1999 Ford Escort complaints

NHTSA#10003194/612956/606433/6092008/615400/615476/615381 ENGINE VIBRATION FELT THRU STEERING WHEEL WHILE IN GEAR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER FELT VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT.*AK

DURING A STATE INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE STATE OFFICER THAT THE FRONT END DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE UPPER LEFT FRONT TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE IN 2002 AND 2003. THE CONSUMERS CONCERN IS THAT THE LOWER RIGHT AND LEFT TIE ROD MAY GO SOON. *SCC *JB

AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL AND A FUEL INJECTION CLEANER, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN BLOWING HOT AIR JUNE 2002 TOOK IN FOR REPAIR AND RICART FORD CLAIMED IT WAS THE MODULE. THE PART WAS NOT COVERED ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN AND IT WAS OVER $500 TO REPAIR. DECLINED REPAIRS. THE FOLLOWING SPRING AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN WORKING ON ITS OWN APRIL 2003. JULY 2003 THE AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN BLOWING HOT AIR AND WOULD BLOW OUT COLD AIR IF IN THE SHADE OR TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS COOL. AT THIS TIME THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT FUNCTIONING. *LA

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT SAME TIME. CAR HAD ONLY 37,000 MILES AND WAS 4 YEARS OLD. INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN FIXED AT LEAST 8 OTHER FORD ESCORTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

CAR METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED YET BOTH REAR SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES (CLOSE TO $300 REPAIR) DUE TO THEIR BOTH BEING FRACTURED ON THE BOTTOM-MOST LOOP. *LA

WE ARE HAVING A VIBRATION PROBLEM WITH OUR FORD ESCORT. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE WITH THE DESCRIPTION "IT'S IDLING ROUGH". THE SERVICE CENTER CAME BACK TO ME WITH A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" FROM FORD OUTLINING A PROCEDURE TO LIMIT VIBRATION. APPARENTLY, THE VIBRATION STEMS FROM INADEQUATE/IMPROPER ENGINE MOUNTS IN THIS MODEL ESCORT. THE SERVICE OUTLINED REQUIRES CHANGING THE TYPE OF PARTS USED IN MOUNTING THE ENGINE, AND THE TSB CONTAINS INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODIFICATIONS TO BE DONE BY THE REPAIR CENTER PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. FORD IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THIS SITUATION, AS THE TSB ALSO STATES THIS AFFECTS ESCORTS FROM 1997-2002, ESCORT ZX2 FROM 1998-2003, AND THE TRACER FROM 1997-1999. WE WERE TOLD THE REPAIR BILL TO FIX THIS WOULD BE $380.00! I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS DEFECT FIXED. I CONTACTED FORD, AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD "SORRY , WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX THIS, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY." THE PROBLEM CAME TO MY ATTENTION BECAUSE EVERYTHIUNG IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT NOT SCREWED DOWN RATTLES LIKE A ONE-MAN-BAND. THIS HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO PROBLEMS IN THE ENGINE TUNING. THANKS TO A WELL-INFORMED SERVICE TECHNICIAN, I NOW KNOW THE REAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT LEFT UNCHECKED, THE VIBRATIONS COULD CAUSE MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE ON THE CAR, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ACTION TAKEN TO SEE THAT FORD CORRECTS THIS DEFECTIVE PART ON MY CAR.*AK

1999 FORD ESCORT WAGON 77,000 MILE PURCHASED NEW REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS DESCRIBED AS CRACKED BY LOCAL SERVICE STATION AT TIME OF SAFETY INSPECTION - VEHICLE WAS FAILED AS UNSAFE REQUIRING REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT FOUND TSB 14993 ON THIS SITE NOTING SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURE POTENTIAL IF THIS CAN FAIL A VEHICLE AS UNSAFE ITS TIME FOR A RECALL! *LA

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO DRIVER HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND THAT REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. *AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO A DEALER AND STAYED OVER NIGHT. THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND WHEN HE GOT IN THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE STARTED IT HE REALIZED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. HE WAS TOLD TO PUMP THE GAS PEDAL AT WHICH TIME BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AS WELL AS THE DEALER, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS CAUSED FOR AFTER MARKET PRODUCTS THAT WERE INSTALL IN THE VEHICLE. *NLM

THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG POPPED OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A BRICK MAIL BOX. AFTER THE COLLISION THE OTHER AIRBAG POPPED OUT. I FILED A POLICE STATEMENT AND I HAD A WITNESS DRIVING BEHIND ME WHO SAW WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED A CALL AS OF 8/25/03. *AK

CONSUMER STATES CONECTING ROD TO THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE, CAUSSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY CAR AT 12,000 MILES, IT HAS SHAKEN AND VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. WHEN I RUN MY DEFROST OR A/C THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE AND MY CAR STALLS OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 30,000 MILES AND REPLACED EVERYTHING THE DEALERSHIP INSTRUCTED. ON JULY, 18, 2003 I MADE MY FINAL ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER AND AGAIN SPECIFIED THE PROBLEM AND SHOWED THEM EXACTLY WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING. I PICKED IT UP LATER THAT AFTERNOON THEY HAD REPLACED THE VALVE AGAIN THAT I HAD JUST REPLACED IN JANUARY 2003. I TURNED ON MY CAR AND RAN THE A/C AND I SAW NO IMPROVEMENT. SO I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MY CAR SHOULDN'T STALL ANYMORE BUT THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. BASICALLY, WE PURCHASED A $13,000 DOLLAR CAR THAT NEVER RAN RIGHT AND CAN NOT BE REMEDIED. NO ONE HAS A SOLUTION AND I'M EXPECTED TO BE SATISFIED WITH A CAR THAT SHAKES NON-STOP. IF FORD KNOWS THIS IS OCCURING THEY NEED TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS BEFORE THEY PURCHASE THE VEHICLE, INSTEAD OF LETTING THEM DRIVE AWAY IN A CAR THAT CAN NEVER BE FIXED. I HAVE LOST ALL RESPECT FOR FORD AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE A VEHICLE FROM THEM AGAIN. *AK

WHEN THE VEHICLES CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT, FUEL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *CB *NLM

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT SAME TIME, AND CAR HAS ONLY 43,000 MILES AND IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. NO EXCESSIVE WEIGHT EVER USED IN THIS CAR. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS FIXED AT LEAST A DOZEN OTHER FORD ESCORTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

THE TIRE BLEW OUT. *JB

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *JB

1) HEADLAMPS: ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE BECAUSE RIGHT LIGHT WOULD WORK PERIODICALLY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, MY MECHANIC FOUND THE CONNECTION TO WHICH THE "BULB" WAS PLUGGED HAD MELTED SOME WHAT. HE SUGGESTED THAT I RETURN TO THE DEALER TO ASK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, WHICH I INTEND TO DO TOMORROW. 2) BRAKE PEDAL: RECENTLY I FOUND IT NECESSARY TO HAVE NEW BRAKE PADS INSTALLED. PART OF THE PROBLEM (FOR ME) WAS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TOO SOFT AND TOO LOW (THE BRAKES WERE BAD ALSO). THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BY AN EXTREMELY REPUTABLE MECHANIC. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL TOO SOFT AND TOO LOW. *JB

THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES.*JB

AT APPROX. 30000 MILES THE CAR HAD THE FIRST INCIDENT OF NOT STARTING (AUG. 2001). TOOK IT TO AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS MIGHT BE A ONE-TIME INCIDENT. ABOUT 1/2 YEAR LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. HAD IT TOWED TO AUTO SHOP, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO CALL THEM IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN LATE 2002 AND I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER AUTO SHOP. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE REASON EITHER - EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE AND AFTER A WHILE IT STARTED AGAIN AND WAS RUNNING NORMALLY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LATE JANUARY 2003 AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LATTER AUTO SHOP. THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING SHOULD BE FINE. LATE FEBRUARY 2003 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR IS AT THE AUTO SHOP - THEY ARE TRYING TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. ON AND OFF IT WILL START. ALL CHECK DATES - EVERY 5000 MILES - HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED AND THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AT ALL TIMES. NOW, I AM AFRAID OF DRIVING IT - BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, THAT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE I HAVE TO FACE THIS PROBLEM. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB

AIR BAGS DID NOT RELEASE WHEN IMPACT TO A TREE OCCURRED. ESTIMATED SPEED WAS 45 MILES PER HOUR. DAMAGED DONE TO FRONT BY COLLISION WITH TREE.*JB

WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE GEAR, IT DOES NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

MEMBRANE SWITCH FOR HORN STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION CAUSING HORN TO BLOW CONSTANTLY. WIRE TO HORN HAD TO BE PULLED TO REMEDY PROBLEM. MEMBRANE SWITCH NOT AVAILABLE FROM DEALER. DEALER STATES ENTIRE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $500. NOT HAVING AN OPERATIONAL HORN OR LOGICAL AND ECONOMICAL WAY TO REPAIR IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN SAFETY EQUIPMENT. DEALER BENEFITING BY HUGE REPLACEMENT COST. PART SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE OR MANDATORY RECALL IS NECESSARY. *JB

MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED A USED 1999 FORD ESCORT FROM COOPER FORD, CAMDEN N.Y., FIRST 9 MONTHS WITH CAR OKAY BUT AS SOON AS COLD WEATHER SET IN SHE STARTED HAVING FUEL PUMP FAILURES. THIS FAILURE CAUSES SUDDEN SHUT DOWN OF VEHICLE, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE FIRST OCASSION WAS WINTER OF 2001-2002, PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED 12-27-02 AND 1-28-03. DEALER INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FUEL RELATED THAT THESE FUEL PUMPS WERE SENSITIVE TO ADDITIVES IN FUEL. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT IS BEING OVERLOOKED OR TROUBLSHOOTING BY TECHNICIANS IS INADEQUATE. IF FUEL WAS SOURCE OF PROBLEM EVERY OTHER VEHICLE IN THIS AREA WOULD BE AFFECTED ALSO AND I AM UNAWARE OF ANY MASS EXODUS OF FORDS INTO THE DEALERS FOR NEW FUEL PUMPS. THE POSSIBILITY FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT EXISTS AS LONG AS THIS PROBLEM REMAINS UNRESOLVED, THE SUDDEN AND COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF A VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR WHEN PULLING INTO BUSY TRAFFIC ETC. COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS OR FATAL CONSEQUENCES. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH FORD MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THIS TYPE PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE. TECHNICIANS AT DEALER HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH FACTORY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND ALL THE ENGINEERS COULD COME UP WITH IS A "FUEL PROBLEM" .APPARENTLY LITTLE OR NO FAILURE ANALYSIS IS TAKING PLACE AS TO WHY ONE PARTICULAR VEHICLE WOULD NEED 3 FUEL PUMPS IN APPROX. 13 MONTHS AND ONLY IN THE WINTER TIME. ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES MY DAUGH

WITH NO WARNING OR EARLY SIGNS, TRANSMISSION BURNED UP. DROVE FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE, WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND HAD NOT TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BLACK. HAD TO GET ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REBUILT.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS DUE TO A MELTED WIRES. DEALER HAS INSPECTED REPLACED WIRES CONNECTION ON SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE VEHICLES HORN STOPPED BLOWING. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE HORN IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND OTHER DRIVERS NEED TO BE MADE AWARE. TS THE REPAIR F THE HORN WOULD REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG. SCC

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE DRIVING AND WITH OUT WARNING THE REAR SPRING SNAP CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT FUSES WILL JUST BLOW OUT. UNDER THE DASH THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE BACK OF THE TURNING SWITCH, IT MELTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.REPLACE THE HARNESS. PROBLEM REACCURED. TS

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD THE MECHANIC FIX IT THREE MONTHS AGO AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A TIRE JACK. *MR

IN A FRONTAL COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING HOOD LATCH SNAPPED,CAUSING HOOD TO FLY OPEN, DISTRACTING CONSUMER'S VIEW, AND CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH FRONT OF VEHICLE HIT SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

FRONT OUTER TIE ROD ATTACHED TO WHEEL ASSEMBLY FAILED TWICE. FIRST TIME FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING MAINTENANCE, NEXT TIME FAILED WHILE GOING AROUND RAM, INTERRUPTING STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS LOSING AIR. HAD TIRE CHECKED. THERE WERE CRACKS ALL OVER IT. ALSO, OTHER 3 TIRES HAD CRACKS. SIZE P185/65R14, ORGINAL TIRES. *AK MS P185/65R14 85S, E4027261, AP7J5K7U949, UNIROYAL TIGER PAW. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A FLUTTERING SOUND IS HEARD UPON ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE ALSO VIBRATES, THIS IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN MOTION AND AT A STOP. NLM

REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. DEALER REPAIRED IT TWICE, THEN REPLACED IT. AT THIS TIME, DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT.*AKTHE PROBLEM WITH THE BELTS ARE STILL OCCURING. *JG

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND IT WENT INTO A CONSTRUCTION BARRIER. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

THERE IS A 11,000 BACK ORDER FOR THE FAN CONTROL/DEFECTED PART. *AK

TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DETERMINED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON APRIL 26, 2002 TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER STATED BOTH TIMES TRANSMISSION WAS DRAGGING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AND STALL ON OCCASIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, HOWEVER MECHANIC HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK *NLM

GEARS ARE NOT CHANGING PROPERLY. TRANSMISSION IS STICKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A PIPE HAD SNAPPED, CAUSING FUEL FILTER TO LEAK.

WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITHOUT WARNING. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN TWO FATALITIES.*AK

I WASN'T ABLE TO GET AN INSPECTION STICKER DUE TO THE BROKEN SPIRAL CODES. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM GENERALLY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN FOR THE CAR WHICH IS QUITE NEW AND HAS LOW MIRAGE LIKE MINE. HE MENTIONED THAT THE SPIRAL CODES MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTED BECAUSE HE FOUND SO MANY OF NEWER FORD CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED ME TO ASK FORD COMPANY FOR ANY RE-CALL INFORMATION. I CALLED FORD AND EXPLAINED IT BUT THERE WAS NO RE-CALL OR NO FINANCIAL AIDES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO COVER THE COST, ABOUT $400, BY MYSELF. I STILL BELIEVE THAT THE SPIRAL CODES WERE DEFECTED FROM THE BEGINNING. I FIRMLY REQUEST FOR A STRICT INVESTIGATION.*AK