1996 Ford Escort complaints

FIRE STARTED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND BURNED THROUGH THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE, CLAIM 27-6082-040. *SLC

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A MISFIRE ON ONE OF THE CYLINDERS. REPLACED PLUGS AND WIRES, AND TWO DAYS LATER THE ENGINE "DROPPED A VALVE" DESTROYING ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIME ON THIS ENGINE ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE. WENT TO FORD AND STATED IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE, THEY REFUSED ALL HELP OR COMPENSATION. COST WAS OVER $4,000. TO REPAIR. THIS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFECT, AND SHOULD BE PICKED UP BY FORD. NO LINE OF ENGINES SHOULD BE FAILING AT 60-70,000 MILES, LIKE THESE ARE. $4,000. TO REPAIR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER BECOMES ERRATIC; SPEEDOMETER ACCELERATES THREE TIMES, ACTUAL SPEED BEING DRIVEN. CANNOT DETERMINE MILEAGE ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE ALSO MAKES STRANG NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN VERY LOW SPEED IMPACT, CAUSING NO DAMAGE TO CAR EXCEPT REAR VIEW MIRROR WHEN AIR BAG HIT IT. AIR BAG SENSORS WERE NOT TOUCHED, CAUSING 1500 DAMAGE TO REPLACE AIRBAGS.. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, DRIVERS SEAT BELT BROKE, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. ALSO SEAT BELT SENSORS ARE NOT PROPERLY ENGAGING. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AND RUNNING OVER SOME DERIS ON FLOOR FUEL LINE WAS PUNCTURED, AND CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. THEN NOTICED THAT FUEL LINES WERE NOT MADE OUT OF METAL, BUT PLASTIC. *AK

BOTH REARSHOULDER SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED. SHOULDER HARNESSES ARE FULLY EXTENDED AND WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK

DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMEONE TAKES ACTION AND HOW MANY. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK

BOTH REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED (BECAME INOPERABLE) WITHIN 1 WEEK OF EACH OTHER, THROUGH NORMAL USAGE. FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS AT NO COST BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED LESS THAN 2 MONTHS BEFORE. SINCE 3 YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NORMALLY SEATED IN THE REAR, THIS BECAME A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THIS WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND HAD THERE BEEN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVED, THERE MOST WOULD LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN MAJOR INJURIES. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE PASSIVE SHOULDER BELT MOTOR FAILED AT HALF-WAY POINT ON ITS TRACK.THIS IS MY 16 YEAR OLD NEPHEW'S CAR. LOCAL FORD DEALER SAYS THE SEAT BELT WAS "TWELVE(12) DAYS PAST WARRANTY" AND WANTS TO CHARGE THE KID OVER $300. FOR REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM, ISN'T IT THE MANUFACTURE'S RESPONSIBILITY?THE KID DOESNT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY ON THE REPAIR IF HE DRIVES IT THE WAY IT IS NOW HE IS BREAKING MICHIGAN'S SEATBELT LAWS NOT TO MENTION RISKING SERIOUS INJURY. ANY INFO YOU CAN GIVE WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT STOPPED IN OPEN POSITION, 4 WEEKS LATER, PASSENGER'S SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING, ALSO OPEN POSITION.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT FULLY EXTEND FROM RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

ELECTRONIC SHOULDER BELT TRACK STICKS IN THE MIDDLE POSITION FAILING TO LOCK INTO A POSITION THAT WOULD RESTRAIN DRIVER. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT CONSUMER'S COST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SLC

SPEEDOMETER JUMPS ERRATICALLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY ALTHOUGH BROCHURE LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE SO. DEALERSHIP KNEW IT WAS THE SPEEDOMETER ITSELF AND NOT A DRY CABLE BECAUSE OF HISTORY OF SAME PROBLEMS. 2ND PROBLEM; AT APPOX 80,000 MILES THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. I RECOGNIZE THAT THINGS DO BREAK, BUT WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT WOULDN'T RETRACT JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

VEHICLE WILL STALL IN HOT WEATHER AND AT ANY SPEED, THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS.*AK

SPEEDOMETER MAKES GRINDING SOUND READS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED. ALSO FLUCTUATES WILDLY. *AK

WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOCK UP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE CRACKED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER.*AK *JB

BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT OR LOCK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY ENGINE BLEWOUT WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING, LEAVING VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ON ROAD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LOST POWER. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE THEY SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS HEAD GASKET THAT BLEWOUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT. ALSO, RADIATOR AND FAN HAD TO BE REPLACED.DEALER DID NOT STATE WHAT WAS CAUSE OF REPLACEMENT.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 10 MPH AND GOING THROUGH TRAFFIC LIGHT CAR DIED. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID VALVE SEALS LET LOOSE. SEAL RUNS EVERYTHING TO THE POINT THAT IT'S NOT REPAIRABLE.*AK

POWER SEATBELT STOPPED HALFWAY IN TRACK, WILL COST OVER $600, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITANTLY, WHILE EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT OKAY MECHANICALLY, CAN'T FIGURE WHAT'S CAUSING IT TO COME ON

SPEEDODOMETER OPERATES ERRATICALLY, DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECT LEVELS OF SPEED. HAS BEEEN REPLACED ONCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER WAITING FOR NEW PART TO BE SHIPPED FOR SECOND REPLACEMENT. *YH

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INTO CONSUMER'S FACE, AND SUBSTANCE THAT CAME OUT, MADE HER VERY SICK. *AK

I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL ON MY WAY TO WORK. I HEARD A BANG AND THEN A CLATTERING SOUND. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO WORK AND THEN TO MCLEAN FORD A TOTAL OF ABOUT 35 MILES. THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR THAT FRIDAY AND SAID THEY'D HAVE TO LOOK FUTHER ON MONDAY. THEY ALSO TOLD ME IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD. THEY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A PISTON. ON MONDAY AFTERNOON THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THEY SAID THEY HAD GOOD NEWS - FORD WOULD PAY FOR $2,000 OF THE REPAIR. MY QUESTION IS WHY WOULD FORD PAY $2,000. WAS IT BECAUSE OF A "HIDDEN" WARRENTY. IF SO THEN WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY THE REMAINDER $698.39. S THERE SUCH A THING A "HIDDEN WARRENTIES". IF IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY?*AK

MOTORIZED SEAT BELT CABLE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE, AND ONE ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT WORKING ANY MORE. *AK

SEALT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SNAPPED OFF IN TRACK AND CAUSED A CONCUSION AS WELL AS A LARGE CONTUSION TO MY HEAD. IT REQUIRED 14 STITCHES AND 10 STAPLES. THE AIR BAGS DEPOLYED LATE CAUSEING MY HUSBAND TO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHEILD. AND RUPTURING MY SPLEEN. *AK

THE LEFT, OUTER TIE ROD BROKE, TRAVELING ON A STAIGHT, SMOOTH ROAD AT ABOUT 35 MPH. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE, IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND LEFT THE ROAD. IT CAME TO A STOP AGAINST A TREE, CAUSING SLIGHT BODY DAMAGE.*AK

SPEEDOMETER BECAME ERRATIC, DISPLAYED WRONG SPEED, AT BETWEEN 20000 - 30000 MILES. HAD DEALER REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. NEW SPEEDOMETER IS DOING SAME ERRATIC BEHAVIOUR AT 90000 - 100000 MILES. THIS IS EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. CAN NOT DETERMINE SAFE SPEED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE DESIGN, SINCE TWO MANUFACTURER PROVIDED SPEEDOMETERS HAVE FAILED IN IDENTICAL MANNER. SAFETY CONCERN!! CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER @ 1-800-392-3673. THEY WILL NOT LISTEN OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE DESIGNED EQUIPMENT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON A SIDE STREET I WAS TRAVELING ON NORTHBOUND, AND HE WAS TRAVELING ON SAME LANE, BUT OPPOSITE STREET. SEAT BELTS DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *AK

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING, CONSUMER DISCONNECTED A FUSE TO STOP THE FIRE, WIRE IS BURNED FROM UNDER THE DASH BACK TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 05-4562-613. *SLC

TREAD ON RIGHT REAR TIRE PARTIALLY SEPARATED, WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY (DOT NUMBER: HY8JNJB466 TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)

BROUGHT VEHICLE TO AUTO CENTER TO GET NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT. SERVICE TECH NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT REAR COIL HAD SNAPPED IN TWO PIECES. HAVING BEEN DRIVING FOR 17 YEARS, I WAS MORE THAN SURPRISED BECAUSE I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF A COIL SNAPPING, MUCH LESS EVER HAD IT HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE I OWNED. THE SERVICE TECH MENTIONED THAT HE HAD SEEN IT MORE THAN A FEW TIMES ON THE FORD ESCORT, WHICH LED ME TO BELIEVE IT COULD BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. HE RECOMMENDED HAVING IT REPLACED THAT DAY, AS HE SAID IT WAS A HIGH SAFETY HAZARD. IF THE COIL CAME LOOSE THE JAGGED EDGE COULD RIP INTO THE TIRE, THUS CAUSING A MASSIVE BLOWOUT. THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, OR EVEN FATAL, AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE STRANGE THING WAS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW IT HAD HAPPENED. THE ONLY THING I NOTICED WAS A SQUEAK IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY STRUTS WEARING OUT. IN OTHER WORDS, I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED DRIVING WITH THIS BROKEN SPRING IF I HADN'T NEEDED NEW TIRES BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING OBVIOUS THAT WOULD INDICATE THE BROKEN COIL OTHER THAN A SLIGHT SQUEAKING NOISE.*AK

# 4 PISTON DISENTIGRATED RUINING ENGINE BLOCK. STOPED FOR RED LIGHT AND CAR ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. DROVE TO BANK PARKING LOT 1 BLOCK AWAY AND TURNED CAR OF. TRIED TO RESTART CAR AND MADE ENGINE NOISE. TURNED CAR OFF CALLED WESTERN SLOPE FORD TO SPEAK WITH SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF I COULD GET IT TOWED INTO GARAGE. NO RETURN CALL FROM THEM. HAD ANOTHER SHOP TOW AND INSPECT. *AK

THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO BROKEN VALVE SEATS INSIDE THE CYLINDER WHICH DAMAGED THE PISTONS, THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THIS EXPENSE DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS VERY WELL MAINTENANCED. *SLC

BOTH REAR SHOULDER BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT; LEAVING OCCUPANTS WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BOTH REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELTS WILL NOT RETACT IN RETRACTORS; DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

WHEN MAKING A STOP FUEL IS HEARD SLOSHING BACK AND FOURTH IN THE FUEL TANK. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING ABOUT A WEEK AGO. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT BAFFLES WERE NOT PUT IN THE FUEL TANK FOR ESCORTS THAT YEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AT STOP LIGHT #4 CYLINDER DROPPED VALVE SEAT DESTROYING HEAD AND ALL 4 PISTONS. ALSO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY GIVING CODE 1433. REPLACED SOLENOID AS RECOMMENDED BY TSB AND IT STILL FAILS AT RANDOM INTERVALS. *AK

THE CABLE THAT OPERATES THE DRIVER'S SIDE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING AND THEN LITERALLY SNAPPED IN TWO. THE SHOULDER BELT IS NOW NO LONGER OPERABLE. IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT, I WILL LIKELY GO THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE CABLE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. THE DEALER ALSO SAID HE DIDN'T WANT BOTHERED WITH IT 'CAUSE IT'S A TOUGH ONE TO FIX AND WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO DO. HE TOLD ME TO GO TO A JUNKYARD, BUY THE PART AND PUT IT IN MYSELF. FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. IN DOCUMENTING MY COMPLAINT, THEY INDICATED I AM ANGRY BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. THAT IS NOT TRUE. I WANT THEM TO PAY TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE THEIR PRODUCT IS FAULTY AND PUTS MY LIFE AT RISK EVERY TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE INITIATE A RECALL SOON, BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. THERE ARE DOZENS OF OTHER FORD OWNERS LISTED ON YOUR SITE AS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

REAR SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER SIDE FAILED TO RETRACT TO ORIGINAL POSITION. HAD PLACED CHILD SEAT IN SEAT BELT THAT KEPT COMING LOOSE. IT NEEDED A LOCKING FOR CHILD SEAT TO TIGHTEN & SHORTEN THE BELT. *AK

THE WINSHIELD WIPER WILL COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENLY. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

CONSUMER HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON & THE VEHICLE WON'T PASS INSPECTION IF THE DEALER CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THERE WERE GAS SMELLS COMING FROM HATCHBACK. HOWEVER, DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE WERE IT WAS COMING FROM. *AK AS OF THIS DATE 9-13-00 ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON, CONSUMER REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP. KINK WAS FOUND IN GAS LINE CAUSED SMELL COMING FROM FRONT OF THE CAR. BRACKET OFF OF MOTOR MOUNT. *YH

ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON REPEATEDLY, DEALER NEVER FOUND MAJOR PROBLEM, THE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN AND VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF WHEN PUT IN TO GEAR, AT 73000 MILES ENGINE FAILED. *SLC

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED JUST ABOVE THE "CUP" SECURING THEM TO THE FRAME. *AK

TRACKING OF SEAT BELT GOT STUCK. DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT, WHICH HAS TO BE DISCONNECTED FOR THE SEATBELT TO RETRACT. SEATBELT MUST BE MANUALLY CLIPPED. *AK

SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE (15,000), SECOND SPEEDOMETER HAS NOW FAILED(35800MI). *AK