1999 Ford Escort complaints

I DRIVE CAREFULLY AND I MAINTAIN MY CAR WELL. MY FORD ESCORT WAGON IS A 1999 MODEL. AS SUCH, I STILL CONSIDER IT QUITE NEW. WITH ONLY 44,000 MILES ON IT, I CONSIDERED IT TO HAVE LOW MILEAGE. LAST WEEK MY CAR FAILED ITS ANNUAL AUTO INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC (HAMILTON'S GARAGE OF PORTLAND, ME) TOLD ME THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRING ASSEMBLIES ON MY CAR WERE BROKEN. HE SAID THAT THIS HAS BECOME A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS COMMON PROBLEM ON LATE MODEL FORD ESCORTS. HE SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY RARE ON OTHER CARS. HE TOLD ME TO GO TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF FORD HAS INITIATED A RECALL OF THE ESCORT'S DEFECTIVE REAR COIL SPRING ASSEMBLIES. THE FORD DEALER (ROWE FORD OF WESTBROOK, ME) INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF A RECALL FOR THAT SPECIFIC PART. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS MYSELF AS THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE HAD EXPIRED. THE REPAIR JOB ON MY CAR AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP COST ME $400. MY WIFE CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HEADQUARTERS AND REPORTED THE DEFECT PROBLEM WITH BOTH BROKEN REAR COIL SPRING ASSEMBLIES ON OUR CAR. THE FORD HEADQUARTERS ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OF LATE MODEL FORD ESCORT DEFECTIVE REAR COIL SPRING ASSEMBLIES. THEY "CLAIMED" TO BE UNAWARE OF SUCH A DEFECT PROBLEM WITH THE LATE MODEL FORD ESCORTS. I DO NOT BELIEVE FORD. I REMEMBER FORD'S LIES CONCERNING THE SCANDAL WITH THE FORD PINTO'S EXPLOSIVE GAS TANK. THIS DEFECT PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCORT'S REAR

SEVERE VIBRATION WHEN IDLING, DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATES VIOLENTLY BECAUSE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COUNLD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CAUSING THE DRIVER AND ANOTHER CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. *YH

WELDING UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED, AND SEAT ROCKS. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *YD

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HIT PILE OF SAND AND LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN IT A TREE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *TT

CAR BECOMES IDLE THEN SHUDDERS/VIBRATES (REPEATS) WHEN STOPPING. CAR NOW STALLING OCCASIONALLY WHEN STOPPED AND HAS STALLED WHILE DOING 35 MPH. PROBLEMS STARTED LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. CAR IN THE SHOP ON 6-7 OCCASIONS TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS - CAR STILL NOT FIXED. SINCE THE CAR HAS STALLED DURING MOTION, CONSUMER FEELS VERY UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAYS. THE PROBLEMS ARE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I AM UNSATISFIED WITH NOT ONLY THE CAR QUALITY, BUT THE MECHANICAL AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.*AK. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL COMPONETS WERE REPLACED THAT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THEN THE PROBLEM RESURFACED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING AND THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING NOISES AND WOULD THEN STALL, THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE LOOSE THAT WAS CAUSING THE VIBRATIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED ALONG WITH THE STALLING.*JB

CONSUMER GOT A RECALL TO UPGRADE COMPUTER ON VEHICLE, BUT FORD REFUSED TO DO RECALL BECAUSE VEHICLE'S TITLE WAS BRANDED. *JG *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE CAN BE HEARD WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AS BEING DRIVEN THE MORE PRONONCED THE NOISE BECOMES. AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS COMPLETED IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT BEARINGS WERE BAD. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IN NEUTRAL, CAUSING A FRONT END COLLISION WITH GARAGE WALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT OIL PAN WAS DENTED. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THERE IS A KNOCKING IN ENGINE, WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN, LOUDER THE KNOCKING GETS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WAS UNDERNEATH HOOD WHERE THE BEARINGS WERE. ALSO, DEAL HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR A REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE BLOCK/ HEAD AND CYCLINDER, BUT THAT STILL HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

A GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA OF THE VEHICLE, THEN WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 MPH, GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED AGAIN, AND DRIVER LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NOT ONLY WAS MY REBATE CHECK STOLEN BY SOMEONE WORKING AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT I HAVE COMPLAINED SO MANY TIMES SINCE PURCHASING MY CAR. I BELIEVE THAT I 'VE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND BECAUSE I'VE JUST PAST QUALIFYING FOR CALIFORNIA'S LEMON LAW. MY CAR IS UNSAFE IT ROLLS BACK ON HILLS AND NOW IT WON'T GO INTO PARK. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE BUYING THE CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

THE SMELL OF GAS FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS SUBTLE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHEN THE CAR IDLES THE FUMES INCREASE IN INTENSITY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE AND CLAIMED THEY DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY TESTED IT. *YD

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, CONSUMER HONKED THE HORN AND IT WOULD NOT STOP BLOWING, CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO STOP THE HORN.*JB

WHILE PUSHING IN ON THE CLUTCH, IT SOUNDS LIKE VEHICLE IS STILL ACCELERATING, WHEN IN FIFTH GEAR IT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE IT IS ENGAGED, DEALER HAS DONE THE FOLLOWING: REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, CLEANED INJECTORS, REPLACED THE AIR CLEANER, AND REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *SLC

WIRING HARNESS THAT IS CONNECTED TO HEADLIGHT BULB OVERHEATS AND SHORT CIRCUITS, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS FAILED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.*SLC

BOTH REAR TIRES WERE FLAT, THE TIRES HAD BLOWN THROUGH THE SIDES. THEN THE FRONT LEFT TIRE FLATTENED IN THE DRIVEWAY.

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY HEATER FAN RUNNING AND BEGAN TO GET A BURNING SMELL. THE FAN THEN QUIT RUNNING. WHEN I INVESTIGATED TO FIND OUT WHY THE FAN NO LONGER WOULD WORK, I FOUND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR THE FAN MOTOR HAD MELTED AND LOOKED BURNT AS THOUGH IT MAY HAVE SMOLDERED. I HAVE THAT PIECE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED.*AK

TAPE GETS STUCK IN TAPE DECK AND WON'T PLAY OR EJECT. IT JUST MAKES A WHINING NOISE. HEATER/DEFROST DOESN'T WANT TO WORK IN EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS. *AK

WHILE TURNING LEFT OUT OF A PARKING LOT THE CAR PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND ENDING UP GOING OVER THE CONCRETE MEDIUM. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS IF THE STEERING LOCKED UP.*AK

THE ESCORT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR HEAD ON. (ESCORT FRONT HIT SIDE OF FLAT BED TRAILER) SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF CAR AND NO DAMAGE TO TRAILER. *AK

MOTOR DIED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CONSUMER HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT DEALER HAS REPLACED 4 ALTERNATORS/ ONE STARTER, AND A BATTERY. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHCLE IN FEAR THAT IT MAY STALL AGAIN. *AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 5 TIMES, AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR 4 TIMES/ STARTER, AND BATTERY ONCE. CANNOT REMEDY. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION, IN WHICH NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.*JB

CAR COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN @ A BUSY INTERSECTION WHILE IN MOTION. *AK

THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE BLEW OUT OF THE PUMP AS WE BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE. THE PUMP QUICKLY EMPTIED ITS OIL SUPPLY ONTO THE SERPENTINE BELT, ENGINE BAY & THE DRIVEWAY. IT APPEARS AS IF THE RETAINING O-RING WAS SHEARED IN HALF AS THE MALE FITTING BLEW OUT OF THE RETAINING NUT THAT ATTACHES IT TO THE PUMP. I HAVE DIGITAL CLOSE-UP PICTURES OF THE FAILED PART IF DESIRED (E-MAIL). THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS TOTALLY DISABLING FAILURE IN A 2 YR OLD CAR!!*AK

VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN A YEAR WHEN A METALIC KNOCKING NOISE STARTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE LIFTERS & OTHER PARTS HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE BEGINING OF THE YEAR 2000. CAR STILL HAS THE NOISE AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THE FORD INTERNATIONAL STILL DOES NOT WANT TO CLAIM THE VEHICLE A DEFECT. THE SECOND BAND OF THE TRANSMISION BROKE INTO MANY PARTS AND THE TECHNITION OF BAYAMON FORD SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD SEEN THIS ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. HE HAS SEEN THIS IN EXPLORER & EXPEDITIONS, BUT NOT ON FORD ESCORTS. BAYAMON FORD NOR AUTO VEGA HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS THIS PROBLEM IN MORE THAN A YEAR. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT ANOTHER RECURRING PROBLEM IN THIS CAR IS THAT THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET KEEPS MELTING. THIS IS A FIRE HAZZARD AND IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AFTER REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT FIXTURE. I NOTICED THAT THE NEGATIVE WIRE IS THINNER THAN BOTH OF THE POSITIVE WIRES, THUS CAUSING THE OVER HEATING & CAUSING IT TO MELT. ANOTHER RECURRING PROBLEM IS THAT ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS BECAUSE THEY ARE SHOT. I WOULD LIKE TO GET A TECHNITION TO PROPERLY DO ITS JOB AND NOT TO PUT MYSELF OR OTHER PEOPLE IN DANGER BECAUSE HE/SHE DOES NOT WANT TO BLOW THE WHISTLE ON A PROBLEM.

WEATHER WAS 74 DEGREES, I T-BONED VEHICLE IN THE WRONG @ 25MPH. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON IMPACT, SEATBELT UNFASTENED CAUSING ME TO HIT WINDSHIELD AND GET LEG CAUGHT UNDER STEERING COLUMN. POSSIBLE PERMANENT INJURIES. *AK

HOOD LATCH MECHANISM DOES NOT PROPERLY LATCH WHICH COULD CAUSE HOOD TO FLY UP WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. *AK THE CABLE TO THE HOOD RELEASE IS THE PROBLEM. *SLC

6-7 TIMES BRAKE PEDAL GOT STUCK. IT HAPPENED ONLY ON HIGHWAY AND BELTWAY AT 55 MPH OR HIGHER. WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON BRAKE PEDAL IT GET STUCK, AND CONTINUING TO PRESS DOWN IT BECAME UNSTUCK. DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, BUT THEY COULD DO ANYTHING WRONG. 2 MECHANICS HAS TEST DRIVEN VEHICLE, AND ANOTHER MECHANIC FROM DEALERSHIP WILL BE TEST DRIVE IT AGAIN. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE AT 55 MPH, THE BRAKES BECAME HARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMYED FOLLOWED BY BRAKE GOING TO FLOOR. *YH

THE RIGHT PASSENGER AIRBAG EXPLODED WHEN DEPLOYED, SEPARATING ENTIRELY FROM THE DASHBOARD AND WAS BRIEFLY ON FIRE, THEN SMOKING ON THE FLOOR.*AK

CATASTHROPIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE GOING 75 MPH ON FREEWAY. ENGINE RUNS FINE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS OR SIGN(S) OF IMPENDING FAILURE. WOULD LIKE MANUFACTURER TO DO MATERIAL FAILURE ANALYSIS. *AK

THE DRIVER SEAT ROLLS BACK AND FORTH. THE SEAT IS NOT SUPPORTED AND EFFECTS THE CONSUMERS DRIVING. THE DEALER COULDN'T HELP WITH THE CHARGES AND THERE WOULD BE A FEE TO DIAGINOS THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS SUPPOSE TO CONTACT THE CONSUMER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE.

THE TIRES WERE PRORATED AND REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 185/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185/65R15 )

WHEN VEHICLE PURCHASED ENGINE VIBRATED WHILE HEATING AND AC SYSTEM ON. BROUGH TO DEALER 4-5 TIMES STATE NORMAL. FINALLY ENGINE REMOVED PLACED ON MOUNT AND AS A RESULT ENGINE KNOCKS AT START UP. BROUGHT TWICE TO DEALER, CLAIM IT IS NORMAL CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

IGNITION SWITCH IS TOO CLOSE TO ENGINE BLOCK WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO COMPLETLEY SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

ACCELERATOR CAUSES CAR TO SURGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DEPENDING ON GEAR. HAPPENS 9 TIMES OUT OF 10. HAVE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE THREE TIMES ON ICE THIS WINTER, AND HAD REPEATED CLOSE CALS, ESPECIALLY WHEN REVERSING. TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALER WHERE BOUGHT, AND TOLD IT IS MODEL DEFECT AND NOT FIXABLE. NOTE ONE SIMILAR IN YOUR RECORDS, SEE: ODI ID:854752. *AK

VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION AT A STOP SIGN AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS COMING UP A HILL, AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES.*AK *SLC

AFTER MY 3RD APMT FOR ENGINE CLUNKING NOISE IT IS STILL CLUNKING!*AK

BRAKES MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING. *AK

WHILE SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND RUNNING ROUGH. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. TECHNICIAN STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

IGNITION WILL ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. BEEN TO DEALER WHO CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

10/09/99 NELSON FORD SUPPOSEDLY FIXED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION MAKING TERRIBLE NOISE. 11/27/00 TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT 75MPH ON I40 IN NC. ALL AMERICAN FORD REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE NEW. 12/26/00 TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF THIRD GEAR NEARLY RESULTING IN ACCIDENT AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. 01/09/01 WADE FORD SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS UNRESOLVED SITUATION AND I AM CONVICED THAT I WILL DIE IN THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXPLAINED SITUATION. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO DEPRESS GAS PEDAL TO FLOORBOARD TO GAIN HIGHWAY SPEED. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT AIR WAS GETTING IN ENGINE WHICH CAUSED IT TO LOSE POWER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND SOMETIMES IT WILL, FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE, NOV/00 & JAN/01. CJ

REAR COIL SPRING BROKE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT30 MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON BROADSIDE, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, BUT AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT, VEHICLE HIT IT, RAN OFF ROAD, AND FELL INTO A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK