1993 Ford Escort Electrical Problems

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

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

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

CONSUMER'S WIFE WASD DRIVING AND SUDDENLLY SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE DASH, AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK AFTER SHE COULD NOT RESTART VEHICLE. IT WASTOWED TO A FORD DEALER, WHO AFTER LOOKING AT VEHICLE TOLD THEM THAT WIRING HARNESS HAD SHORT OUT. THEY HAD ANOTHER WIRING HARNESS PUT ON BY SAME MECHANIC, AND TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE. IT IMMEDIATELY BURNED OUT.CONSUMER FELT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017125

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

CONSUMER CAN PULL KEY OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8006661

VEHICLE STOPS, AND GOES AT WILL. CONSUMER THINKS IT IS IGNITION SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8001366

Incident

Dec 15, 2001

IGNITION SWITCH GETS HOT AND MELTS CONNECTORS. CONNECTORS STAY OPEN WHICH CAUSES WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND BLOWER FAN NOT TO WORK. THIS WAS THIRD SWITCH. CONTACTED DEALER.

NHTSA ID

892392

Incident

May 25, 2001

I FEEL FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALL ALL DEFECTIVE CARS. I FEEL THEY KNEW THEY WERE PUTTING DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHS IN ESCORTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY CAR IS A 1993 ESCORT THAT HAD A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, THAT WAS AT A GAS STATION WHEN IT HAPPEN TO START SMOKING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IF IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE LIKE THE SOME OF THE OTHER CARS, IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I THINK FORD DOESN'T TAKE HUMAN LIVES INTO THEIR CONSIDERATION. THEY ONLY SEE DOLLAR SIGNS. I AM A STYLIST AND I SEE WELL OVER A 90 PEOPLE A DAY AND I WILL BE SURE TO TELL THEM NOT TO BUY A FORD. IT IS VERY SAD THAT PEOPLE NO LONGER TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT THEY DO OR MAKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

739288

Incident

Jan 7, 2001

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS.*AK

NHTSA ID

876351

Incident

Aug 25, 2000

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING OR WILL NOT START, CONSUMER BELIEVES IT'S A FAULTY IGNITION WHICH IS BEING RECALL IN CALIFORNIA. NLM

NHTSA ID

556630

DAY BOUGHT..GAS BEGAN POURING OUT OF TANK WHILE DRIVING...RELAY SWITHCH PROBLEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

720787

Incident

Mar 10, 2000

HAD PUT KEY IN IGNITION TO START VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START. WOULD NEED TO JIGGLE KEY IN IGNITION TO START VEHICLE. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO LOCK UP AFTER KEY WAS REMOVED. BEEN TO DEALER. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER VEHICLE NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

850364

Incident

Sep 18, 1999

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND THEN VEHICLE DIDN'T START UP AGAIN, NO PRIOR WARNING. MADE STRANGE NOISES, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. CONTACTED DEALE. *AK

NHTSA ID

849896

Incident

Oct 4, 1999

THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH HAS A PROBLEM, IT SHUTS THE HEATER FAN OFF. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH HAS A SHORT CIRCUT IN IT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

833752

THE FUSE FOR "ROOM" BURNT UP REPEATEDLY (AND WHEN IT DID, THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING.) MY SON FOUND THAT SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION LOCK BAR WHEN I PUT IN A NEW FUSE FOR "ROOM" TWO DAYS AGO. MY GUESS IS THAT THE IGNITION LOCK BAR HAS A DESIGN DEFECT; THAT SMOKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE REASON WHY THE "ROOM" FUSE HAD NEVER LASTED VERY LONG. THIS REMIND ME OF ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT CAME UP TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER THE CAR STAY UNDER THE SUN FOR HOURS. (I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS REPEATABLE--WHEN IT GOT ENOUGH SUNSHINE I ALWAYS GOT THE WHITE SMOKE.) I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THEIR CALL-BACK. THIS PROBLEM MIGHT ALSO BE IN THAT IGNITION LOCK BAR.

NHTSA ID

700915

VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AT A STOP. THERE IS NO RESPONSE FROM THE IGNITION UNTIL ENGINE COOLS.

NHTSA ID

531868

Incident

May 1, 1997

KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION, HAD TO HAVE SWITCHED REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA ID

521619

Incident

Jul 7, 1997

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED.

NHTSA ID

518300

Incident

May 1, 1997

HORN FAILED/REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

513550

Incident

Oct 1, 1996

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA ID

512536

Incident

Nov 16, 1996

ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHEN TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS, THE DASH LIGHTS DONT COME ON. *AK CONSUMER STATES AFTER TRAVELING A COUPLE OF MILES GAS GUAGE SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT SHOW THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GAS.*JB

NHTSA ID

804213

Incident

Jun 1, 1996

WHEN PARKING THE CAR THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF EVEN AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

800105

Incident

Jul 26, 1996

PURCHASE CAR NEW SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING CAR ACCELERATES MOTOR RUNS FAST . TT

NHTSA ID

986839

DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK, PARKED AT 30 MIN LATER, ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

986268

Incident

May 13, 1996

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

986030

Incident

Jun 22, 1996