WAS TOLD BUT VARIOUS MECHANICS THAT FORD KNOWS OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE TAURUS AND ESCORT BUT WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM WHY WOULD TWO DIFFERENT CARS FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS FORD KNOWS THE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE US HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE 3 MAIN THINGS TRANSMISSION RAIDAITOR AND EGNITION SWITCHS SO WHY ARE YOU NOT LOOKING IN TO THIS CONSUMER FRAUD I'LL BE GLAD TO FILE A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST FORD IF NEED BE AS THEY ARE SCREWING THE PUBLIC. *AK

HAD NOTICED A PUDDLE BENEATH VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS PARKED. WHILE DRIVING, FUEL WOULD LEAK OUT FROM FUEL TANK. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO REPAIRS. *AK

REF 97V144 AND 97V145 -- SAME MANUFACTURING PLANT & DATES -- NO COVERAGE IN CO. NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING AND IDLING HARD TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR SERVICE, THE SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALMOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30MPH. IF LEFT IDLING TOO LONG IT WOULD CUT OFF COMPLETELY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PRIVATE GARAGE AND UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE VALVES HAD DROPPED INTO A CYLINDER, THUS DESTRYOYNG THE PISTON. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHNICS TELL ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE SEEN BEFORE AND THAT THIS MODEL OF ENGINE IS"KNOWN" FOR THIS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF A COLLISION AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RELEASED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT AIR BAG HARD. CONSUMER STATED WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT MADE NOISE, SEAT BELT WAS STUCK IN TRACK. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEATBELT SHOULDER HARNESS WAS JAMMED IN THE BELT TRACK, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB

THE DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. NLM

COMMON FAILURE PROBLEM OF 1995 TO 2000 FORD EXSCORTS -- REAR SPRING BREAKAGE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE PUNCTURE OF REAR TIRE BY SPRING. REPLACEMENT SPRINGS DO NOT BREAK -- ONLY THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IS A PROBLEM ACCOURDING TO TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS. *AK

FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL TANK AT ATTACHMENT TO HEAT SHIELD. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT AFFECTED. *AK

HAD INSPECTION, WAS TOLD THAT THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND THAT THEY WERE GOING EARLY ON ALL ESCORTS. *AK

THE PART ABOVE THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT GO BACK TO PROTECT THE PASSENGER, THE MOTORS MAKES NOISES BUT DOES NOT WORK

EMISSION HOSE ELBOW HAS MELTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OUT AND DIE WHILE IDLING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND AT TIME OF DRIVING ENGINE STALLED. *AK