1997 Ford Escort complaints

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN ALARM SOUNDED, DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE WIRING SHORTED OUT THE HORN, ANOTHER DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE WIRING BURNED INTO THE HORN, CLAIM 40-2507-626. *SLC

HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ENGINE IDLING. LOUD NOISE SUCH AS METAL ON METAL EMINATED FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALER. ADVISED BY DEALER THAT PART POORLY DESIGNED AND NEW DESIGN IN STOCK FOR REPLACEMENT. THERMOSTAT REMAINED OPEN NOT ALLOWING ENGINE TO REACH OPERATING TEMPERATURE. WHEN REPLACED, THE ORIGINAL THERMOSTAT CAME OUT OF HOUSING IN THREE SEPARATE PIECES. FUEL PUMP MADE WHINING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WHICH CAUSES WIRES TO BLOW A FUSE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

MY CONCERN IS THAT FORD MAY HAVE DEFAULTED FUEL TANKS FOR THIS CAR MODEL. I DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING, OR DO ANYTHING TO CAUSE MY FUEL TANK TO LEAK GAS. THE LEAK IS RIGHT ON THE SEAM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TANK, WHERE THE MANUFACTURER HAD PUT IT TOGETHER. I FILL UP MY TANK ONE DAY AND NOTICE GAS POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG IT WAS LEAKING BEFORE I NOTICED IT, THEREFORE I WAS DRIVING AROUND A TIMEBOMB JUST WAITING TO BLOW UP. BY THE SIMPLE ACT OF SOMEONE FLICKING A CIGARETTE OUT OF THEIR WINDOW, OR IF SOMEONE RAN INTO ME. MY CAR COULD BLOW UP AT ANY TIME. THAT IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT TO PREVENT SUCH DEATH FROM HAPPENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.*AK

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE A METAL TO METAL GRINDING/RUBBING NOISE WAS BEING EMITTED FROM VEHICLE, UNKNOWN LOCATION. . THEN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, AND IN GENERAL SEEMED BOUNCY. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REAR BOLT SPRINGS WERE BUSTED, AND THAT GAS STRUTS WERE BUSTED/ LEAKING FLUID. *AK REAR STRUTS AND SPRINGS BROKE AND LEAKING. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNED OUT. *AK *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THERE IS DAMAGE UNDER THE DASH, CLAIM 53-C737-570. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, TURN SIGNAL FOR RIGHT SIDE WILL ACTIVATE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING TO OTHER DRIVERS THAT CONSUMER WILL MAKE A TURN.*AK CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A SHORT. *SLC

THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ON MY 1997 FORD ESCORT STATION WAGON ARE CRACKING ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OR HAVE CRACKED THROUGH TO EXPOSE THE STEEL CORD. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THAT THEY DO NOT WARRANTY THE TIRES AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR DEALER WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES AND INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE LOOKED LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEY SAID THAT GOODYEAR WOULD AUTHORIZE THEM TO GIVE ME A PARTIAL CREDIT FOR THE TIRES IF I REPLACED THEM WITH ANOTHER SET OF GOODYEAR TIRES BUT THAT THEY WOULD NOT EXCAHNGE THEM FOR NEW TIRES AT NO COST.*AK (DOT NUMBER: MD7J TIRESIZE: 185/65R14)

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED A HALF INCH DROP IN ROAD. CONSUMER DROVE SLOWLY OVER THE DROP WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT CONSUMER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND SOME SPARKS COME FROM UNDERNEATH PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, THE AREA WHERE SPARKS AND SMOKE CAME FROM IS THE EXACT SAME AREA WHERE AVR HAD WORKED, FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE CENTERED UNDER THE SEAT, CLAIM 03-3209-456. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ERRATIC OPERATION OF HORN. HORN WILL GO OFF WITHOUT CONSUMER ENGAGING IT. DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING AIRBAG AS WELL AS HORN TO FIX THIS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

THE HEATER CORE LEAKED ONTO THE AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MODULE, CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT AND CATCH ON FIRE. THIS ITEM WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE HEATER CORE FOR A COST OF $955.00. I HAD TO REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM CATCHING ON FIRE AND BURNING UP, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT STEGALL FORD IN PONTOTOC STATED I SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN BECAUSE THE NEW PART WAS SEALED IN PLASTIC. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR ODI ID LOGS OF 865884,867236,845896 AND 845837 ALONG WITH NUMEROUS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS FOR THIS MODEL CAR FOR NO REASON. I BELIEVE THIS PART WAS CHANGED BY FORD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED ON ALL MODELS. I WORK AS A DESIGN ENGINEER AND IF AN ELECTRICAL ITEM IS SUBJECT TO MOISTURE INJESTION, IT SHOULD BE SEALED OR POTTED TO ELIMINATE SHORTS AND FAILURE. THE PLACEMENT OF THIS MODULE UNDER THE HEATER CORE WAS WRONG, I NOTIFIED FORD AND THEY ONLY APOLIGIZED FOR THE HEATER CORE LEAK, THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIR BAG MODULE, I AGAIN NOTIFIED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT ON THIS ITEM, SINCE THE DESIGN HAD BEEN CHANGED, THEY HAVE NOT REPLIED TO THIS IN OVER A WEEK, STATING IT WOULD ONLY TAKE 3 DAYS FOR A REPLY. TO ME THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, I HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST UNDER FDA GUIDELINES IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY WITH REPORTING AND I DO NOT LIKE THE WAY THIS IS BEING HANDLED BY FORD, THEY ARE ACTING LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING, A PERSONS LIFE OR PERSONAL INJURY IS NOT SOMETHING TO SW

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

WHILE IN FOR STATE INSPECTION, WAS TOLD BY LOCAL GARAGE THAT CAR WOULD FAIL DUE TO REAR SPRING BEING BROKEN. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD REPLACED SPRINGS ON OTHER '97 ESCORTS AND RECOMMENDED I CALL THE DEALER ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALL. CALLED PLEASANT VALLEY FORD, SPOKE TO STEVE IN SERVICE, SAID NO RECALL YET BUT WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF ONE SOON. SAID NOT SAFE TO DRIVE CAR SINCE SPRING COULD PUNCTURE TIRE. SAID SAVE RECEIPT. HAD CAR REPAIRED, HAVE RECEIPT AND BROKEN SPRING. WILL BE CALLING FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 2/27/01

CONSUMER CAME TO VEHICLE AFTER A DAY OF WORK AND INTERIOR WAS SMOKEY, DASHBOARD AND INTERIOR WERE BURNED, ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CLAIM 05-4593-366. *SLC

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. *AK MECHANIC STATED COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN TWO, HOWEVER INVOICE STATED THAT SPRINGS WERE WEAK, CONSUMER PAID 20% OF THE COSTS. *SLC

FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. ACCORDING TO AUTO REPAIR SHOPS OPENIONS, COIL SPRING FAILURE WAS A COMMON OCCURRANCE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLES. ALSO, THE BROKEN PIECES COULD DAMAGE TIRES. *YH

THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN IT IS APPLIED, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE HORN SWITCH WAS STUCK ON PART OF THE AIR BAG, DEALER REPLACED HORN AND DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG. NLM

RADIATOR REPLACED, OLD RADIATOR LEAKING AT TANK SEAM SPLIT. CJ

BOTH REAR SPRINGS & RIGHT REAR OUTER TIE ROD BROKE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS SITTING INSIDE OF DRIVEWAY, CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING TIRES, AND NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES WERE SPLITTING IN SEAMS. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED AND WERE REPLACED . UNIROYAL AWP TIGER PAW, P185/65R14, DOT AP7JJKUU426. *AK 2 YEARS AFTER REPLACING TIRES, CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 4 MORE DUE TO SPLITTING AROUND THE TREAD PART OF TH TIRE. *SLC

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSEPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT 27906 MILES, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF IS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK

BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES FURTHER DOWN THAN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH CAUSES ONE FOOT TO HIT BOTH PEDALS. *AK

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

IGNITION LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT UNLOCK UNTIL THE STERRING WHEEL IS PULLED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT SEVERAL TIMES. THE STERRING WHEEL AND COLUMN IS LOCKED UP AND THE IGNITION WILL NOT WORK. *AK

THE REAR COIL SPRING WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH CAUSING UNUSUAL HANDLING, A PLASTIC SLEVE PLACED AROUND THE STEEL COIL MAY HAVE TRAPPED MOISTURE BETWEEN THE STEEL AND PLASTIC CAUSING RUST OVER TIME AND EVENTUALLY BREAKING THE COIL. NLM

VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, AND MECHANIC NOTICED ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS CHAFED AND WORN, IT WAS REPLACED. CONTACTED FORD COMPANY, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH CONSUMER. NEVER CONTACTED HIM. CONSUMER CONCERNED WITH SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS. *AK THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS ABRADED AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

HOW CAN A DEALERSHIP NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION ARE BOTH FOREIGN ITEMS. IF I WANTED TO PURCHASE A FOREIGN CAR I WOULD HAVE. AND FOR BOTH MOTOR REPLACEMENT COST $2600 AND TRANSMISSION $2800 TO GO OUT THE SAME TIME. ISN'T THERE SOME LAW THAT STATES A DEALERSHIP/MFG MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (PARTS) BEING USED IN A AUTOMOBILE??

MANUFACTURER CONTACTED - OWNER TOLD WARRANTY NOT COVERED MANUFACUTRER'S DEFECTS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

HARMONIC BALANCER CRANKSHAFT CAME OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. PART WAS DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING LOT WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING, AGAIN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A SAND PILE AND BUILDING, THE SANDPILE PLUGGED THE TAILED PIPE CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, ACCIDENT RESULTED IN 1 INJURY. NLM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT. HORN WAS BLOWING CONSTANLY AND THEN IT STARTED BEEPING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT SHE LEFT HER VEHICLE PARKED IN THE SUN AND THE SUN DAMAGED THE HORN. AND IN ORDER FOR HER TO FIX IT THE MECHANIC NEEDED TO GO INTO STEERING COLUMN WITH AIRBAG AND THE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION & MECHANIC NOTICED REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME PLACE. VEHICLE WAS REJECTED. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT PLACE & IT PASSED INSPECTION. BREAK IS 1/8 INCH LONG & ITS THE 2ND COIL SPRING FROM THE BOTTOM. WILL BE TAKING IT TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

TIMING BELT WAS BROKE HAD REPLACED IT CAR ONLY RUNS ON 2 CYLINDERS CAR NOT RUNNING. *AK

IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILURE RESULITING IN IDLE BEING ERRETIC WILL RACE UP TO 2,500 RPM BY IT'S SELF AND WHEN IN GEAR SUDDEN ACCELERATION ALSO ENGINE FAN WILL NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN KEY IS OFF

IN OCT OF 1998 HORN STARTED TO ACTIVATE AND WON'T STOP UNLESS DRIVER UNPLUGGED IT, CONSUMER WAS OUT OF AN AIRBAG AND HORN FOR A MONTH, CONSUMER SA0ID THATCURRENTLY PROBLEM WAS BACK, AND DEALER WASTRYING TO CHARGE CONSUMER $700.00 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE. *YH

VEHICLE WOULD START TO SPUTTER WHEN STARTED. WOULD NEED TO GIVE GAS TO GET VEHICLE RUNNING & THEN MOVING. AT OTHER TIMES, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING. CAN SMELL ANTI-FREEZE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED HEAD GASKET THE LAST TIME. *AK THE HEAD GASKET FAILED OVER AND OVER AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED. *YH

IF MY CAR WASN'T SITTING STILL WHEN THIS PART CAME LOSE I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR. IT SHREDDED THE BELT THAT WAS ATTATCHED TO THIS AND CAME TO REST ON MY TIMING BELT AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I KNOW THAT THE WARENTY IS UP AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN DO BUT I FEEL AS THOUGH THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN! *AK

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

WHILE PARKED WITH NO PASSENGERS BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WITHIN 4 MTHS HAD PROBLEM W/ TRANSMISSION, TOOK 4 MINS FOR DEALER TO SAY THERES NOTHING WRONG, WHEN I GOT MY NEW TIRES FOR PEPBOYS I HAD TO FIX MY BRAKES, TRANSMISSION,SUSPENSION, EVEN GOT SPEED TICKETS FOR NO REASON,I KEEP MY CAR IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND I STILL HAVE MY ENGINE LIGHT ON AND I HAVE ABOUT 70% OF THE SAME PROBLEMS OTHERS HAVE IN THE NHTSACMPLT SECTION. I THINK THE ESCORT SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SO MANY UNSAFE PROBLEMS.( DOT NUMBER: UJ956KLP12 TIRE SIZE: P19570R14 )

BOTTOM PULLEY/CRANKSHAFT HAS SLOWLY SEPARATED AND CUT INTO THE FIREWALL.*AK WHEN TURNING LEFT, THE ENGINE TILTS AND THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CUTS INTO THE RIGHT FENDER. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT IS DUE TO DEFECT. *YH

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON A SIDE ROAD AND STRUCK A DEER. AIRBAGS INFLATED AT THIS TIME, AND CONSUMER WAS BLINDED . THERE WAS SMOKE DUST EVERYWHERE. WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF, AIRBAG BROKE HIS WRIST.*AK

TWO BROKEN REAR SPRING AND A RIGHT SIDE OUTER TIE ROD END, IN ADDITION TO FRONT BRAKE PADS, POSSIBLE SPRINGS WERE OF POOR QUALITY