1997 Ford Escort Electrical Problems

FLASHING AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT IN A "51" PATTERN.

NHTSA ID

11171999

Incident

Jan 21, 2019

Mileage

94,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES AND FUSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10822374

Incident

Sep 7, 2009

I TURNED RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT AND SLOWLY TURNED RIGHT AGAIN INTO A PARKING SPACE. WHILE I WAS BRAKING, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT A BUILDING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567436

Incident

Jan 20, 2014

Mileage

90,500 mi

AIR BAG CONTROL DIAGNOSTIC MODULE SHORTED OUT DUE TO RUPTURED HEATER CORE. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT A LOCAL JUNK YARD. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372042

Incident

Dec 6, 2010

Mileage

233,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, AND FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT SHE DOES NOT TRUST THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS CURRENTLY WORKING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 06-03/08. *LJ THE TIE ROD END, REAR SPRING, WINDSHIELD, UPPER BALL JOINT, ODOMETER KNOB, REAL PASSENGER SEAL WERE ALL REPLACED. UPDATED 05/30/08

NHTSA ID

10226312

Incident

Apr 30, 2008

Mileage

115,000 mi

WHILE PARKED HORN WENT OFF ON ITS OWN. OWNER HAD TAKEN FUSE OUT TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING. SPOKE TO DEALER & INFORMED SMALL PLASTIC PIECE HAD WORN AWAY BETWEEN HORN & AIR BAG MODULE. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS OBVIOUSLY A HAZARD (COULD POSSIBLY PREMATURELY ACTIVATE OR FAIL TO ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG). NO SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESS BY THE MANUFATURE TO MY KNOWLEDGE! OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS NOT A FACTOR AT ALL, OCCURS ON HOT, COLD OR RAINY DAYS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10195671

Incident

Jan 28, 2003

Mileage

73,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN IDLE POSITION A SMELL OF SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. UPON INSPECTION, THE ENGINE FUSE BOX WAS FOUND TO BE BURNT. BEFORE THE SMOKE ERUPTED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN BLINKED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CONDENSATION FROM THE EVAPORATOR CASE MAY HAVE DRIPPED ONTO THE AIRBAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR OR WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM A SECOND REMEDY REPAIR UNDER RECALL # 02S44. THE MANUFACURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER THEY CONFIRMED THE DEALER'S CONSENSUS.

NHTSA ID

10169258

Incident

Sep 20, 2006

Mileage

94,500 mi

DT: THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND BURNED UP ALL OF THE WIRING. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10126469

Incident

May 24, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

DT: WHEN IT RAINS CAR GETS MOLDY, AND A FUNGUS SMELL. IT ACTUALLY CAUSES BREATHING PROBLEMS. ALSO, MY HORN IS GOING OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AND IT DOESN'T STOP UNTIL CONSUMER HITS THE STEERING WHEEL. HORN WAS REPLACED, BUT IT IS STILL AUTOMATICALLY GOES OFF. THE HORN EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING . THE REASON SHE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED THE FIRST TIME WAS BECAUSE THE HORN BLEW SO MUCH IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10123773

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

WHILE PARKED ON DEALER 'S PROPERTY FOR REPAIRS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. CONSUMER STATED SHE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR THREE WEEKS, AND DEALER CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10114947

Incident

Feb 24, 2005

Mileage

78,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER. WHILE TALKING TO A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE VIA PHONE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE LESS THEN 15 MINUTES WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10113814

Incident

Mar 6, 2005

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE HORN STUCK WHEN IN USE. CONSUMER HAD TO UNHOOK THE HORN FROM THE BATTERY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10094604

Incident

Aug 23, 2004

Mileage

23,000 mi

UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON IT STALLED . TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND IT BLEW UP, BURNING COMPLETELY TO THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089859

Incident

Aug 18, 2004

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW SECONDS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE FIREWALL. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089826

Incident

Aug 18, 2004

Mileage

99,000 mi

CAR STALLED TRY TO RESTART CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, NOW TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10088496

Incident

Aug 18, 2004

Mileage

99,000 mi

WIRING HARNESS BREAK IN WAGON HATCH CAUSING ALL ELEC. COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION, LSO ENGINE UNABLE TO SHUT OFF(WITH KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION). *AK

NHTSA ID

10086113

Incident

Feb 10, 2003

Mileage

98,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND LATER WENT OFF. ON DECEMBER 22, 2003, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON UPON STARTING , AND THEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE DASH. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED FIRE WAS DUE TO A SHORT IN A WIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10052039

HORN SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY ONE TOUCHING THE MECHANISM.*AK *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10034420

Incident

Jul 8, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

HORN ACTIVATED ON ITS OWN AND STUCK ON. EVENTUALLY BOTH HORNS FAILED. PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE HORN PAD SWITCH WHICH IS PART OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG. REPLACING THE HORNS AND AIR BAG COSTS IN EXCESS OF $800.*AK

NHTSA ID

10033304

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

Mileage

32,000 mi

HEATER CORE LEAKED ONTO THE AIRBAG MONITOR WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SHORT CIRCUITED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10033955

Mileage

114,697 mi

HORN MALFUNCTIOED, ,DOES NOT STOP,HAD TO PULL FUSE OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10031169

Incident

Dec 15, 2001

Mileage

60,000 mi

CONSUMER REQUESTING RESTITUTION FOR A HOUSE FIRE THAT WAS CAUSED BY A VEHICLE FIRE.*MR *TS. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10029630

Incident

Mar 18, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH WIRING HARNESS RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *MR WHILE THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED THROUGH A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACT ERRATICALLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT LATER CAUGHT FIRE AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THIS FAILURE BUT THE CONSUMER DIDN'T RECEIVED THE NOTICED PRIOR TO THE FIRE (RECALL # 02V323000). THE CONSUMER ALSO REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10026603

Incident

Nov 23, 2002

THE HORN ACTIVATED BY ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10019427

Incident

May 1, 2003

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10015432

Incident

Feb 10, 2003

Mileage

78,000 mi