1993 Ford Escort Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ESCORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, EXCESSIVE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S VOLUNTARY RECALL PERTAINING TO THE FUEL TANK HOWEVER THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT PERFORMED NUMEROUS TEMPORARY REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF UPDATED 08/08/2012 *JS UPDATED 2/25/13 *CN UPDATED 03/11/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID

10464384

Incident

May 14, 2010

PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING IN OCTOBER 2003, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING ABOUT FEBRUARY 2004, AUTOMATIC BELT RETRACTORS TRY TO MOVE THEN STOP. A GRINDING / WHIRRING CAN BE HEARD AT TIMES. BOTH BELTS ARE UN USABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10273940

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

Mileage

145,347 mi

INITIALLY, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID, WHICH WAS BELOW MINIMUM REQUIRED. I HAVE NOW FILLED THE REQUIRED LEVEL. YESTERDAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE - NO COMPRESSION AT ALL. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN ALL THE WAY WITH NO COMPRESSION. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BUT LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL DUE TO MANUAL GEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205740

Incident

Oct 14, 2007

Mileage

190,957 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ESCORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A MECHANIC'S GARAGE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE, THE OTHER VEHICLES IN THE GARAGE, AND THE GARAGE ITSELF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD OF HIS VEHICLE, POSSIBLY THE IGNITION SWITCH. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SHOP FOR NEW BRAKES AND TIE RODS. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10198254

Incident

Jul 28, 2007

Mileage

170,000 mi

AS BRIEFLY AND SUCCINTLY AS I CAN; MY FATHER WAS DRIVING A 1993 FORD ESCORT STATION WAGON ON ONE OF THE LAST DAYS OF WINTER WHEN HE APPARENTLY HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE. HE DID GO LEFT OF CENTER AND WAS HIT BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE (EACH VEHICLE @ 35MPH). MY QUESTION INVOLVES THE SIDE IMPACT CAPABILITY OF THIS MODEL - THE IMPACT WAS AS CLOSE TO BEING RIGHT ON THE "B'" PILLAR AS POSSIBLE AND THIS THING JUST FOLDED IN HALF. THE ROOF FOLDED, THE FLOOR BUCKLED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS TOUCHING THE STEERING WHEEL. AT THIS POINT, I NEED TO EMPHASIZE THIS CAR WAS NOT A BUCKET OF RUST - HE BOUGHT IT USED BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES AND GREAT CONDITION (MY FATHER, THE ETERNAL BARGAIN HUNTER). ALTHOUGH I'VE LOST MY FATHER TO THIS ACCIDENT, I AM CURIOUS IF THIS WAS AN ANOMOLY OR ARE THESE STATION WAGONS NOTED FOR THIS COLLAPSING FEATURE? IF THIS HASN'T BEEN NOTED BEFORE, I WILL PRESUME THIS WAS A "ONE OF" EVENT, BUT IF THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAVE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE MODE, I WOULD SAY THERE IS A PROBLEM. AS A SIDE NOTE, I HAVE SEEN WHERE THIS YEAR AND SEVERAL AFTER IT WEREN'T TESTED FOR SIDE IMPACT. ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE TO SHARE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS, TOM DAVIS

NHTSA ID

10191761

Incident

Mar 16, 2007

IN 1992 I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 1993 ESCORT GT SPARTANBURG, SC. THE 1ST PART OF THE YEAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER, THE CAR WAS IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP TO DATE FOR HESITATION, FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ODD NOISES AND OTHER THINGS. I FILED FOR LEMON LAW IN 1993-94 IN TEXAS. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MOTOR, COULD TAKE UP TO A MONTH BEFORE I GOT THE CAR BACK. WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD SUPPLY A LOANER CAR I WAS TOLD NO. WITHOUT FINANCES TO RENT A CAR TO GET TO & FROM WORK (50 MLS DAILY) I COULD NOT ACCEPT THE OFFER AT THAT TIME WITHOUT THEM PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION. OVER THE YEARS, IT'S BEEN 1 PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. SINCE 1994, I REPLACED 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, NUMEROUS DIAGNOSTIC MACHINES TO FIND WHY IT WOULD STALL IN IDLE AND NO ACCELERATION AFTER CAR WARMED UP& OTHER THINGS. IN 1995, THE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A CRACK AT SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN & THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT TOP OF TANK RESULTING IN FUMES & GAS LEAKING WHEN FILLED. THREE FORD DEALERSHIPS SAID ONLY 1992 FORD ESCORTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1992. THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT, DRIVER SIDE QUIT WORKING. WE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE BUT STILL WON'T WORK. SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING. TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS CAN'T FIX NOR TWO AUTO ELECTRICIANS. I CONTACTED FORD AGAIN UNDER LEMON LAW, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A ONE TIME OFFER. SINCE I REFUSED THE FIRST OFFER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. RECOMMENDED I SELL THE CAR AND BUY ANOTHER ONE. I CAN NOT POSSIBLY PUT THESE PROBLEMS ON SOMEONE ELSE? THIS WAS TOTALLY UNETHICAL. I"VE BEEN LOYAL TO FORD SINCE IN MY TEENS. THIS IS MY 2ND FORD ESCORT & MY FIRST/ONLY NEW VEHICLE I EVER OWNED. I STILL HAVE THE CAR & WOULD REALLY LIKE FORD TO DO RIGHT BY ME IN THIS SITUATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186626

Incident

Jun 1, 1994

Mileage

6,000 mi

TL* -THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SHOULDER RESTRAINT AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WERE NOT WORKING IN HER 1993 FORD ESCORT AND SHE DISCOVERED THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR HER VEHICLE. SHE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THE DEALER CAN SERVICE HER VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY IS DOES NOT COVER VEHICLES OVER 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILEAGE. THIS WAS TOLD TO HER BY 1 SUPERVISOR AND 2 REPRESENTATIVES. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED A BUCKLE FAILURE THAT SHE MUST REPAIR AT HER OWN COST. *NM

NHTSA ID

10179176

Incident

Dec 19, 2006

Mileage

188,000 mi

THE BRAKES ON OUR 1993 FORD ESCORT LOCKED UP CAUSING CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER, BOTH FRONT CALIPERS, BOTH ROTORS, ALL HOSES AND PADS. THIS BRAKE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND EVEN DEATH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172597

Incident

Oct 31, 2006

Mileage

39,188 mi

CONSUMER LETTER REGARDING REPLACEMENT TIMING BELT. *TS THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW DOES THE TIMING BELT NEED TO BE REPLACED PERIODICALLY AND IF SO AT WHAT INTERVALS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE GUIDE FOR THE 1.8L STATED THE TIMING BELT SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY 60,000 MILES, HOWEVER IT DIDN'T MENTION HOW OFTEN THE 1.9L SHOULD BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10141071

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT: PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT A USED LOT. AFTER 90 DAYS THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WENT OUT. BOUGHT IT WITH 48,000 MILES. WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS, AND THEY SAID IT HAD TOO MUCH WEAR FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAME OFF, THE SHOCKS WERE BAD, THE TIRES WERE AL DEFECTIVE, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER FROM WHO THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WAS OUT BUSINESS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10133008

Incident

Oct 29, 2004

Mileage

48,000 mi

FEMALE END OF ELR LAP BELT SPONTAINIOUSLY STOPPED LATCHING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105772

Incident

Apr 15, 2004

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS. THE BELT WILL TIGHTEN INADVERTENTLY, FEELING AS IF CONSUMER WAS BEING CHOKED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WILL COST $400.00. *AK....ALSO, FRONT FENDER AND MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE FENDER IS PEELING PAINT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND GOES OFF WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES AT STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHENEVER CONSUMER APPLIES THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103195

Incident

Dec 15, 2003

Mileage

27,000 mi

THE BATTERY CABLE BROKE OFF AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE UNLESS SHE TAPED THE CABLE IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORD AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THERE WAS A SPECIAL GROUNDING WIRE FROM THE COMPUTER TO THE CABLE POST WIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THE GROUNDING WIRE WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE FRAME INSTEAD OF THE BATTERY AND SUGGESTED THAT WITHOUT THIS BRACKET HARNESS WIRE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10087225

Incident

Jul 27, 2004

Mileage

8,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. TRIED TURNING THEM ON AND OFF, STILL DIDN'T WORK. THE ONLY REASON THERE WAS NO FIRE OR CRASH IS BECAUSE I USED MY HAZARD LIGHTS TO FIND MY WAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. HEADLIGHTS, BEING UP THERE WITH "TIRES", ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES A CAR CAN HAVE, AND THEM FAILING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY IS NOT SOMETHING I PARTICULARLY ENJOY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058922

Incident

Feb 24, 1993

Mileage

180,000 mi

VEHICLE'S RPMS STAY HIGH AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED. *MR THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PEDAL WASN'T STICKY NOR WAS THE THROTTLE CABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RARELY ILLUMINATED. THIS PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW 0 DEGREES). THE RPMS REVVED HIGH AND CONTINUED TO RISE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE "SOLVED" THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MINUTES OR UNTIL THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE AIR INTAKE VALVE WAS CLEANED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *PH *NM

NHTSA ID

10054041

Incident

Dec 18, 2003

Mileage

180,000 mi

WHILE HAVING, THE VEHICLE IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR SERVICE ON OTHER PARTS, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT COIL SPRINGS ON THE REAR SUSPENSION FAILED. ALSO, THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS ON FORD, ESCORTS CONCERNING THE REAR SPRINGS BEING DEFECTIVE. *AK THERE WAS INTERMITTENT FRONT WHEEL WHINES. THE SERVICE MECHANIC COMMENTED ABOUT THE MANY BROKEN SPRINGS ON THIS MAKE/MODEL. (BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE FOUND BROKEN) *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

8012540

1993 FORD ESCORT STATION WAGON. SHARP METAL EDGE AT WIRING HARNESS ENTRANCE TO STATION WAGON HATCH, CAUSED ABRASION OF WIRING LEADING TO SHORT CIRCUIT AND VEHICLE FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10051200

Incident

Dec 27, 2003

Mileage

115,330 mi

WHILE PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH,THE TRANSMISSION IDLED HIGH . THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THEM TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY AND SENSOR AND REPLACE THE AIR FILTER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10051628

Incident

Dec 16, 2003

SMOKED STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, BUT IDLING. WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED WAS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE BECAUSE ALL THE ENGINE COMPONENTS MELTED. MECHANIC INDICATED FIRE STARTED DUE TO A FUEL LINE FAILURE AS STATED IN RECALL 92V117000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10050555

Incident

Sep 3, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED OUT AND BURNT THE WIRING HARNESS. THERE'S A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10048087

Mileage

100,000 mi

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT A DITCH. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS GOING WESTBOUND ON THE TURNPIKE WHEN THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A NORTH SIDE DITCH. THE TREAD HAD BECOME UNGLUED TO THE LEFT REAR TIRE. THE TIRE MAINTAINED AIR PRESSURE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10048310

Incident

Jul 30, 2003

1993 FORD ESCORT WAGON - REAR WINDOW DEFROST - ELECTRICAL WIRING SHORTED AT HATCHBACK DOOR. WIRE HARNESS WAS CRACKED AT BEND POINT FOR REAR DOOR TO OPEN. ALL MOST ALL WIRES GOING TO HATCHBACK DOOR HAD BEEN EXPOSED DOWN TO THE CORE WIRE! WHEN REAR DEFROST WAS TURNED ON A SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC WAS DETECTED, THEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE DASH. DEFROST AT HATCHBACK DOOR HAD SHORTED WITH TAIL LIGHT WIRING, MELTING WIRING BACK INTO FUSE BOX. FIRE WAS PREVENTED BY SHUTTING OFF DEFROST. BUT REAR BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043458

Incident

Nov 26, 2000

Mileage

130,000 mi

HEARD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM REAR STRUTS. FOUND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN. REPLACED BOTH SPRINGS AND REAR STRUTS.TRYING TO RECALL WHEN THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED I REMEMBERED 2 INSTANCES WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I HEARD LOUD UNEXPECTED BANGING NOISES. THINKING I HAD HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD, BUT NOT SEEING ANYTHING IN THE ROAD PRIOR TO THE NOISES OR IN MY MIRROR AFTER HEARING THE NOISES, I SHRUGGED IT OFF. IT APPEARS THEY WERE MY COILS . CAR WAS NOT OVERLOADED, DRIVEN HARD, OR ON A ROUGH ROAD. THEY LET GO AT SEPARATE TIMES ON SMOOTH ROADS WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH. I HAVE READ WERE THIS IS A NOT- UNCOMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041596

Incident

Aug 31, 2001

Mileage

80,000 mi

BRAKES WEAK SINCE CAR WAS NEW. PEDAL GOES ALMOST COMPLETELY TO FLOOR BEFORE BRAKING AND EVEN THEN POORLY. HAVE REPLACED BRAKE PADS, DISCS, DRUMS, HOSES, MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER (EVERY COMPONENT), BLED AND ADJUSTED SEVERAL TIMES TO NO EFFECT. CALLING TO FORD TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND GET THEM TO FIX IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME. APPEARS MANUFACTURER WAS KNOWN OF A PROBLEM AND RELEASED A T.S.B. ONLY AFTER ALL VEHICLES COVERED WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. CHECKED WITH DEALER AND PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. I FELT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OUT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX IT. I AM ALL OUT OF OPTIONS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041593

Incident

Oct 10, 2003

Mileage

1,000 mi

1993 FORD ESCORT STATIONWAGON ROLLED OVER AT 50 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ROOF CAVED IN CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S HEAD AND FACE. THE SEAT AND SHOULDER BELTS WERE IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION AND PROPERLY USED. THE ROOF AND SIDE BODY PILLARS DO NOT GIVE SUFFICIENT ROLLOVER PROTECTION TO PREVENT SEVERE HEAD AND FACIAL INJURIES TO FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS. THE ROOF CAVES DOWN TO THE TOP OF THE SEATBACK. IF THE SEATBACK CAN HOLD UP THE ROOF, WHY AREN'T THE ROOF AND SIDE PILLARS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT?*AK

NHTSA ID

10036833

Incident

Aug 25, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi