2000 Ford Escort

Defect. CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT A NO-LOCK CONDITION WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. TENSIONER ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING SHREDDING THE BELT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED.

THE FIRST DEFECT IS ABOUT THE SHIFTING GEARS LIGHT. I CAN NOT SEE THE SHIFTING GEARS AT NIGHT UNLESS I TURN THE CAR'S LIGHT ON OR SOMETIMES I USE A LIGHT APP TO SEE THEM. THIS IS BECAUSE THE SHIFTING GEARS DON'T SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN AND ALSO THERE'S NO LED LIGHTS FOR THE SHIFTING GEARS THE OTHER PROBLEM I WANT TO REPORT IS THAT THESE CARS HAVE ALWAYS HAD LOUD NOISES AND I AM SUSPECTING THERE'S TRANSMISSION/ENGINE DEFECTS. NOW I AM LEFT WITH A DISABLED VEHICLE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JUST DECIDED TO BREAK ON ME, I DROVE IT PERFECTLY FINE THE DAY BEFORE IT BROKE DOWN. THE NEXT DAY, AS I WAS USING THE CAR, I TURNED IT ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME REALLY HARD AND THE CAR WAS MOVING SUPER SLOWLY SO I DECIDED TO PARK IT RIGHT BACK. AFTER I TOLD A MECHANIC EXPERT ABOUT IT, HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. I DON'T HAVE NO MONEY TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT COST A LOT OF MONEY. FORD SHOULD REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VEHICLE AND FIX THE MANY DEFECTS THEY CAME UP WITH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND CRASHED INTO A VAN. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH SUCH AN EXTREME FORCE THAT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, CHEST, AND RIGHT ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL WHERE OUR DAUGHTER RECEIVED OUTPATIENT CHEMO THERAPY . AT THE FIRST LIGHT LEAVING THE HOSPITAL THE CAR STARTED SHAKING. MY DAUGHTER THOUGHT HER DOOR WAS OPEN , SO SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND CLOSED IT TO VERIFY THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THEY ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND WENT ABOUT 1/4 MILE AND THE CAR MADE A RUMBLING NOISE AND 1 OR 2 MINUTES LATER THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS DRAGING SOMETHING. MY WIFE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND CALLED ME. I WENT DOWN TO ASSIST HER IN CHANGING THE FLAT TIRE.THE TIRE SIDE WALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE SEPERATED IN SEVERAL PLACES . THERE ARE 11 PLACES WHERE THE BELTS SEPERATED CAUSING INSTANTIOUS FAILURE.. ALL SEPERATIONS OCCURED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING PUNCTURING THE TIRE TO CAUSE IT TO GO FLAT. THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY OBJECDT CONTACTING THE TIRE ANYWHERE EXCEPT FOR NORMAL TIRE WEAR ON THE TREAD SURFACE OF THE TIRE. I HAVE THE TIRE IF YOU WANT TO ANNALISE IT.LUCKILY THEY WERE NOT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED YET WHERE THEY COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS MAINTAIINED REGULARY AND THE TIRES ARE IN ALMOST NEW CONDITION. THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE IS NOT LISTED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE IT IS IRONMAN 195 60 R15. DOT CODE 53JL OTHER NUMBERS INCLUED ON THE TIRE ARE SH09 4409 INSIDE A BOX IS: C4 FOLLOWED BY 0248560S IMAX. ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE IS A CIRCLE WITH E4 INSIDE OF IT FOLLOWED BY 0244851. I THINK THAT IS ALL OF THE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON THE TIR

FORD ESCORT 2000 COUPE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON; I.E., MY WIFE GOT IN THE CAR AND BEFORE SHE EVEN STARTED THE ENGINE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE REAR WINDOW WITH DEFROSTER SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. *TR

BURN OUT MOTOR. *TR

VEHICLE DROPS IN RPM WHILE STOPPING...UPON RESEARCH OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM...THIS IS ON THE FORD ESCORT ZX2...ALL MODELS FROM 1999-TO NOW... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCORT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON A LIFT, THE TIRE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS REGARDING THE SPRINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,009 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCORT. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY BRAKE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 71,642, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.*AK UPDATED 05/23/07. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT AND FRACTURE THE WINDSHIELD AT 35 MPH. THE ACCIDENT WAS A REAR END COLLISION. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON PRIOR TO THE CRASH. PICTURES WERE AVAILABLE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN EAST GRAND FORKS, MINNESOTA ON 02/28/06 I WAS GOING NORTH ON 5TH AVE N.E. AND T-BONED THE OTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON 10TH ST N.E. THEY FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALL THE WAY OUT THEY POPPED OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT THE AIR BAG LAYED IN MY LAP AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND VEHICLES CAME TO A REST I STILL HEARD THE AIR BAGS TRYING TO INFLATE ON IMPACT MY DRIVERS DOOR ALSO FLEW OPEN AND MY SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT LOCK I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE VEHICLE. *JB

DT: CALLER'S SON WAS IN AS ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, REAR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT THE SPEED OF 30 MPH. CAR WAS THROWN 150 FEET WITH NO SKID MARKS. CALLER'S SON WAS SEVERELY INJURED, AND HAS BEEN IN REHABILITATION. DEALER HAS NEVER CALLED THEM BACK. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CALLED MANY TIMES, AND DID NOT RETURN CALLS. *AK

THE LEFT REAR SHOULDER/LAP BELTS CONSTANTLY TIGHTENED ON 9 YEAR OLD CHILD WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SEAT BELT GOT SO TIGHT THAT THE CONSUMER SAUGHT ASSISTANCE FROM A NEAR BY POLICE OFFICER, WHO HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO FREE THEIR CHILD. *AK

THIS COMPLAINT IS TAKEN C/O LINDA BARTKO. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PERFORMS ERRATICALLY, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL. GEARS FAIL TO ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERSHIPS, AND NEITHER ONE COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE. CONSUMER WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO RESOLUTION WAS GIVEN. ONE DEALERSHIP WAS SHULTS AT 412-828-2300. *AK

STERING COLUMN LOCKED,HAD TO BE TOWED.TOW DRIVER SAID THIRD ONE HE HAD THIS WEEK,CAR IS NOW AT FORD DEALOR. IT WILL BE REPAIRED.*AK

CRASH WITH INJURIES, FRONT END DAMAGE TO 2000, FORD, ESCORT ZX2 HEAD INJURIES DUE TO LOW AIRBAGS. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAD HEAD INJURIES BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS PROVIDED NO HEAD/NECK PROTECTION. *AK

THE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY BROKE FROM THE ARM. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE PART BROKE. *AK *SC

CONSUMER'S WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED OVER INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE AND HIT IT HEAD ON. THE DRIVER 'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD THE DRIVER IN. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIRS BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. THE AMBULANCE WAS CALLED, BUT THE DRIVER REFUSED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. SHE WENT ON HER ON THE SAME DAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A USED CAR DEALER, WHO DID NOT ASSIST THE CONSUMER IN REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER SERVICED THE BRAKES, BUT DID AN INSUFFICIENT JOB, THUS MAGNIFYING THE PROBLEM EVEN GREATER. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM. *AK

LARGE CHUNKS OF TREAD CAME OFF THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT LEFT TIRE, AND CRACKS HAD DEVELOPED ON THE SIDE WALL. THIS RESULT IN THE VEHICLE SHAKING SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE CONTACTED. *JB