1998 Ford Escort complaints

HARMONIC BALANCER SEPARATED/BROKE CAUSING SERPENTINE AND TIMING BELTS TO MALFUNCTION.NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE AND LUCKILY IT OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING.ORIGINAL WARRANTY "EXPIRED" LESS THAN 2 MONTHS PRIOR.UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM MECHANICS AND THE NHTSA WEBSITE.

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, IT OFTEN REVS AT HIGH RPM AND DOES NOT RETURN TO A NORMAL RPM UNLESS VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.*JB

THE CAR IS CONSTANTLY SHAKING, ONCE YOU PUT THE GEARSHIFT IN DRIVE. CAR WAS CHECKED AND REVIEWED BY MECHANIC THROUGH THE COMPUTER.THE TPS WAS REPLACED. THE MOTOR SUPPORT RUBBERS ARE OK. WENT TO FORD DEALER AND THEY DO NOT FIND HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.THIS CONTINUOUS SHAKING MOVEMENT IS REALLY ANNOYING.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE, AND LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF BRAKES AND LANDED IN A DITCH, AND SUFFERED ONLY MINOR INJURIES, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT A BOLT NEVER SNAPS FROM THE BOOSTER IN THAT WAY, FUTHERMORE THE DELAER STATES THAT THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. AND A NEW ONE WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE.*JB

DAMPNER PULLEY CAME APART FROM CRANKSHAFT. INSIDE WALL OF VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY THING KEEPING IT FROM FALLING OUT ONTO THE GROUND. I NOTIFIED FORD COMPANY THAT A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PARTS FALLING OFF. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD RAN OUT. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE ATTITUDE THEY HAVE TOWARDS THEIR CUSTOMERS. *AK

THE IGNITION KEY AND LOCK WERE EXTREMELY HOT TO TOUCH WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS.*JB

TIRE T301887-GCW-74M8MS - TIRE BLOWOUT AT 65 MPH. *AK (DOT NUMBER: MKMF BEWR TIRESIZE: P185/60R15)

WIRES THAT POWER FUEL PUMP SHORT ACROSS EACH OTHER. THIS PUMP AND WIRING IS IN THE FUEL TANK. CAR IS BEING REPAIR OUTSIDE OF A FORD DEALERSHIP SO FORD DOES NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED. DEALER WAS SHOWN THE DEFECTIVE PART AND WAS CONCERNED BUT REGIONAL SERVICE REP DID NOT CARE TO EVEN SEE PART. CALLED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE BUT THEY WERE NOT INTRESTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP, BUT PEDAL WILL GO ALWAY TO FLOOR ,AND TIRES WILL NOT SKID.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. *JB

SEATBELT RETRACTORS IN THE BACK OF VEHICLE CONTINUALLY TIGHTEN, AND WILL NOT ALLOW FOR CONSUMER TO LEAN OR MOVE FORWARD. CONSUMER HAS TO RELEASE BUCKLE AND REATTACH BUCKLE IN ORDER HAVE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. DEAELR HAS REPLACED 3-4 SETS OF BRAKES. ALSO, REPLACED ROTORS TWICE, AND RESURFACED ROTORS TWICE.THERE WAS CONSTANT SQUEAKING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.*AK

BECAUSE CRANKSHAFT DAMPNER IS DEFECTIVE SERPENTINE BELT WAS WORN OUT AND REPLACED. WHEN IT WAS WORN OUT AGAIN IN ONLY 5000 MILES THE PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT DAMPNER WAS FOUND.*AK

TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH. PRIOR TO BREAK DOWN, HAD HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND. VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD. WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A USED ONE SINCE OLD TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPAIRABLE.*AK

WAS TRAVELING 35-40MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND WAS HIT HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES OR EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT. WENT TO DEALER LATER.*AK

I WAS REAR-ENDED BY A MOVING TRUCK (LIKE A RYDER TRUCK) WHO WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN HE HIT ME. I WAS ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE PROBLEM THAT I AM ASKING ABOUT, BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS REPORTED, IS THAT MY SEAT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT, BROKE AND TWISTED ON IMPACT. AFTER THE IMPACT THE SEAT WAS LEFT BENT BACKWARDS AND TWISTED TO THE RIGHT CONSISTENT WITH MY INJURIES. I GUESS WHAT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IS, SHOULD THE SEAT HAVE DONE THAT AT THAT IMPACT SPEED WITH A WOMAN SITTING IN THE SEAT THAT IS 5' 5" AND WEIGHT 140 LBS? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER MY QUESTION OR IF THIS IS EVEN THE RIGHT PLACE TO ASK BUT I JUST THOUGHT THAT I WOULD TRY. THANKS FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FUELTANK GAS WILL SPEW OUT OF TANK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HIS VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. MY SON'S CAR SPUN 90 DEGREES AND LANDED ON THE SIDE OF AN EMBANKMENT. THE CAR DID NOT FLIP AND LANDED RIGHT SIDE UP. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY SON NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY, HE WAS NOT KNOCKED UNCONSIOUS AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR QUICKLY. WITHIN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES, HE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE FLOORBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN 10-15 MINUTES. IF THIS ACCIDENT HAD HAPPENED ON A REMOTE ROAD AND MY SON WOULD OF BEEN INJURED MORE SERIOUSLY, AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF HIS CAR, AND WOULD HAVE BURNED TO DEATH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE CAR TO START ON FIRE. EVEN THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID THE CAR SHOULDN'T HAVE STARTED ON FIRE.*AK

PE00 048; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. SHE SAW SMOKE FROM REARVIEW MIRRIOR. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND NOTICED THAT FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. GOODYEAR TIRE. GOODYEAR WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE TURNING OFF IGNITION, CONSUMER NOTICED A FIRE UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AREA, CLAIM 14-1385-223. *SLC

VEHICLE VIBRATES TERRIBLY AT STOPS SIGNS, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT FORD IS AWARE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM,WHICH IS CALLED "POOR IDLE QUALITY" AND THAT A RECALL WOULD PROBABLY GO OUT SOON TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTIFICATION AND THE VIBATION IS INTOLERABLE AND VERY LOUD. *JB

REPORTING DEALER / INDEPENDENT AUTO PARTS SHOP ARE UNABLE TO GET OR HAVE REPLACEMENT HARDWARE( SPRING & CLIPS) NEEDED TO REPAIR BOTH REAR WHEEL CYLINDER BRAKES. MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS STILL LOOKING FOR PARTS FOR SPRINGS, CLIPS AND PINS. *YH

PULLEY HAD FROZEN AND SERPENTINE BELT HAD CAME OFF. IT WAS FRAYED. IT THEN SHOT UP INTO THE TIMING BELT. THIS CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO JUMP & CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS PROBLEM HAD HAPPENED. THE MECHANIC HAD REPAIRED IT THE FIRST TIME AT 24,000 MILES.*AK THE SURPENTINE BELTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 25000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 54000 MILES. *YH

CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AND WAS FORCED INTO A VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

FUEL PUMP FAILS EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT BUT THEY SAY NO PROBLEM KNOW OF OTHER FAILURES ON AT LEAST 3 AUTO IN OUR AREA ALONE. *AK

VEHICLE HIT POLE HEAD-ON AT 30 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, $ AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE HIT POLE, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELTS DID NOT WORK, DRIVER AND PASSENGER HIT THEIR HEADS ON WINDSHIELD. *AK

FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FREEZES, HALF OF PADS IS BEING APPLIED TO ROTORS, RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEARING OF ROTORS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY A CHAIN REACTION MULTIPLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS ONLY OCCUPANT, AND SHE SUSTAINED MODERATE/SEVERE INJURIES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH ON DRY ROADS ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT TRYING NOT TO HIT VEHICLE. CONSUMER HIT TWO PARKED CARS INSTEAD. AIRBAGS IN FRONT DIDN'T DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER REFERRED CONSUEMR TO A FORD DEALER. VEHICLE HAS A FUEL INJECTION SWITCH THAT CUT VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING, CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT VEHICLE WHO FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING FUEL, THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP, ALSO 2 WIRES, A POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE, HAD SOLDERED TOGETHER AND HAD BARE SPOTS THAT WERE TOUCHING, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COULD HAVE BLOWN UP, FORD WILL NOT ASSIST CONSUMER AT ALL IN THIS MATTER. *SCL

CONSUMER WAS ON A SIDE STREET TURNING INTO A PARKING LANE. AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HER FROM BEHIND, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF ALL THE WAY. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAD DIDN'T DEPLOY ALL THE WAY. *AK

WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A TURN ANOTHER CAR HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON RIGHT SIDE. DASHBOARD CRACKED, BUT NONE OF FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT.*AK

CONSUMER'S WIFE ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO ROAD, SHE STEPPED ON GAS, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THEN, AFTER JUGGING GEAR SHIFT AROUND VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. *AK THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED HITTING THE CORNER OF THE GARAGE AND WAS TOTTALED. *YH

A SEVERE FOGGED FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE OR CLEANED IT. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE CONTINUOSLY STALLS OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CONSUMER MUST PULL OVER AND WAIT ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO RESTART VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK THERE WAS A RECALL ON EMISSION AND SERVICE WAS DONE BY THE DEALER PRIOR TO THE STALLING PROBLEM. *YH

WHILE DRIVING HORN KEPT GOING OFF WHICH MIGHT STARTLE OCCUPANT AND CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 59,000 MILES. AIRBAG LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

OPENING AND CLOSING OF HATCHBACK DOOR HAS CAUSED INSTALLATION ON WIRING HARNESS TO FRAY OFF, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE POTENTIAL. *AK THE RUBBER COVERING THE WIRE HARNESS FOR HATCHBACK DOOR WAS FRAYED AND THREE OF THE TOP WIRES WERE EXPOSED. THIS HAS POTENTIAL FOR ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. *YH

CONSUMER GOT INTO A ACCIDENT AT 25MPH AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO PRIOR WARNINGS. HAS NOT CONDUCTED DEALER.*AK

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 40-45 MPH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

AIR VACCUME CONTROL

THE VEHICLE SEENS TO BE SHAKING, VIBRATING, STALLING AND HIGH IDLE IN THE ENGINE. NLM

DRIVER/PASSENGER HEADRESTS HAVE STAPLES AT BOTTOM & THEY ARE COMING OUT. PART OF HEADREST IS SEWN. BOTTOM OF HEADREST IS NOT COMING APART EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LOSING STAPLES. HAVE NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED TO BRING VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED. TOOK VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS LATER, AND REPRESENTATIVE CHECKED IT OUT. TOOK DOWN SOME INFORMATION & NOTHING ELSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 30MPH DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A LIGHT POLE HEAD-ON, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. FORD HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

TIRES (NO MAKE OR SIZE) WILL NOT HOLD AIR ADEQUATELY, CONSUMER ADDS AIR ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, TIRE PRESSURE IS AS LOW AS 20. *SLC

ENGINE VIBRATES, AND HAS A HIGH IDLE. ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND SHAKES. ENGINE SURGES AND HESITATES. CAR STALLS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS SAME REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE OF IT. THE MECHANICS HAVE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, FUEL GUAGE, FUEL FILTER, VALVE IDLE AIR CONTROL, VAPOR MANAGEMENT, MOTOR MOUNTS. THE DEARLERSHIP IN HILLSBOROUGH REPLACED A CABLE SOMETHING (THE SERVICE MANGER QUIT AND A TICKET WAS NOT FOUND FOR THIS REPAIR.) THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT BEING TOTALLY FIXED. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR STALLING, THE REPAIR WAS DONE, BUT THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR CONTINUED TO STALL. AS OF THIS DATE, I AM TAKING THE CAR IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. PLEASE NOTE: IN REVIEWING THE INFORMATION AFTER SUBMITTTING I NOTICED THAT IN # OF FAILURES PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED 8 TIMES WITH THE DATE OF 7/24/98. THIS IS INCORRECT, CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS WERE NOT USED.*AK

ENTERED EXPRESSWAY AND THROTTLE LINKAGE STUCK OPEN. GOT VEHICLE SLOWED FROM UPWARDS TO 75 MPH BY SMASHING BRAKES AND SLOWED ENOUGH TO EXIT. WAS NOT ABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO A STOP SO TURNED RIGHT ON EXITED STREET AND ONCE STRAIGHTENED OUT, WHILE STILL MOVING AT APPROX. 30MPH, SHIFTED IN NEUTRAL, LETTING THE MOTOR RACE UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP. AT THAT TIME LEVER WAS PUT INTO PARK AND MOTOR TURNED OFF. DRIVER SHAKEN UP AND VEHICLE MOTOR MAY BE COMPROMISED DUE TO STUCK ACCELERATOR OVER-REVVING. LOOKED FOR A RECALL FOR MODEL TYPE FOR STUCK THROTTLE LINKAGE-NONE FOR ESCORT BUT THERE IS ONE FOR FORD LIKE MODEL, THE CONTOUR, RECALL # 99V194000. ESCORT WAS BUILT IN 3/1998 WHICH FALLS UNDER TIME OF RECALL FOR OTHER FORD PRODUCT.*AK

I LIVE IN BURLINGTON ONTARIO CANADA, YET FELT THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED BEYOND CONTACTING THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION IN CANADA, (OF WHICH I AM IN THE PROCESS OF DOING). I BELONG TO A LARGE GROUP OF ESCORT ZX2 OWNERS WHO ARE ON THE SECOND AND EVEN 3RD TRANSMISSION! THIS MODEL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1998(THE YEAR OF MY CAR) AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR TRANSMISSIONS. IT IS EXTREMELY WEAK AND HAS FREQUENT MIS-SYNCING SHIFTS. I FEEL THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE, YET ONE THAT DESERVES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. PLEASE HAVE FORD DO A STUDY ON THIS TRANSMISSION AND COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF "FIX" AS THE PRESENT IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERY OTHER CHANNEL OF WHICH I COULD IN CANADA AND AM NOW COMING TO YOU. PLEASE HELP.*AK

CAR "TOTALED" IN REAR-END WRECK. PASSENGER SEATBACK COLLAPSED WHEN HIT FROM REAR, HARD CONTACT WITH 3-POINT SEAT BELTS WHEN THROWN FORWARD WHEN CAR CRASHED INTO VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT. GOT RIDE TO HOSPITAL IN AMBULANCE! DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK DID NOT COLLAPSE, DRIVER OKAY.

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM