1997 Ford Escort complaints

THE DRIVER'S SEAT REMAINS IN THE DOWN POSITION ONLY. *JB

CONSUMER WAS PROCEEDING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH HIT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMERS CAR WENT INTO A SPIN. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 02V323000 WHICH WAS REMEDIED ON 4-6-03, HOWEVER ON 4-7-03, WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A "BURNING" SMELL AND SMOKE COMING THE FROM DASHBOARD AREA. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND WHEN HE RETURNED FOR VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY, IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A COOLANT LEAK ONTO THE AIRBAG FRONTAL CONTROL MODULE. *JB

SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE IN 1999 THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED FOUR DEFECTIVE HEATER CORES. THE FIRST FAILURE IN 04/01 RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE AIRBAG MODULE DUE TO LEAKAGE FROM THE HEATER CORE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS IN 10/02. NLM

THE REAR WINDOW ON MY 1997 FORD ESCORT SHATTERED WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER THE CARPORT. THE WINDOW EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30 P.M. CDT. THERE WAS NO PRIOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE WINDOW. THERE WAS NO VANDALISM INVOLVED, MONROE POLICE DEPT. WAS CALLED AND THEY FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A CRIMINAL ACT. ON OBSERVING THE WINDOW, THE OFFICERS COMMENTED THAT THE WINDOW SHATTERED FROM THE INSIDE. THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A STRUCTURAL DEFECT IN THE WINDOW. *NLM

I HAVE A 1997 FORD ESCORT. AT APPROXIMATELY. 37,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRED SERVICE. TOOK CAR TO BOARD FORD IN WHITTIER, CA. TWO DAYS AFTER SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. BOARD FORD ALLOWED AN ESP FOR POWER TRAIN AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION. AT TIME OF REPLACEMENT, BOARD FORD INDICATED THE NEW POWER TRAIN WAS WARRANTED FOR 75,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON THE NEW POWER TRAIN, IT LITERALLY EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT (COMPLETELY CRACKED THE CORE). CALLED BOARD FORD AND FORD MOTOR AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE CAR HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT, THE POWER TRAIN WASN'T WARRANTED EVEN THOUGH THE POWER TRAIN ONLY HAS 45,000.00 MILES ON IT.*JB

THE CONSUMER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF RECALL 02-V-323-000 WHICH REFERENCED THE AIR BAG MONITOR. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS HIGH. *NLM

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB

THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED AROUND CHILD'S NECK AND ALMOST CAUSED A FATAL INJURY. THE RETRACTOR WOULD NOT RELEASE. *NLM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED AROUND CHILD'S NECK AND ALMOST CAUSED A FATAL INJURY. THE RETRACTOR WOULD NOT RELEASE. *MR

BOTH REAR SPRINGS FOUND BROKEN AT STATE INSPECTION. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND IT IS THE FIRST THING THAT THE INSPECTORS LOOK AT BECAUSE OF THIS. EVIDENTLY VERY WELL KNOWN IN THE TRADE. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT. EVIDENTLY THIS OCCURRED "QUITE AWHILE AGO". I NOW HAVE TO SPEND $250.00 TO FIX IT. IF THIS IS THAT COMMON WHY HAS FORD EVIDENTLY CHOSEN TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM? *NLM

THE KEYS BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHILE IN USE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO GET THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION, WHICH HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE IGNITION FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS. *JB

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *JB

THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG SENOR CONTROL MODULE. *JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*JB

THE PLASTIC LIGHT BULB SOCKET FOR MY CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP (CHMSL) HAS REPEATEDLY MELTED CAUSING THE CHMSL TO NOT WORK. I HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO (2) SOCKETS AND THEY HAVE BOTH FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE SLID ON ICE AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER CAR. NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS WERE DULL WHICH IMPAIRED THE DRIVERS VISION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

I WAS BURNED ON MY RIGHT HAND (3 FINGERS AND THUMB) DUE TO BOTH AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP.*JB

BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE WIRING RECALL AND I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS SPARK KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WHEN IT FIRST STARTS AND UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. WHEN I DRIVE INTO MY PARENTS DRIVE WAY MY PARENTS TELL ME THAT THEY KNOW I AM THERE BECAUSE OF THE RADIO INTERFERENCE ON THE TV SCREEN. I KNOW A LOT ABOUT ELECTRICITY AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY NOISE AND OR SHORTS, BAD CONNECTIONS WHAT HAVE YOU. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE CAR HAS RESISTOR PLUGS. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE COMPUTER ONCE AND NOW THIS RECALL THING! WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS. WHEN ITS REALLY COLD OUT AND GO TO START THE CAR THE STARTER DOES NOT DISENGAGE AND GRINDS ON THE FLY WHEEL. IT TAKES FOREVER FOR IT TO WARM UP AND IT DOES NOT RARELY EVER WARM UP WHEN ITS IDLING YOU HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO GET ANY HEAT. BUT OVERALL ITS ONLY LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED ONCE. THAT'S BETTER THAN OUR LAST VEHICLE!! BUT NOW I WONDER IF THIS CAR IS A TICKING TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN. FORD MAY NOT BE MY NEXT CHOICE OF VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE THAT IS IF IT DOESN'T KILL ME FIRST! *JB

THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02V323000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. DEALER WOULD REPLACE PARTS AND LABOR FREE OF CHARGE.*JB

THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 3 23000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. 8JB

THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 0 2 V 32 3000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. *JB

THE CONSUMER DOES NOT WANT THE AIR BAGS IN HER VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE HAS TO SIT CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THERE WAS A RECENT RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. *JB

THE HOOD FLEW OFF, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE.*JB

WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT DID NOT MOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PUT IN TRANSMISSION FLUID.*JB

ON THE 1997 FORD ESCORT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE IS INSTALLED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE HEATER CORE. ON MY CAR THE HEATER CORE DEVELOPED A LEAK AND ANTIFREEZE FLOWED OVER THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THIS RESULTED IN BURNT INSULATION ON THE WIRING FOR THE AIRBAG CONTROL AND BLOWING THE ASSOCIATED FUSE. IT CAME VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING A FIRE. THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT YOU DO NOT GET INDICATIONS OF AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK UNTIL IT IS TO LATE AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NO LONGER USABLE.*JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN SIDE COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE WERE ON BACK ORDER. RECALL # 02V323000. *JB

I TOOK MY CAR INTO MY DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS VERY SHOCKED SINCE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO HAUL ANYTHING MORE THAN GROCERIES. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY CHECK FOR IT. I REPORTED THIS TO FORD MOTORS AND WAS FOR THE MOST PART TOLD "SORRY BUT NOT OUR PROBLEM". IT APPEARS FROM THE VARIOUS DEALERS AND FORD MOTORS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THEY PLAN TO DO NOTHING ABOUT UNLESS FORCED TO BY PEOPLE BEING KILLED OR INJURED. IF THEY CANNOT OWN UP TO POOR WORKMANSHIP, THEN I WILL BE BUYING MY VEHICLES ELSEWHERE.

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE. RECALL #02V323000.*JB

THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE.*JB

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DAMAGED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOW.*JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG MODULE, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*JB

A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED.*JB

THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE, WHICH CAUSED UNEVEN WEAR ON THE REAR TIRES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD APPEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.

REAR SPRING BROKE ON A 1997 FORD ESCORT. THIS IS THE 5TH ESCORT OUR AGENCY OWNS THAT HAS HAD BROKEN REAR SPRINGS.

THE HEATER CORE SPRUNG A LEAK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHIN 15 MONTHS. I CAUGHT THE PROBLEM BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OCCURED. THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE AIR BAG AND PCM MODULES WERE DAMAGED BY THE HEATER CORE LEAK. THERE ALSO WAS A FIRE FROM THE PCM AND AIR BAG MODULE. THIS DAMAGE COST $1500. THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 3 MONTHS. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY CARS THAT ARE EXPIERENCING THIS PROBLEM.

PREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH REAR SPRINGS, 1997 FORD ESCORT LX, VIN [XXX], RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF SPRING ASSY'S AT CUSTOMER COST FOR ALL PARTS, LABOR AND ASSOCIATED PARTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT IMPACT. THE DEALER COMPLETED THE REPAIRS, BASED ON WATER GETTING INTO THE AIR BAG MODULE, THEN INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NHTSA# 02V323000 SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 12/1/2002 VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE NEAR DASHBOARD AREA. VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS PUSHED INTO NEARBY PARKING DECK. VEHICLE TOWED TO HOME THE NEXT DAY MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AREA HAD CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE IN DECK AND ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND WIRING SYSTEM COMPLETELY DESTROYED. FRONT WINDOW ALSO SUSTAINED MAJOR FIRE DAMAGE. DT

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEEN ON ALL THE TIME ON THE PANEL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RECALLS SO THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING. TS

UPON REPLACEMENT OF MY HORN ASSEMBLY, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHES. AIR BAG HAS NOT DEPLOYED AND SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWING A MINOR INCIDENT IN WHICH I STRUCK A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. CONCERNED THAT AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A SERIOUS CRASH. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONTACTED DEALER TO BRING VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN STALLED. RELATED SAFETY INVESTIGATION EA02008/WATER INGESTION INTO THE AIR BAG MONITOR TS

THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING/WORKED 5 TIMES DURING THE WEEKEND OF NOV 11, 2002. THE FIRST TIME IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE ERRATIC AND THEN IT STARTED WORKING. FROM THE SECOND TIME ON, IT CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND STAY ON. THE SECOND TIME IT DIDN'T WORK BUT IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO STICK ON 0 AND THE ODOMETER TO STOP WORKING. THE 3RD TIME IT ALSO DIDN'T WORK, BUT IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO PEG OUT OVER 120 MPH AND THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING. I HAD DECIDED AT THAT POINT TO NOT TRY THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN. THE 4TH TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL SEEMED TO KICK IN BY ITSELF FOR A FEW SECONDS, IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE ERRATIC, AND THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE 5TH TIME WAS THE SCARRIEST. IT AGAIN TRY TO KICK IN BY ITSELF, AND THIS TIME IT DISABLED THE GAS PEDAL. DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME I WAS DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MPH. I'VE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR FOR RIGHT NOW. THE CRUISE CONTROL SEEMS TO BE TOO ERRATIC AND I DON'T WANT TO GET IN A ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. DT