1997 FORD ESCORT Complaints

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHIC EVENTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL, AND STARTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK *SC *JB

AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS BY FORD (NOTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF NOTICE AND REPAIR ARE IN OUR POSSESSION) RESULTING IN BURNS TO PASSENGER ON FOREARMS (DUE TO INFLATION OF BAG), BROKEN WINDSHIELD AND DASH IS MESSED UP. NO ACCIDENT OCURRED OR OBJECT HIT. CAR WAS MOVING AT 15 MPH (MAX) AT DEPLOYMENT. FORD DECLARES "NO" RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO EXCESS MILEAGE (84,440). I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE IS A "MILEAGE LIMITATION" ON SAFETY!*AK

WIRING HARNESS BREAK IN WAGON HATCH CAUSING ALL ELEC. COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION, LSO ENGINE UNABLE TO SHUT OFF(WITH KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION). *AK

MY CLIENT, AKRUARIA WRIGHT WAS DRIVING HER 1997 FORD ESCORT LX SEDAN SOUTH ON GA HWY 300, WHEN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. AS NOTED IN THE POLICE REPORT, THERE WAS NO CONTACT OR IMPACT WITH ANY OBJECT OR VEHICLE. THE ROAD THAT SHE WAS ON IS A MAJOR ROAD; IT IS PAVED AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. UPON DEPLOYING, THE AIRBAGS FORCED THE DASH UP AND BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRBAGS, AS THEY DEPLOYED, MADE CONTACT WITH MS. WRIGHT'S FACE, ARMS, HANDS, AND CHEST. ON HER FACE, ARMS , AND HANDS SHE SUFFERED MINOR BURNS FROM THE CONTACT. SHE ALSO HAS SUFFERED CERVICAL AND THORACIC STRAIN FROM THE CONTACT. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR IS STILL WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN DEARBORN, MI, BUT AS OF NOW I HAVE NOT HAD A RESPONSE.*AK

PAINT ON REAR BUMPER IS DEFECTIVE. AT FIRST IT SEEMED TO BE FADING IN ONE SPOT BUT SOON THE COATING CRACKED AND THE SPOT IS GETTING LARGER.

LAST MAY 23RD 2003 I HAD THE MY CAR RECALLED FOR THE RECALL #02V323000. THIS WEEK MY AIR BAG MONITOR LIGHT WAS BLINKING. DIAGNOSTIC CODE 52. THE INTEGRATED AIRBAG MONITOR(IABM) FAILED. ONLY ONE YEAR LATER, THE IABM FAILS, AND THE RECALL DOESN'T COVER THE IABM, BUT JUST A SHIELD AND GREASE. SHOULDN'T THE RECALL COVER THE FAILING INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR.*AK

I HAVE A 1997 FORD ESCORT THAT IS AT DRBN TOTAL AUTOMOTIVE, 23420 VAN BORN RD.,DBN HTS, MI 48125 FOR A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ISSUE. REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK (VERY MINOR AT THIS POINT, A LITTLE SPOT ON TRANS) WAS FOUND BY BELLE TIRE (DRBN, MI). DRBN TOTAL REPLACED FRONT PUMP SEAL & REAR MAIN SEAL FOR $486.85 ON 6/5/04. I RETURNED 6/14/04 (STILL LEAKING, BUT NOW ON THE GROUND). THEY KEPT FOR 9 DAYS, CHANGED THE SEAL & PUT A COVER ON THE CRANK. WHEN I PICKED UP, I GOT 5 MINUTES AWAY & THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS POURING OUT OF MY CAR & SMOKING. I HAD CAR TOWED IN 6/24/04 & IT IS STILL THERE. THEY ARE NOW PUTTING A SEAL SAVER ON THE MAIN SEAL. THE MANAGER OF THE STORE ADVISED ME THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO & THEY TALKED TO THE DEALER OF THE CAR. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH AN ESCORT BEFORE. DRBN TOTAL SAYS THEY WILL GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK IF THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I DISAGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE I CAME IN THERE WITH MONEY & A CAR THAT WAS RUNNING WITH A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WITHOUT KEEPING MY CAR FOR 3 GOING ON 4 WEEKS (OFF AND ON) & DESTROYING MY TRANSMISSION. I AM HANDICAPPED & WORK & I WAS RECOMMENDED THIS STORE BY A USMA AUTOMOTIVE MEMBER & I PRIDE MYSELF IN KEEPING UP MY MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR. NOW I'M STUCK, PLEASE HELP!*AK

DEFECTIVE WELDS ON THE ORIGINAL RIMS OF THE WHEELS CAUSING TIRE DEFLATION BECOMING A SAFETY CONCERN AT ANY SPEED. THESE FAILURES WERE CAUGHT PRIOR TO ANY POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. TWO WHEELS HAVE FAILED THROUGH THE WELDS ON THE ORIGINAL STEEL RIMS. THESE WERE FOUND BY COSTCO, TIRE REPAIR SERVICES AND SO DOCUMENTED AT THE CHULA VISTA, CA. LOCATION. *LA

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION AXLE SLIPPAGE AND DEFECTIVE BRAKE PROBLEMS. VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN ACCELERATING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ENGINE VALVE GUIDE DROPPED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. *AK