1994 Ford Escort Problems

AUTOMATIC SEATBELT IS JAMMED AND SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS

1994 FORD ESCORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT NOT WORKING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP AT MID-TRACK AND BOUNCING THE DOOR AGAINST THE HINGE WOULD GET IT TO MOVE. TWO WEEKS AGO, IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE COULD HEAR THE MOTOR TRYING TO MAKE IT MOVE. SHE LEFT IT ALONE AND ABOUT FOUR DAYS LATER, IT RESUMED OPERATING. A WEEK LATER, IT FROZE AGAIN, A LITTLE MORE FORWARD IN THE TRACK THAN PREVIOUSLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 94V218000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,404.

THE 1994 FORD ESCORT IS A VERY POORLY MADE CAR. MOST OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS, THE MOTORS OF WHICH ALMOST ALWAYS FAIL. OURS WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE HAD A MANUAL SEATBELT INSTALLED-- AT OUR EXPENSE-- AND TODAY THAT MANUAL SEATBELT SAVED MY HUSBAND'S LIFE IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. IMAGINE IF HE HAD ONLY HAD A LAPBELT! FORD REPEATEDLY DENIES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT FOR EVERY 10 ESCORTS I SEE THAT WERE MADE ABOUT THE SAME TIME, 9 OF THEM HAVE AT LEAST ONE FAILED SEATBELT. IN ADDITION, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A ROLLOVER CRASH GOING SOME 75 MPH. I CAN'T SAY IF MY HUSBAND'S INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE HAD THE AIRBAG GONE OFF, BUT I DO KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO DIM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. AS OF JUNE 18, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, POWERTRAIN, AND # OF CYLINDERS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO START THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

1994 FORD ESCORT CUSTOMER WANTS INFO ABOUT ENGINE CATCHING FIRE**CC *JB

ENGINE FAILURE. THE HEAD ON THE 1.9 LITRE ENGINES HAVE A BUILT IN FLAW. THE INTAKE VALVE ON NUMBER 4 CYLINDER FAILS. THE VALVE SEAT BREAKS APART CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PISTON AND ALSO THE HEAD. 4 VEHICLES FOUND TO HAVE THIS DEFECT WHILE WE WERE LOOKING FOR A USED REPLACEMENT HEAD.*AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE,IT AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING IGNITION STARTED TO CRANK, CAUSING IGNITION SWITCH TO MELT.*AK DEALER FOUND FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED MALFUNCTION TO BURN WIRE ON STARTER SOLENOID OFF CAUSING CAR TO TURNOVER BY ITSELF. BRAKE CALIPERS, ALTERNATOR, TWO AIR CONDITIONER POWER HOSES, MASTER CYLINDER, STARTER AND TIRES (TIRE INFORMATION UNKNOWN) HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

AFTER WE CAME HOME OUR CAR LOCKED INTO PARK, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN MY HUSBAND REMOVED THE COVER , THE SPRING INSIDE IS TOTALLY SCREWED UP. IT WOULD BE FATAL IF THIS LOCKED UP WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAVE TWO KIDS THIS IT A FORD SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.*JB

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING WHEN IT SUDDENLY WENT IN REVERSE. THE DRIVER HUNG ON TO THE OPEN DOOR OF HIS 1994 FORD ESCORT AND WAS DRAGGED FOR 100 FEET. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS DRAGGED 100 FEET AND HAD GOTTEN TRAPPED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE PAVEMENT AND WAS SUFFOCATED. *SC

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. UPON INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT AND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THERE WERE PIECES OF METAL FROM THE SPRINGS BROKEN OFF WHICH WAS CAUSING THE RATTLING SOUND. UPDATED 05/16/2006. *AK *NM

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING WAS CRACKED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE SPRING BROKE WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME. THE VEHICLE MADE A "CLUNK" NOISE WHEN IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDAS AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE SPRING BROKE IT RUBBED AGAINST THE TIRE AND RUINED IT. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE IN ADDITION TO BOTH SPRING. *PH

ALOT OF TROUBLE WITH HEATING SYSTEM,THIS MAKES THE 4TH TIME IN A YEAR FOR REPAIRS?

THE HEATER CORE WAS FIRST REPLACED ON 8/20/98 BECAUSE IT WAS THE ORIGINAL, WAS REPLACED AT FORD DEALER IN HOME TOWN, THEN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER THE HEATER CORE HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE ONCE REPLACED THIS TIME FOUND IT HAD POSSIBLY BEEN BENT WHILE INSTALLING SO IT CRACKED, AND IT AGAIN CRACKED WITHIN A YEAR AFTER BEING REPLACED BY A DIFFERENT MECHANIC, FORD SAID THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE WE HAD IT REPLACED BY A DIFFERENT MECHANIC, BUT THIS MECHANIC REPLACED THE PART FOR FREE. *AK

THE LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN OUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, JUST THE PART WHERE THE METERS ARE ENCASED. THE SEATBELTS HAVE BEEN GOING BAD OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 3 YEARS. THE LEFT FRONT SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT ALWAYS RETRACT, NOR DOES THE RIGHT FRONT SHOULDER STRAP. IN THE BACK, THE LEFT REAR SHOULDER STRAP NO LONGER RETRACTS SO THAT IT IS NOW FOREVER LOOSE AND FLOPPY...USELESS. DEALERSHIPS HAVE INFORMED US THAT SERVICING THIS PROBLEM IS UPWARDS OF $500 . WE HAVE HEARD OF OTHER OWNERS OF ESCORTS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. TO US THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE SERVICED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER, BUT THE DEALERSHIPS INFORM US THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL.*AK

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP WHEN IT WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH BEFORE SLAMMING ON BRAKES AND SKIDDING FOR 188 FEET INTO THE VEHICLE. AT IMPACT, BOTH FRONT SEATS AND REAR SEAT BROKE AND FELL BACKWARDS. WHILE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS FALLING BACKWARDS, A 7 YR.OLD CHILD SITTING IN REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS IN FOWARD MOTION WHEN HEAD RESTRAINTS OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HIT CHILD IN CHEST ,TEARING VALVE IN HEART AND PUNCTURING LUNGS . LATER, CHILD DIED DUE TO INJUIRES.DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. CONSUMER CONTACTED A LAWYER WHO SENT AN PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED SEATBELTS WERE IN WORKING CONDITIONS, AND REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS PUSHED BACK, AND IWAS SITTING UNEVEN. ALL SEATS IN VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AND WERE BROKEN. *AK

THE LEFT REAR TIE ROD BROKE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. MR *NLM *DT

WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. IT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER BRAKES APPLIED. HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, THEN STOPPED. DRIVER LEFT VEHICLE , AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. WAS INFORMED THAT SENSOR WIRES TO IDLER HAD FUSED TOGETHER.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT GAS LINE "RUBBED THROUGH" AS A RESULT OF COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE FRONT SWAY BAR ,CAUSING A FUEL LEAK.*AK

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP TUBING RUSTED ALLOWING FUEL TO BE PUMPED OUT AND SPILLING ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AND PUDDLING ON THE GROUND WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS FUEL ODOR AND LEAKAGE COULD CREAT A FIRE HAZARD.*AK

AT HIGH SPEEDS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN EXCELERATION, CAUSE NOT YET DETERMINED. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING IGNITION STARTED TO CRANK, CAUSING IGNITION SWITCH TO MELT.*AK DEALER FOUND FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED MALFUNCTION TO BURN WIRE ON STARTER SOLENOID OFF CAUSING CAR TO TURNOVER BY ITSELF. BRAKE CALIPERS, ALTERNATOR, TWO AIR CONDITIONER POWER HOSES, MASTER CYLINDER, STARTER AND TIRES (TIRE INFORMATION UNKNOWN) HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM WHEEL. GOODYEAR, RANGLER, LT24575R16 LOW RANGE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

HEADLIGHT COVER CLOUDED FROM AGE. DRIVERS CAN'T SEE WELL AT NIGHT. I'VE NOTICED THAT ALL ESCORTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED A RECALL ON REPLACEMENT LIGHTING THAT LEADS TO SUGGEST THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT COVERS. WHY ISN'T MANUFACTURE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS? ESPECIALLY SAFETY PARTS. PREVIOUS OWNER HIT SOMETHING SLIGHTLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE LIGHTING. *NM

HEADLIGHTS HAVE BOTH FAILED, METAL DEFLECTOR HAS FALLEN OFF BOTH ASSEMBLIES (LEFT AND RIGHT). CANNOT BE RETRIEVAL FROM CLOSED HOUSING HEADLIGHT BEAM GOES UPWARD TOWARD ONCOMING DRIVERS AND AT THE SAME TIME NOTICE LOWER ILLUMINATION.

MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS, BOTH ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE, FAILED. ALSO, PLASTIC BUMPER GUARDS BROKE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BUMPER ROCK AND BUMPER BROKE IN HALF. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING IGNITION STARTED TO CRANK, CAUSING IGNITION SWITCH TO MELT.*AK DEALER FOUND FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED MALFUNCTION TO BURN WIRE ON STARTER SOLENOID OFF CAUSING CAR TO TURNOVER BY ITSELF. BRAKE CALIPERS, ALTERNATOR, TWO AIR CONDITIONER POWER HOSES, MASTER CYLINDER, STARTER AND TIRES (TIRE INFORMATION UNKNOWN) HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ODOMETER FRAUD. *SD