1997 Ford Escort complaints

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER SHUT ENGINE OFF, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT RESTARTING. CONSUMER TRIED TO INVESTIGATE, AND FOUND THE ANTIFREEZE FLUID OVERFLOWING, AND CAUSING ELECTRICAL WIRES TO MELT. *AK

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IS OCCURRING WITHIN VEHICLE WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE BATTERY TO COMPLETELY LOSE POWER. *AK CONSUMER STATES RADIO CAUSED BATTERY TO DRAIN AND SPEAKERS TO POP, RADIO REPLACED 3 TIMES, EXPERIENCING OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING WHEN THE HEATER IS ON OR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND POOR ACCELERATION WHEN GOING UP A HILL. *TT

NO ABUSE AT ALL. REPORTED TO DEALER. THEY SAID TO SAVE RECEPT IN CASE OF RECALL. BOTH SPRINGS FAILED INSIDE PLASTIC PROTECTIVE SLEEVE. *AK

DASH WAS ON FIRE AND ALL WIRING WAS BURNED, CLAIM 31-3120-259. *SLC

CONSUMER CAME BACK TO VEHICLE AFTER A DAY OF WORK AND THE INTERIOR WAS SMOKEY, DASHBOARD AND INTERIOR WERE BURNED, ADJUSTER STATED ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CLAIM 05-4953-366. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING TO THE STORE, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A LOOSE WIRE, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED, CLAIM 40-2555-468. *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE SHOP ASKED THE CONSUMER TO RETURN THE VEHICLE IN 2-3 DAYS, DURING THIS TIME A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE CENTER MODULE LOCATED IN THE CONSOLE, LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE DEALERSHIP, SOMEONE NOTICED THE MODULE WAS AGAIN SMOLDERING, CLAIM 28-3088-664. *SLC

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ALARM WENT OFF, ACCORDING TO ONE DEALERSHIP THE WIRING SHORTED OUT THE HORN AND CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO NEED REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER ANOTHER DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE WIRING BURNED INTO THE HORN, CLAIM 40-2507-626. *SLC

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE AT DASH PANEL, CLAIM 18-0486-942. *SLC

VEHICLE BURNED FROM THE OUTSIDE, FIRE STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD BY THE FLOORBOARDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE, CLAIM 04-1295-042. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES PRIOR TO FIRE, LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON THE DASH, THERE WAS ALSO AN ODOR THAT SMELLED LIKE FIRECRACKERS, THE NEXT DAY WAS WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, FIRE WAS IN THE FLOORBOARDS WHICH SPREAD WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED, CLAIM 35-W686-849. *SLC

THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING, THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE, DAMAGES ARE UNDER THE DASH, CLAIM 53-C737-570. *SLC

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND SPARKS UNDERNEATH PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE QUICKLY AFTER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE AREA SHE SAW THE SPARKS AND SMOKE IS EXACTLY WHERE AVR HAD WORKED, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CENTERED UNDER THE SEAT, CLAIM 03-3209-456. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE, IT APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED AT THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SUSPECTS THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A PRIOR COLLISION, HOWEVER AN INSPECTOR STATED THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ECS MODULE, THIS CAUSED A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, THUS CAUSING THE FIRE, CLAIM 40-2188-822. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD, CLAIM 53-C675-364. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING BURNING AND PULLED OVER, THERE WAS A SHORT WITH A WIRE IN THE DASH AND THIS CAUSED A FIRE, CLAIM 60-C180-623. *SLC

CONSUMER HAD LEFT VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE CHECKED AND TO FIND OUT WHY A LIGHT IN THE DASH HAD ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEATER CORE HAD A HOLE IN IT, WHEN DEMANDING HER VEHICLE BACK, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH AND THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS BURNED, NOBODY CONTACTED HER TO LET HER KNOW ABOUT THE FIRE, CLAIM 24-5124-338. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DAMAGED THE VEHCILE, CLAIM 55-S207-197. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT WHEN CONSUMER CAME OUT AND SAW THAT IT WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, CLAIM 30-V210-873. *SLC

FIRE STARTED IN THE DASH AREA, ALL THE WIRING WAS BURNED, CLAIM 31-3120-259. *SLC

SIDEWALL SEPARATION AT TURN-UP. *AK (DOT NUMBER: MD7J A6WR TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING AND NO COLLISION OR IMPACT TO THE SENSORS FOR THE AIR BAGS, BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER BAGS WENT OFF AND ALSO HAD BROKEN THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

USUALLY AFTER GETTING THE BRAKES SERVICED BRAKES WILL MAKE A REAL LOUSD NOISE WHNE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IN FOR TIRE ROTATION, MECHANIC NOTICED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE CRACKED. AS MECHANIC REMOVED ONE OF THE WHEELS COIL SPRING BROKE/ FLEW ACROSS THE AREA, AND BROKE SHOP WINDOW. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VENTS AREA, AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT, AND VEHICLE WOULD SMOKE AGAIN AND SPARKS COULD BE SEEN. THIS CAUSED DASHBORAD AND OTHER FRONT AREA OF THE VEHICLE TO BURN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WENT FOR AN INSPECTION FOR MY ESCORT AND THE DEALER SAID THAT MY SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE REAR. THEY ALSO SAID THAT IT WAS COMMON FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THEY WERE BAD WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN, AS A MATTER OF FACT THE CAR DROVE PERFECTLY. THIS IS VERY SUSPICIUOS TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF COIL SPRINGS BREAKING BEFOR ON ANY VEHICLE. IS THIS A WAY FOR CAR COMPANYS TO MAKE THE CONSUMER FOOT THE BILL AND TOSS YOU A BONE TO MAKE YOU HAPPY. I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE NOT BROKEN AND IS A MAJOR COVER UP FOR FORDS ALREADY POOR REPUTATION!

THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM UNDER THE DASH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE WHEN IT WAS PARKED. *YH

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM A LOOSE WIRE, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED, CLAIM 40-2555-468. *SLC

ENGINE STALLED AT 55 MPH. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DEALER COULDNT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE EGR VALVE. *AK

GOODYEAR, CONQUEST TIRE DOT MDJ1AGWR246, 195/65R14 SIZE. TIRES HAD RIPPED FROM INSIDE ALONG SIDEWALL. TIRES WERE ORIGINALS ON A 1997, FORD, ESCORT. *AK *SLC

CONSUMER WENT TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED, AND HE NOTICED THAT LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE COIL SPRINGS BROKE. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER REPLACED THE COIL SPRINGS AFTER RECEIVING NO RESPONSE FROM FORD, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT SPRINGS CONTAINED INFERIOR STEEL, BAD HEAT TREATING AND BAD DESIGN.*NLM

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, TURN SIGNALS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE GIVES NO PRIOR WARNING. WHEN USING TURN SIGNAS, BOTH LIGHTS WILL BLINK ON DASH, BUT ONE WILL BLINK ON OUTSIDE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE FLASHER, AND FLASHER WAS REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT AROUND MARCH. *AK *SLC

TWO REAR AIR SPRINGS BROKE ON VEHICLE. DEALER DISCOVERED IT WHILE ROTATING TIRES. THIS COULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HORN STUCK, DOES NOT TURN OFF. TO REPLACE, DEALER MUST REPLACE AIRBAG ALSO. SAYS AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION BECAUSE HORN MALFUNCTIONED. ABOUT 7 SIMILAR PROBLEMS ARE LISTED ON THIS WEB SITE. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE AND A MALFUNCTION IN THE HORN SHOULDN'T CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE AIRBAG. PLUS, IT'S NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM THAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HORN WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER DID NOT CATCH THIS PROBLEM WITH THE HORN/AIRBAG. ISN'T THIS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD PUT PASSENGERS AT RISK. WHO WOULD GUESS THAT A PROBLEM WITH THE HORN MAY LEAD TO A DEPLOYMENT PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG?*AK

REQUEST FOR RESTITUTION OF LOSSES RESULTING FROM A VEHICLE FIRE. *MR THE PASSENGER AREA TRANS EQUIPMENT/ELECTRICAL WIRE) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED RESTITUTION. *SCC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE MANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING DUE TO ELECTRICAL FIRE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 28-3088-664. *SLC

KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE INTERGRATED CONTROL MODULE. *AK *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP, THE SHOP ASKED CONSUMER TO BRING VEHICLE BACK IN 2-3 DAYS, HOWEVER A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE CENTER MODULE LOCATED IN THE CONSOLE, CLAIM 28-3088-664. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRINGS, WHERE THE PLASTIC COVERING BEGINS, THE BREAKS WERE DIFFICULT TO FIND, HOWEVER THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE TO LEAD CONSUMER TO THE REAR COIL SPRINGS.*JB

BRAKE PADS WERE WEARING OUT QUICKER THEN NORMALLY. THERE WERE ALSO CLIPS THAT HAVE BROKEN BECAUSE CONSUMER HAS HAD ROTORS CHANGED, AND PADS CHANGED SOON AFTER VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

VEHICLE BURNED FROM THE INSIDE, POSSIBLY ELECTRICAL, FIRE STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD BY THE FLOORBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, CLAIM 04-1295-042. *SLC

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT SEAL FAILED. *YH

HAVING TAKEN CAR INTO DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR INSPECTION. VERY SHOCKED SINCE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO HAUL ANYTHING MORE THAN GROCERIES AND IS DRIVEN VERY SAFELY DUE TO LACK OF HORSE POWER. CALLED OTHER DEALERSHIPS TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH FORD ESCORT AND TO MY SURPRISE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON. REPORTED TO FORD MOTORS AT DETROIT AND WAS TOLD TO GET IT FIXED AND KEEP RECEIPTS JUST INCASE THERE MAYBE A RECALL. 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. WOULD APPRECIATE MY GOVERNMENTS INTERVENTION ON BEHALF OF UNFORTUNATE FORD CONSUMERS.*AK

HOOD LATCH POPS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. HOOD DOES NOT COME UP/ LATCH DOES NOT STAY TIGHT. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CRANKSHAFT PULLY SEPARATED FROM ENGINE BLOCK, CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 30M MILES.*AK

FRONT LEFT TIE ROD WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP BECAUSE COMPONENT WAS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE WEAR, AND WERE VERY NOISY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. *AK LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SLC

DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH AND THERE WAS AN ODOR THAT SMELLED LIKE A FIRECRACKER, VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE NEXT DAY WHEN CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE FLOORBOARDS, CLAIM 35-W686-849. *SLC

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE SHOES AND ROTORS 4 -5 TIMES. DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO DISC BRAKE CALIPERS CAUSING ROTORS TO WARP. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE COUNTRY VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR EXAMINATION BY DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT TWO REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

VEHICLE CAN BE PUT INTO GEARS WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES, ALSO, AT TIMES GEARS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM PARK POSITION, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK