1997 FORD ESCORT Complaints

WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH ON SMOOTH SURFACE CONSUMER SMELLED SULPHUR, THEN BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK *YH

REAR SPRINGS ON THE STRUT ASSEMBLY WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING ROUGH HANDLING OF VEHICLE ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR HAD PASSANGERS IN REAR SEAT. BOTH REAR STRUTS/SPRINGS WERE REPLACED AT COST OF $500. MECHANIC SAID HE SAW MANY O F THE SAME BROKEN SPRINGS ON ESCORT MODEL. CAR ONLY HAD 34,000 MILES ON IT WHEN SPRING RUSTED THROUGH MAKING THIS EITHER A DESIGN DEFECT OR PART DEFECT.*AK

HEATER CORE FAILURE RESULTED IN FAILURE OF AIRBAG SYSTEM DUE TO PLACEMENT OF AIRBAG COMPUTER WITHOUT MOISTURE SHIELD. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. WHEN DEALERSHIP DROPPED VEHICLE OFF THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. ENGINE LOCKED UP. *AK

HORN DOES NOT BLOW. WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG.*AK

THE "WASP" DESIGN OF THE REAR DOOR LOCKS MAKE THE LOCKS EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO BREAKAGE. EXACT REPLACEMENTS ARE VERY HARD TO FIND. WHEN LOCL PLUNGER IS BROKEN OFF, THE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT ARE TRAPPED IN THE CAT UNTIL SOMEONE IN FRONT RELEASES THE ELECTRIC DOORLOCKS. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS AT ALL POSSIBLE TO GET BACK DOOR OPEN WITH MANUAL DOOR LOCKS.*AK

WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE REAR SPRING AND TOP MOUNT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. BOTH TIE RODS FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING WHEN VEHICLE IS COOL, NOT WHEN VEHICLE IS HOT. *AK *YH

FORD BRAKE ENGINEERS DESIGNED TO BRAKE EFFORT PROPORTIONING THE MASTER CYLINDER TO ALLOCATE 85-90% OF THE BRAKING TO THE FRONT WHEELS AND ONLY 10 TO 15%TO THE REAR WHEELS. THIS PROPORTION IS INCORRECT AND RESULTS IN THE INABILITY TO STOP THE CAR UNDER EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATIONS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLY TO LOCKUP THE REAR WHEELS EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THE FRONT WHEEL BREAK TRACTION ON SLIPERY SURFACES THE CAR LOOSES ITS ABILITY TO STOP IN A REASONABLE LENGTH. THIS MISS ALLOCATION OF BRAKING EFFORT RESULTED IN A NEAR REAR END ACCIDENT IN 1997 AND RESULTED RECENTLY IN TOTALLING THE VEHICLE THIS APRIL. THIS BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO TO CORRECT THE EMBALANCE OF THE BRAKING ACTION. I TRIED TO BRING THIS DESIGN PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN 1995 BUT IT FELL ON DEAF EARS. THIS IS A REAL DANGEROUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS GOING 65MPH AND SLOWING DOWN TO 30MPH WHILE STILL ACCELERATING. HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING ONTO COMPUTER FOR AIRBAG MODULE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED.*AKTHE LEAKING HEATER CORE CAUSED ALOT OF DAMAGE TO THE AIRBAG, SPARK PLUGS, IGNITION CABLE, AND OXYGEN SENSORS. CONSUMER PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR DAMAGED PARTS. HEATER CORE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *JG