1995 FORD ESCORT Complaints

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS .*AK

THE FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING GAS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF THE PLASTIC TANK. THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT FROM SOME UNKNOWN REASON THIS CAR'S VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BUILT IN HERMOSILLO, MEXICO AND IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA WHICH ARE BOTH CRITERIA OF THE RECALL. I CONTACTED FORDS CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT. AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE OR EXPLAIN WHY IT IS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL.

ON APRIL 11, 1995 I PURCHASED A NEW 1995 FORD LX, 1.9L SEFI , VIN# [XXX]. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS AND SETTLING INTO IT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM WHAT TO ME SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE STEERING COLUMN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TEST DRIVEN AND I WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY JUST NEW ENGINE NOISE AND IT WOULD STOP. AS TIME WENT ON THE CLICKING CONTINUED. I CALLED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES THEN I JUST GAVE UP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING OKAY AND HAD CAUSED NO CONCERN. ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1997 (CLICKING NOISE STILL THERE) I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR OTHER PROBLEMS. AS INVOICE STATES, NOISE MAY BE COMING FROM ENGINE AREA. ON MAY 22, 2002 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT JUST STOPPED!!!!! REFERENCING NORTH CENTRAL FORD INVOICE NO. [XXX] (WHICH IS ATTACHED) YOU CAN SEE THE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED. IN REFERENCE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED INVOICE, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED, ONE OF THE PHONE CALLS I RECEIVED WAS TO EXPLAIN THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SNAPPED. PLEASE NOTICE THAT YOU WILL FIND NOWHERE MENTIONED THAT VALVES OR ANYTHING ELSE WAS CHECKED. BY THE TIME ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE, THE CLICKING NOISE HAD BECOME MORE APPARENT AND THEY WERE MADE AWARE THAT IT WAS STILL THERE. NOW FOR THE GRAND FINALE, ON APRIL 29, 2003 I DROVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY STORE AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT THE CLICKING NOISE TURNED INTO A NOISE AS IF THE ENGINE WERE GOING TO EXPLODE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND IT WAS TAKEN TO NORTH CENTRAL FORD. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC THOUGHT PUSH ROD HAD GONE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MORE THAN ONE MECHANIC (ASE CERTIFIED) WHO CLEARLY BELIEVES THAT THE VALVES SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST CHECKED WHEN THAT BELT BROKE. THIS [XXX] VEHICLE WAS MY PRIDE AND JOY IT WAS PAMPERED. THE MILEAGE ON IT WAS A MERE 74,639. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ENGINE DEVELOPED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THE ONLY REASON IT COST 600.00 WAS THAT I REPAIRED IT MYSELF. SEATBELTS AND TRANSMISSION HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

THE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR WHEN IN THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER THEN NOTICED THE FUEL MILEAGE DROPPED OFF. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO GET GAS AND RETURNED, HE NOTICED A WET SPOT UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME HE EXAMINED THE FUEL TANK AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL FILLER PIPE CAP WAS CORRODED AND RUSTED.*AK *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT MOTORIZED SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THE SEAT BELT FROZE ON THE TRACK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD. HOWEVER, FORD STATED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING, AND WOULD CHARGE CONSUMER AN ASTRONOMICAL FEE TO REPAIR THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT. *AK

AFTER INSTALLATION OF "MAGNETIZER" (MAGNETIZER.NET) , BOSCH PLATINUM +4 SPARK PLUGS, BOSCH OXYGEN SENSOR, K&N HIGH FLOW AIR FILTER CAR MAKES 36 MPG I TOWN & 39 MPG ON HIGHWAY. THAT SHOWS THAT AFTERMARKET PARTS CAN IMPROVE ANY CARS GAS MILEAGE BY UP TO 25% WHY CAR PRODUCERS DON'T USE THESE TECHNOLOGIES AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. *NLM

TWICE IN THE ROAD LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE, THE REAR SPRINGS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT USED FOR OFFROAD DRIVING NOR IS IT USED TO HAUL HEAVY LOADS.*AK

CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED GAS LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANK. THE CONSUMER SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE, VEHICLE OWNER CITED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR BELT VIOLATION. *LA