1998 Ford Escort complaints

ENGINE WOULD STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. WOULD BE NO WARNING. WAS MAKING WEIRD NOISES. TOOK TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINE WAS TOO BIG FOR VEHICLE. PART OF THE ENGINE WAS STICKING OUT OR OVERLAPPING. IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THA TPULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. CONSUMER HIT THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A MOTOR MOUNT PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, SO THE CONSUMER WAS ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHERE A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY WAS LOST. *SLC

VEHICLE DOESN'T GO INTO OVERDRIVE ABOUT 60%OF THE TIME. VEHICLE IN A HIGH SPEED AND IT WILL DROP OUT OF OVERDRIVE AND DRIVE. SHE HAS TO PULL OVER TO THE SGOULDERS TO MANUALLY PULL THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. *AK

WHEEL BEARING FAILED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SHAKE AND SMOKE POOR OUT OF IT, CONSUMER ALSO HEARD SHREAKING SOUND. *SLC

VEHICLE MOVES WHILE FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. CONSUMER TRIES TO BRAKE, AND FOOT GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR.*AK

THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE APPARENTLY WEAKENED AND ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY, BEGINNING AT THE TIME OF VEHICLE PURCHASE AND CONTINUING, GROWING WORSE, THROUGH APRIL 2000, WHEN I HAD THE PARTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY; I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A TSB INVOLVING THEM BUT NO RECALL AND NO PUBLIC NOTICE... THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS IF THE WEAKENED MOUNTS BREAK! MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HAD SOME WARNING FROM FORD OR NHTSA THAT THIS MIGHT OCCUR.

CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND & KNOCKED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. HOOD & HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. 29-AUG-2000, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM THE SIDE, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER SPOKE WITH DIFFERENT DEALERS & GOT THE RUN AROUND. CONSUMERS WAS VERY CONCERNED IF IT WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE POINT OF IMPACT. FRONT END COLLISION

NO SUMMARY

NO SUMMARY

HORN WILL GO OFF WITHOUT ANY ONE TOUCHING IT. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH STEREO. *AK

SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC FIXED VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC REPLACED WIRING IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND PROBLEM CAME BACK THREE MONTHS AGO.DEALER TOLD HER TO RIDE WITH SENSOR LIGHT ON. *AK SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON STEADY DUE TO POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) FAILURE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK A GRINDING TICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND MORE CONSTANT THE CLOSER I GOT TO HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME I OPENED THE HOOD TO INVESTIGATE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE OUTSIDE PORTION OF THE CRANKSHAFT VIBRATION DAMPNER PULLEY HAD SLID OUT AND WAS RUBBING ON THE INNER FENDER WELL. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS DESTROYED FROM NOT BEING CENTERED ON THE TENSIONER PULLEY AND RUBBING ON THE FENDER WELL. I AM GOING TO CALL THE DEALER TOMORROW TO REPORT THIS AND SEE IF THEY WILL FIX IT. I JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 TO 55 MPH VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD-ON, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FORD HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CRANSHAFT PULLEY BROKE, AND THEN CRANKSHAFT PULLEY SLID. CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING, AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. *AK

BRAKES MADE 'CLICKING' NOISE WHEN CHANGING DIRECTIONS, FIXED IN DECEMBER, AND AGAIN IN JUNE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS RIGHT! 2ND PROB - WHEN TURNING RIGHT, THERE IS A 'CLICK'. WAS INFORMED BY SERVICER THAT THEY WERE ADVISED NOT TO FIX IT PER FORD MOTOR CO. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN WET CONDITIONS DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND RAN INTO A TREE HEAD ON ,DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO APPLY BRAKES , DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING HEAD INJURIES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COULD FEEL TIRE BUMPIING. THEN, CONSUMER SMELLED RUBBER BURNING. TOOK TO FIRESTONE, AND THEY SAID THAT SET OF THE CAMPER WAS WRONG AND HAS TO BE REMOVED. CONSUMER SAID RIGHT REAR TIRE ON THE INSIDE LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE. TOOK A KNIVE AND TRIED TO CUT A HOLE IN TIRE OFF THE WHEEL.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS SMOKING BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN, CLAIM 24-5125-333. *SLC

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE BALANCER THAT CAME APART THROUGH THE SERPERTINE BELT, ENGINE HEAD GASKET TO BLEW OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO, STALL UNEXPECTLY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

FUEL GUAGE FAILS TO REGISTER THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP/JERK FORWARD IF PLACED INTO GEAR. WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK. REAR PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED. MECHANIC INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG.*AK

CONSUMER HAS CAR TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR A LOOSE AIRBAG, CONSUMER SAYS IT JIGGLES A LOT WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE STREET BECAUSE THE PANEL THAT AIRBAG IS IN IS VERY LOOSE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE FOR PASSENGERS.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER LEAKED INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND MADE LOUD NOISE. LEARNED THAT VEHICLE INGESTS LEAVES AND OTHER MATTER INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. FIX MADE AND CARPET LINER REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER CHEERFULLY AND COMPLETELY REPAIRED EACH TIME, BUT I WAS COUNSELLED TO NOT ALLOW LEAVES TO FALL ONTO VEHICLE AS THEY ARE INGESTED. APPARENT DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

AT 40000 MILES BOLT THAT HELD THE CRANKSHAFT BECAME LOOSE WITHOUT A WARNING. A TECHNICIAN INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK

AC DRAINER AREA SOMEHOW CLOGGED AND WOULD NOT DRAIN PROPERLY. WAS DRAINING INSIDE CABIN CAUSING MUSTY ODOR AND WET CARPET. DEALERSHIP SAID NOT A COMMON PROBLEM, NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY SINCE NO ACTUAL FAILURE, HAD TO REMOVE AC MOTOR, DRAIN AND REINSTALL, ALIGN AND SEAL. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN DEFECT. AC SHOULD NOT SUCK UP DEBRIS LIKE IT DOES CAUSING CLOGS. *AK

FRONT END POPS. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T HEAR AND IF THEY DO HEAR IT NOTHING WRONG. MY WHOLE FAMILY CAN HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. NOW WHAT DO I DO?*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK

THE BATTERY FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON THE DASH. THE CAR WAS JUMP STARTED AND RAN FOR ANOTHER 40MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR DIED AGAIN IN TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE THREE LANE HIGHWAY ONTO TO THE SHOULDER. I RECEIVED ANOTHER JUMP START TO THE BATTERY WITH A BATTERY PACK CONNECTED TO THE CAR BATTERY TERMINALS WHICH ENABLED ME TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY UPON REMOVAL OF THE BATTERY PACK ,THE CAR DIED AGAIN. I WAS TOWED TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE FOLLOWING DAY I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY AND THE CAR STARTED IMMEDIATELY AND CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER REMOVING THE POSTIVE CABLE CONNEDTED TO THE CAR'S BATTERY. A CO-WORKER INFORMED ME TODAY HE REGULARLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON HIS ESCORT ABOUT EVERY TWO YEARS. HE ALSO HAD NO PRIOR WARNING OF IMMINENT BATTERY FAILURE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40-45MPH HAD FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. NO PRIOR PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *AK *ML

ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR 2 DAYS. DEALERSHIP INSISTED ONLY LOSE CLAMP, TRANS OK. ON 4/30/00 BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH 1ST GEAR. HAD TO HAVE COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF TRANSMISSION. *AK

RADIO AND CD FAILURE. UNCLEAR RADIO SIGNAL AND NO CD PLAYING CAPABILITY. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT STEERING/ BRAKES SQUEAKED. *AK

SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE OF MY FORD ESCORT SEDAN, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK AND INSPECT THE VIBRATION SOUND OF THE VEHICLE IN WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING, I FEEL THE VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. SECONDLY THE STEERING WHEEL SQUEAKS WHEN TURNING IT TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT, ESPECIALLY AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT AND RIGHT TURN. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND IS AT THE NORMAL LEVEL. THIRDLY, I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3000 MILES AND HAVE NOTICE TWICE THAT THE MOTOR BURNS UP ALMOST A QUART OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES, I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THE VEHICLE TAKE 5 QUARTS OF OIL. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 4 CYLINDER, SO IT SHOULD TAKE 4 QUARTS. HOWEVER, THEY TELL ME TO CHECK AGAIN. I HAVE A FORD ESCORT WAGON 1982, AND I NEVER HAD THE PROBLEMS THAT THIS FORD ESCORT 1998 IS HAVING. PLEASE ADVICE ME WHAT TO DO AND SEND ME ANY INFORMATION ON RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE FORD ESCORT SEDAN, 4 DOORS WHITE, VIN NUMBER [XXX] . SEMPER FI. [XXX] USMC RETIRED. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHEN VEHICLE REAR ENDED A SUV WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 69MPH HOOD ATTEMPTED TO POP & WAS CAUGHT BY A SECONDARY LATCH. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE LATCH, AND IT WOULD NOT RELEASE BY PULLING CABLE. BUT COULD PULL IT UP BY HAND. DEALER WILL REPAIR HOOD AT CONSUMER'S COST & DEDUCTIBLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE REMAINED OPEN AND WAS STUCK. ENDED UP HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO HIT A TREE & A POLE. TRIED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL & VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. FINALLY SHUT VEHICLE OFF. SOMETIME LATER, RESTARTED VEHICLE & IT WAS STILL RUNNING AT FULL THROTTLE. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

THIS VEHICLE WAS IN A REAR END ACCIDENT WERE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME TOTALLY DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE DIED. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH AND WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY, RESULTING IN SEVERAL MINOR PROBLEMS. CONSUMER HAS NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH VEHICLE STARTED WANDERING FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON THE ROAD AND VIBRATE FROM REAR TO FRONT. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO USE THE HORN IT WON'T WORK, BUT SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK BY ITSELF. *AK

TRUNK DID NOT STAY OPEN. IT HAS FALLEN ON CONSUMER, CAUSING HEAD INJURIES. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

POOR PICKUP, POOR INTERSTATE ONRAMP SPEED, ROUGH IDLE. *AK

ON HIGHWAY UNDER SNOWY AND ICY CONDITIONS CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND THEY WOULD NOT TURN ON. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE. *AK

VEHICLE STARTED, ENGINE RATTLED UPON ACCELERATION AT ALL SPEEDS AT 2300 MILES. AFTER NUMEROUS FAILED REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY DEALER,I SENT COMPLAINT TO FORDS DSB BOARD.WORKING THROGH ARBITRATION VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY ENGINEER.THEY REPLACED PCM.PROBLEM GOT WORSE,ALONG WITH NEW PROBLEMS,LACK OF POWER,HARD START,TRANSMISSION HESITAING.THEN THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP,DIDNT HELP, THEN IGNITION SWITCH, DIDNT HELP,THEN MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND AIR FILTER, DIDNT HELP.FINALLY VEHICLE STARTED STALLING WHILE DRIVING, DURING ACC. TOWED BACK TO SHOP, FORD HAD IT SIX WEEKS THIS TIME REPLACED PCM TWO MORE TIMES.I HAVE VEHICLE BACK,STILL PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION HESITATING.VEHICLE IN SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR SAME OR RELATED PROBLEMS AND TOTALLING ALMOST THREE MONTHS IN SHOP. STILL IN ARBITRATION, CONSDERING CLOSING CASE AND TAKING TO DSB. PERSONALLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING & THEN APPLYING BRAKES, WOULD HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC REPLACED CALIPERS. CURRENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY WOULD STICK & MAKE GRINDING NOISES WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 30-55MPH. THEN AFTER A WHILE NOISE WOULD STOP. TAKING VEHICLE BACK AGAIN TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN WET CONDITIONS VEHICLE SLIDES INTO THE LANE BESIDE IT, LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH CONSUMER HIT A HALL, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, IT BECAME HOT, CAUSING UNJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED THE SENSOR FLEW OUT, HITTING AND INJURING THE DRIVER. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK