1995 FORD ESCORT Complaints

SOMETIMES WHEN I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR AND GET BACK IN IT WITHIN AN HOUR OR 2 IT THE CAR WILL START BUT WILL NOT HOLD AN IDLE. IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET THE CAR GOING I HAVE TO HAVE MY FOOT ON THE CLUTCH AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME AND AFTER 10-15 MIN IT WILL 'CATCH' AND STAY RUNNING. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND I TOOK IT IN TO WALDORF FORD AND THEY LOOKED AT IT WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRENTY AND THEY SAID THEIR WAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS FALLS WITHIN THE LAWSUIT THAT IN PENDING IN MARYLAND. PLEASE CONTACT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO SEE IF THIS CAN BE RESOLVEDTHANK YOU

REAR SPRINGS CRACKED AND ARE SHIFTING, MECHANIC SAID, MOST WAGONS CRACK AROUND 30000 MILES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH STEERING WHEEL GOT STUCK. AT TIMES STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, AND LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. ALSO, UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

WHEN I REMOVED MY FOUR YEAR OLDS SAFETY SEAT TO CONVERT IT TO A BOOSTER SEAT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTED. THE ONE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE STOPPED RETRACTING APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $430.00 TO REPLACE BOTH SEAT BELTS. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT THESE WERE NOT OVERLY USED SEAT BELTS. ONE SEAT BELT HAD A CAR SEAT STRAPPED INTO IT FOR 4 YEARS. HAD I NOT BEEN CONVERTING THE CAR SEAT, I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN OF THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF SEAT BELTS THAT WERE FAILING, AND NOT FROM EXCESSIVE USE I MIGHT ADD, MY CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. *AKY

DRIVER'S SIDE GUIDERAIL CABLE MALFUNCTIONED, RENDERING THE RESTRAINT INOPERABLE*AK.

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN !995, AND FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. DURING THE PERIOD OF 6/3/97 THRU 6/17/97 ALONE, THE PROBLEM OCCURED 5 TIMES. BERGE FORD HAS REPAIRED THIS PROBLEM EACH AND EVERY YEAR THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. I AM NOT COMPLETELY SURE WHAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM BUT THE SAME COMPONENTS ARE INVOLVED EACH TIME. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE RELAYS TO BURN OUT INITIALLY, OR THE WIREING HARNESS TO SUFFER DAMAGE AND THESE FAILURES CAUSE THE COOLING FAN TO EITHER BECOME INOPERATIVE OR BURN OUT AS WELL. I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS (SO FAR) FOR 15 SUCH REPAIRS SINCE 1995. THEY CONTINUE TO THIS DAY. THIS YEAR I HAVE ONCE AGAIN HAD TWO FAILURES, AND THE ONE THAT CAUSES ME TO CONTACT YOU HAPPENED ON 8/17/2000. THIS ONE WAS NOT A COMPLETE FAILURE BUT WAS AN INTERMITENT COOLING PROBLEM AND I WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE DEALER SO I DROVE IN. THEY ACCEPTED THE VEHICLE AS USUAL, AND MY ADVISOR AGREED TO COVER THE REPAIR AT NO CHARGE AND PROVIDE ME A RENTAL CAR AS THEY HAVE DONE COUNTLESS TIMES IN THE PAST.. ONLY THIS TIME MY SERVICE ADVISOR MENTIONED THAT FORD HAD A "NEW" BOSCH RELAY AND WIRE SYSTEM WHICH HE CLAIMED WOULD SOLVE MY PROBLEM. OF COURSE I WAS INTERESTED, ALL I EVER WANTED WAS FOR THEM TO KEEP THEIR ORIGINAL PROMISE OF "REPAIRING IT RIGHT THIS TIME". THE DIFFERENCE ON THIS OCCASION WAS THAT NOW THAT THEY HAD THE "RIGHT" PARTS TO REPAIR THE CAR ONCE AND FOR ALL, AND THESE PARTS WOULD COST ME OVER $400.00 I TRULY FEEL THAT THIS IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR AS THE COST OF REPAIR HAS BEEN COVERED FOR THE MOST PART FOR OVER SIX YEARS WITH PARTS WHICH CONTINUE TO FAIL OVER AND OVER. AND NOW THAT THEY HAVE THE CORRECT PARTS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COVER THEM. I HOPE THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST ME AND OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IF NOT, CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY ADVISE AS TO WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.

97 V 144 000/FUEL TANK: FUEL LEAKAGES AROUND THE FUEL TANK; DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVER UNDER MFR'S RECALLS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:

WHEN THIS COMPONENT FAILED, IT OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE WIRING HARNES. I WORKED FOR THE SELLING DEALER AND MADE THE REPAIRS MYSELF. HAVING WORKED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP, I CAN CONFIRM THAT THIS MELTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RESULTS IN NO BLOWER OPERATION AND THEREFORE NO DEFROSTERS IN CASE OF ICE OR FOG BUILDUP. THE PROBLEM IS REOCCURING AND WE CAN SMELL THE WIRING OVERHEATING AGAIN. THE WIRING WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED AGAIN BEFORE WINTER. AS YOU KNOW, FORD HAS A LONG HISTORY OF DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESSES IN MOST OF IT'S PRODUCT LINE.

THIS WAS MY MOTHER'S CAR-PEARL LEE. SHE SUBSEQUENTLY DIED-2MONTHS LATER. IN THE ACCIDENT SHE WAS REAR ENDED YET HER SEAT BELT BROKE AND HER SEAT WAS SLAMMED BACKWARDS INTO THE BACK SEAT. HER HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE DASH AND SHE WAS KNOCKED OUT. I BELIEVE THE FAULT WAS PROBABLY IN THE SEAT BELT AND SEAT TRACK. SHE WAS NOT DRIVING FAST OR RECKLESS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY STATE FARM IN DECATUR ILLINOIS. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

CONSUMER HAS REPLACED REAR SEAT BELTS IN 2 YEARS. WHERE IT RETRACTS SEAT BELT KEEPS ON BREAKING. CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR EXPENSES BECAUSE OF NO WARRANTY. DEALER HAD NO REMEDY OF HOW TO KEEP IT FROM BREAKING. *AK