1997 FORD ESCORT Complaints

DT: A PROBLEM WITH SPRINGS. A BROKEN REAR SPRING; THEY FIXED IT, AND INSTALLED NEW SPRINGS. CONSUMER LATER FOUND OUT FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE FRONT SPRINGS; BUT HE WAS HAVING A REAR SPRING PROBLEM.*AK

UNINTENDED ACCELLERATION. WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, ON APPROXIMATELY 6 OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE PLACED IMMEDIATELY INTO NEUTRAL AND THE IDLE SPEED WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY FLOORMATS OR INADVERTANT PRESSING OF THE GAS PEDAL.*AK

BOTH REAR BRAKE STOP LAMPS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN STOPPING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BECOME INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE'S PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING , THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *JB CONSUMER FEELS THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE'S REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT 16219 MILES. THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AT 16279 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING NOISE. *BF *NM

WHILE PARKED ON DEALER 'S PROPERTY FOR REPAIRS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. CONSUMER STATED SHE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR THREE WEEKS, AND DEALER CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER. WHILE TALKING TO A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE VIA PHONE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE LESS THEN 15 MINUTES WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE. CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A BRICK WALL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

INITIAL PROBLEM WAS THAT HEATER BLOWER WOULD NOT OPERATE. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ELECTRICAL MELT-DOWN ON A COMPONENT AND STATED THAT WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD NOT HAD A FIRE. THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE MOTOR RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE WHEN I CHECKED FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING ESCORTS, THERE WERE MANY OTHERS THAT DID HAVE FIRES DUE TO WIRING/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *JB

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. DEALER INDICATED TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. *AK