1993 Ford Escort Fuel system Problems

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

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

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

FUEL TANK LEAKING AT HOSE FITTING. CRACK IN PLASTIC TANK. NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE DUE TO MANY FAILURES. BOUGHT CAR NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT IN REAR SEAT COMPARTMENT. DEALER FIXED TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *MR *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*768008

NHTSA ID

10006958

Incident

Sep 30, 2002

Mileage

35,000 mi

FUEL TANK LEAKING AT HOSE FITTING. CRACK IN PLASTIC TANK. NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE DUE TO MANY FAILURES. BOUGHT CAR NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT IN REAR SEAT COMPARTMENT. DEALER FIXED TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. MR

NHTSA ID

768008

Incident

Sep 30, 2002

WHEN FILLING UP FUEL, VEHICLE HAS STRONG GAS FUMES ON INSIDE FROM BACK OF VEHICLE DUE TO CONNECTION TO FUEL TANK LEAKING. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE METAL AND RUBBER FUEL LINES WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL TANK LEAK WHEN TANK IS FULL. *TT

NHTSA ID

8006332

Incident

Mar 9, 2002

THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASBOARD WHEN DRIVING, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. LATER INVESTIGATION BY THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE FUEL PUMP CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE WIRING TO OVERHEAT BECAUSE FORD DID NOT PUT A FUSE IN THE POWER LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL CONNECTIONS INSIDE THE GAS TANK WERE MELTED AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION. THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNES TO THE FUEL PUMP MELTED BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL SHORT AND NEEDS TO BE COMPLETLY REPLACED. I'M APPAULED THAT THERE IS NO FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PREVENT SUCH A DANGEROUS HAZARD. NONE OF THE FUSES IN THE FUSE BLOCK WERE BLOWN. TRACING THE WIRING FROM THE FUEL PUPM SHOWS THAT IT COMPLETELY BYPASSES THE FUSE BLOCK. THE FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCH NEVER TRIPPED, NOR DOES IT SEEM TO BE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS ELECTRICAL SHORTS TO THE PUMP. THIS DESIGN POSES SERIOUS THREATS TO LIFE, AS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN CAUSE AN EXPLOSION IN THE FUEL TANK. MY FAMILY FEELS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, AND NOW AM TRYING TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP AS THE RUST AROUND THE PUMP SEALS INDICATES. I'M HOLDING ON TO THE PUMP TO SHOW THE MELTED CONNECTIONS WHICH INDICATE A POTENTIAL EXPLOSION HAZARD AS WELL AS THE MELTED WIRING CONNECTIONS/CONNECTOR AND WIRES TO THE PUMP.*AK

NHTSA ID

748075

Incident

Jul 2, 2001

FUELTANK PROBLEMS, PLEASE ADD ADDITIONALINFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

876237

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

WHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK TO FULL, FUEL SPILLS OUT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AROUND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. ALSO, FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER PROPERLY. THE CAR CANNOT BE LEFT IN THE GARAGE AFTER FUELLING BECAUSE GAS VAPORS ARE SO STRONG THROUGH THE HOUSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

735626

I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT 127,000 MILES, AND NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS WHENEVER IT WAS FILLED UP. I TALKED TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER (OWNER #1), AND HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE TOOK IT IN ON WARRANTY, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I THOUGHT THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THE GAS TANK WAS FINE, BUT THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS CRACKED BETWEEN THE TWO LINES EXITING THE TOP, AND HAD SOME SORT OF ADHESIVE THAT HAD BROKEN LOOSE. I HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED THINKING THAT I HAD FOUND THE PROBLEM, BUT THE SMELL OF GAS WAS STILL THERE. I HAVE GIVEN UP ON FINDING THE PROBLEM, BUT AM STILL CONCERNED. ANY SUGGESTIONS?*AK

NHTSA ID

732731

FUEL PUMPS HAS SUFFERED STRESS CRACKS, CAUSING THE FUEL TO RISE UP AND LEAK OUT OF THE TOP. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE PART ONCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

866994

SMELLED OF GAS, UPON GETTING OUT OF THE CAR NOTICE GAS POURING FROM THE CAR, SEAT DONT LOCK PROPERLY, HEAD GASKET REPLACED

NHTSA ID

9000921

Incident

May 27, 2000

JUST BOUGHT CAR; FILLED GAS TANK; LEAKING FUEL; FIRE WILL RESULT IF FUMES NEAR AN IGNITOR; BEFORE PURCHASE I HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY MECHANIC FOR 1.5 HOURS; NO PROBLEM WITH FUEL LINE DETECTED; ONLY HAD 3 GALLONS IN TANK AT TIME; NO FUMES DETECTED DURING INSPECTION OR DURING TEST DRIVE

NHTSA ID

725675

Incident

Jul 19, 2000

DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK LEAKS FUEL WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE IF THERE IS A SOURCE OF IGNITION. THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THE FUEL TANKS. *AK THE HEATER SHIELD BRACKET BROKE OFF CAUSING LEAK FROM PLASTIC GAS TANK. *YH

NHTSA ID

865297

Incident

Jul 12, 2000

THE FUEL CUTOFF SWITCH ACTIVATED WHILE TRAVELING OVER BUMPS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. DEALER SAID THAT CUT OFF SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

862700

Incident

May 30, 2000

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

ON FUEL TANK TWO PIECES OF PLASTIC MELTED TOGETHER. SEAM ON THE FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT & WAS LEAKING FUEL. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT FUEL TANK WOULD BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

NHTSA ID

859178

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

WHEN CONSUMER FILLS UP TANK WITH GASOLINE. HE SMELLS GAS FUMES COMING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. 91-92 ESCORTS RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE 93. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

855231

Incident

Sep 9, 1999

GAS TANK CRACKED WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

854082

Incident

Dec 14, 1999

GASOLINE WAS SMELLED OUTSIDE VEHICLE AND UNDERSIDE SHOWED WETNESS. MENTIONED PROBLEM TO SCHULTZ FORD AS THE PRIMARILY USED SERVICE AREA. PROBLEM SURFACED FOLLOWING A REPAIR ON WHEEL ALIGNMENT (REAR WAS NOT ALIGNED ON LAST SERVICE) AFTER THIS, PROBLEM SURFACED. HAD INDEPENDENT REPAIR STATION CHECK AND WAS TOLD TO CHECK FOR FORD'S RECALL NOTICE AS "CORRECTION IS VERY EXPENSIVE" WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANK.

NHTSA ID

714942

Incident

Oct 7, 1999

CONSUMER NOTICED GAS PUDDLES UNDER VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER. *AK

NHTSA ID

850434

SOLDER ISN'T TIGHT ON THE GAS TANK ACCESS PLATE WHICH RESULTS IN A LEAK . CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUMES. *YH

NHTSA ID

845535

Incident

Jul 23, 1999

FUEL TANK HAS STARTED TO MELT FROM THE HEAT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE, CAUSING THE TANK TO LEAK FUEL ON THE EXHAUST PIPE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *YC

NHTSA ID

843102

Incident

Jun 18, 1999

THE TANK FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE FACTORY MATERIAL OR ASSEMBLY. ONE MISSING FASTENER IN HEAT SHIELD MAY HAVE PUT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE ONE THAT CRACKED THE TANK. HAD A COLLISION OCCURRED, OR EVEN A CIGARETTE BUTT TOSSED UNDER THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUSED A *AK

NHTSA ID

708238

Incident

Jul 2, 1999