1997 Ford Escort complaints

CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY BROKE AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE HORN WAS STUCK. DEALER STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR IT WAS TAKING THE AIRBAG OUT. CONSUMER WOULD BE CHARGE $ 700-$750. DEALER COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHAT CAUSED IT. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASH PANEL WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THEN, NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS STILL FLASHING, AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. SHE HAD VEHICLE PARKED, THEN SHE GOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. TURNED VEHICLE ON, AND IT STARTED SMOKING. HAD MOVED THE PANEL, AND NOTICED THAT FIRE WAS COMMING FROM THERE. ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD A FRE EXTINGUISHER, AND PUT FIRE OUT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT IT WOULD TAKE $1300 75 TO FIX VEHICLE. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS OWNED 2 FORD ESCORT AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACED THE REAR SPRINGS IN BOTH VEHICLES ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION CONSUMER BELIEVES THE ARE CHEAPLY MADE AND TOO LIGHT. NLM

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH BOTH AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING, NOR HITTING ANYTHING. *AK

BOTH DRIVER & PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED & SHATTERING PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FROM THE FORCE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, TALKED TO DEALER & AIRBAGS KNOCKED OUT THE CLOCK SPRING, MONOITOR, DASH ASSEMBLY, DASH FRAME BUCKET & SENSORS. *AK

CONSUMER LEFT VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP TO DETERMINE WHY A LIGHT IN THE DASH WAS ILLUMINATING, DEALER STATED THAT THE HEATER CORE HAD A HOLE IN IT, CONSUMER SAW THAT VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DASH AND THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS BURNED, CLAIM 24-5124-338. *SLC

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN OPERATING VEHICLE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME OR CLIMBING A HILL. *AK THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. BUT THE TRANSMISSION'S ERRATIC SHIFT UPHILL AND CHECK THE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CONTINUED. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, CAUSING A FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, AND DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT FLASHING. THEN, STOPPED THE NEXT DAY AND INDICATION LIGHT FLASHED. ALSO, COOLING INDICATION LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AUTO REPAIR CENTER TELLS ME THIS IS VERY COMMON! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS SHATTERED. NOTHING HAD HIT IT.*AK

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT THE SAME TIME WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THE REAR COIL SPRINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. *AK

GAS GAUGE DOESN'T SHOW THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GAS ONCE IT REACHES 1/4 OF A TANK. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS ON HIGHWAYS. THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM GOES ON FOR UNKNOWN REASON. THE HORN MALRUNCTIONS TOO. *YH

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, STOPPED CAR , POPPED HOOD AND SAW FIRE NEAR SPARK PLUGS, CONSUMER INDICATED THAT FIRE WENT OUT BY ITSELF, CONSUMER FELT IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, AND THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED IN IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER FEELS THE FIRE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO A PRIOR COLLISION, HEATER CORE LEAKING INTO THE ECS MODULE, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CLAIM 40-2188-822. *SLC

WHILE EXITING A RAMP ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUTDOWN, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

MY SEATBACK BROKE DURING A CRASH W/SIDE IMPACT. *AK

DEFECTIVE HORN PAD SWITCH CAUSED HORN TO BE INOPERATIVE WHICH IS NEEDED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. *AK *ML

MOVING AT 70MPH MOTOR SPUTTERED AND DIED. UNABLE TO RESTART FOR APROX 20 MIN. BOTH TIMES OUT ON THE OPEN ROAD AND OUTSIDE TEMP OVER 100. ENGINE TEMP NORMAL. FUEL BETTER THAN HALF A TANK. *AK

EVERYTIME WHEN IN PARK CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE SHIFT LEVER GEAR. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT TELLS CONSUMER WHICH SCREWDRIVER TO USE IN ORDER TO RELEASE OVERDRIVE. *AK

REAR SPRING LEAF ON THE REAR SHOCKS CRACKED IN HALF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO WOBBLE. THE PART HAS BEEN ORDERED. HOWEVER, IT IS ON BACK ORDER. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND WHEN CONSUMER CAME TO HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED IT WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE AND THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, CLAIM 30-V210-873. *SLC

ONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AND MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN A BUS VEERED INTO HER VEHICLE, AND HIT VEHICLE FROM THE BACK. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND RAN INTO A UTILITY POLE,AND NEITHER DRIVER'S NOR PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CONTINUALLY BLINKED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE MALFUNCTION MAY BE DUE TO A BAD CLOCK SPRING, AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND DIE OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND LINKED THE FIRE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AND FORCED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR AT 22 MPH IMPACT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER IS 4FT 8IN AND IS CONCERN WITH THE AIR BAGS BECAUSE SHE SIT CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. NLM

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

THE HEAD GASKETS WERE STICKING CAUSING SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE. THE HEAD GASKETS, TIMING BELT, THERMOSTAT, AND OTHER VARIOUS PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN DUE TO COMPUTER MODULE FAILURE. ALSO, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY DIED OUT, AND ENGINE BELT, THAT RUNS EVERYTHNG WITHIN THE VEHICLE, DISCONNECTED DUE TO THE HARMONIC BALANCER THAT ALMOST CAME OFF. THREE SENSORS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FALL OFF. CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE PARTS FALLING OFF, AND CAR STOPPED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED . MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT FELL OFF. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS COMING AND STAYING ON. VEHICLE IS VIBRATING UPON ACCELERATION. CONTACTED DEALER AFTER NUMEROUS REPAIRS, NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS BECOME INOPERABLE. HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON WHEN CA RIS WARM. IF CONSUMER RUNS THE CAR FOR AN HOUR WITH HEADLIGHTS ON, THEN SHUTS CAR AND LIGHTS OFF, THEN TURNS SIT BACK ON WITHIN AN HOUR OR TWO, HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON. DEALER CHECKED AND REPLACED RELAY, BUT STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. POSSIBLE FAULTY WIRING. *AK

POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE WIRES BEHIND THE FUSE PANEL TO SHORT CIRCUIT AND MELT WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY IF A FIRE OCCURED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED INTERIOR LIGHT PROBLEMS WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *YC

HORN HAS BLOWN 2 TIMES IN JUST OVER A YEAR, AND IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. *AK

PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND WHILE WAITING FOR A SPACE HEARD LOUD BANGING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED CRANKSHAFT PULLY SYSTEM. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT CIRCUITED BEHIND FUSE BOX AND MELTED WIRING. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE STILL UNKNOWN. CAUSED DASHLIGHTING, TAIL LIGHTS, & REVERSE LIGHTS TO FAIL. *AK

REAR SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, FAILS TO LATCH PROPERLY. LATCH FAILS TO ENTER THE BUCKLE BECAUSE INSIDE LOCKING MECHANISM WAS BROKEN. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT. *AK

VEHICLE WAS AT A STANDSTILL WHEN BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CAUSE. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING ON DASHBOARD, AND AN ODOR APPEARED IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE FREEWAY CAR COLLISION. UP IMPACT ESTIMATED AT 30 MPH, AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO DEPLOY. ( PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY). DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE, RESULTING IN CRACKED PISTONS AND DAMAGED CRANK. FAILED FUEL PUMP/THERMOSTAT. *AK

THE HORN WILL START TO BLOW BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE CAR OR WITHOUT THE CAR BEING STARTED. FUSE HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT IN ORDER TO STOP THE HORN. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE HORN AND THE AIRBAG. *AK

STEERING GEAR NOISE IS PRESENT, HOWEVER NO REMEDY TO SOLVE NOISE PROBLEM. MJS

WHILE DRIVING ON A RAMP VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SMELLED GAS FUMES IN CAR. BROUGHT TO DEALER. FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING DUE TO COMING APART AT THE SEAMS. TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $400.

HEARD A FUNNY SOUND. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY SAID THIS WAS ANORMAL SOUND FOR THE ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE A SECOND TIME BACK TO DEALER AFTER ENGINE WAS MAKING KNOCKING NOISES AND STALLED. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. VEHICLE'S WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

NO SUMMARY

WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL STREET HIT A DOG, AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG BUSTED THE FRONT WINDOW, AND CONSUMER'S HAND WAS BURNED BADLY. *AK