1997 Ford Escort Suspension Problems

NOISE THAT COULD NOT BE LOCATED IN REAR. REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKE . *TR

NHTSA ID

10280907

Incident

Apr 15, 2008

Mileage

43,000 mi

I TOOK MY ESCORT IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN AGAIN THE FIRST TIME THEY BROKE THE DEALER REPLACED THEM AND SAID HE THOUGHT A RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED BECAUSE FORD NEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM NOW ONCE AGAIN THEY ARE BROKEN AND THERE IS STILL NO RECALL IF SOMEONE KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM WHY AREN'T THEY CORRECTING THE PROBLEM AND DO WE THE CONSUMERS HAVE TO KEEP SHELLING OUT OUR HARD EARNED MONEY FOR REPAIRS. THIS CAR IS A 1997 FORD ESCORT AND REAR SPRINGS WERE REPLACED TWICE JUST NOT FAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241830

Incident

Sep 11, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

1997FORD ESCORT WAGON. HAVING HAD THIS CAR FOR EIGHT YEARS, WHERE I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REARS SPRING ONCE, I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF SCHEDULING TO REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS A SECOND TIME TO THE AMOUNT OF $700.00. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND FROM MECHANICS AND FROM THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A 'COMMON PROBLEM" WITH FORD. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPEN A SECOND TIME, FOR ME I FEEL I SHOULD GET SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM FORD FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE SUSPENSION. THIS SUSPENSION PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233976

Incident

Jul 10, 2008

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

1997 FORD ESCORT HAD REAR SPRINGS PROBLEMS. **CC BOTH REAR SPRINGS ON THE VEHICLE BROKE. THE BREAKS WERE IDENTICAL, THE LOWER COILS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND INDICATED THAT THEY SHOWED LACK OF INTEREST. *NM

NHTSA ID

10184785

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

1997 FORD ESCORT FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO A LEAK IN THE RIGHT REAR SPRING COILS.*MR *JB

NHTSA ID

10132352

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK THIS IS THE CONSUMER'S THIRD FORD ESCORT WITH BROKE REAR SPRINGS (1991, 1993 AND 1997). *NM

NHTSA ID

10108939

Incident

Jan 24, 2005

Mileage

111,000 mi

VEHICLE BEING SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME LOCATION. NO INDICATION FROM DRIVE OF VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD BY TECHNICIAN THAT SPRING COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH TIRE THUS CAUSING A BLOW-OUT.

NHTSA ID

10122449

Incident

May 30, 2005

Mileage

96,755 mi

DT: A PROBLEM WITH SPRINGS. A BROKEN REAR SPRING; THEY FIXED IT, AND INSTALLED NEW SPRINGS. CONSUMER LATER FOUND OUT FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE FRONT SPRINGS; BUT HE WAS HAVING A REAR SPRING PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10121864

Incident

May 22, 2005

Mileage

66,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING , THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *JB CONSUMER FEELS THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE'S REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT 16219 MILES. THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AT 16279 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING NOISE. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10092438

Incident

Sep 16, 2004

Mileage

32,000 mi

REAR SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10100999

Incident

Dec 3, 2004

REPLACEMENT OF REAR SPRINGS ON 1997 FORD ESCORT.*MR THE CONSUMER WANTED AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY HER 2000 FORD TAURUS WAS RECALLED BUT NOT HER 1997 FOR ESCORT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10091683

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED, AS IS. HOWEVER, THE OWNER WAS TOLD THAT IF THERE WERE ANY SAFETY FEATURES THAT WERE EFFECTED, THE DEALERSHIP WOULD REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY FOR TOWING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THEIR LOT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10055790

Mileage

100,000 mi

TOOK CAR (1997 FORD ESCORT) TO SHOP FOR ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO PASS INSPECTION. I WAS VERY SURPRISED SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN VERY CONSERVATIVELY. MECHANIC STATED THAT PREMATURE FAILURE OF REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCORTS. REQUEST GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION TO MAKE FORD CO. REIMBURSE CONSUMER EXPENSE CAUSED BY FAULTY COIL SPRINGS. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054463

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

1997 FORD ESCORT SW REAR SPRING BREAKAGE. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054453

Incident

May 2, 2002

Mileage

40,000 mi

BOTH BACK REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. MY CAR HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY EXCESSIVE WEIGHT IN THE BACK SEAT. WHY WOULD THESE BREAK? THIS HAS WAY TO LITTLE MILEAGE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. FORD IS RECALLING TAURUS AND VOYAGERS....WHAT ABOUT ESCORT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] (NIGHT) OR [XXX] EXT [XXX] (DAYTIME). I WOULD HOPE THAT FORD WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AND START RECALLING THE FORD ESCORTS. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10071316

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

76,498 mi

1997 FORD ESCORT HAD BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN AT THE SAME PLACE. HAD THEM REPLACED BY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BROKEN. I WANT FORD TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. IF 1 SPRING WAS BROKEN THEN I COULD SEE IT BEING POSSIBLE, BUT BOTH AT THE SAME PLACE???? THEY WERE MANUFACTURED POORLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10051214

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

121,100 mi

IT WAS FOUND DURING AN INSPECTION THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. *AK *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10034227

Incident

Jun 13, 2003

Mileage

40,000 mi

1997 FORD ESCORT REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN AFTER 60K MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037349

Incident

Sep 6, 2003

WE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE REAR END. TOOK TO THE MECHANIC AND THE REAR SPRINGS ARE COMPLETELY SHATTERED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10028953

Incident

Jul 20, 2003

REAR SPRINGS ON MY ESCORT I BELIEVE TO BE CHEAPLY MADE. BOTH HAVE BUSTED. I HAVE FOUND THAT MY ESCORT IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER ESCORTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10025385

Incident

Jul 3, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

I HAD TAKEN MY 1997 FORD ESCORT IN FOR ITS ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION, WHERE MY REAR SPRINGS WERE REPLACED AT MY COST. THE MECHANIC WORKING ON MY CAR HAD FOUND THAT BOTH OF THE ORIGINAL FACTORY REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN DIRECTLY BELOW THEIR PLASTIC COVERING ABOUT ONE-FIFTH FROM THE TOP OF THE SPRING. HE HAD SAID THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL ESCORTS THAT HE HAD WORKED ON THAT HAD THE SAME BREAKAGE AT THE SAME SECTION OF EACH OF THE REAR SPRINGS. HE HAD ADVISED ME TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS POSTED ON THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD TO BUY A NEW SET OF REAR TIRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS MY PRESENT ONES HAVE IRREGULAR WEAR. *JB I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS OR WILL BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10023711

Incident

Jun 24, 2003

Mileage

67,005 mi

I BOUGHT A 1997 FORD ESCORT WAGON NEW AND LOVE IT AND HAS ONLY 30000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY I HAD A PROBLEM WITH STEERING THE VEHICLE SO I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW TIE ROD ENDS AND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. AS I DO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE HARD AND DO NOT HAUL ANYTHING EXCEPT MY PUPPY AND GROCERIES, I HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING THIS. SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE AND ANOTHER MECHANIC TOLD ME THE SAME THING AND SHOWED IT TO ME. I AM NO LONGER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS IT IS UNSAFE AND THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE PLACED ON A RECALL LIST AND FIXED BY FORD FREE OF CHARGE. NEITHER ME OR MY HUSBAND HAVE EVER HAD THIS HAPPEN AND WE FEEL THAT DEFINITELY THIS HAS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE SO THAT I CAN KNOW WHICH DIRECTION TO PURSUE THIS MATTER, A.E., NEWSPAPERS, TV STATIONS, ETC. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10019069

Incident

May 21, 2003

Mileage

30,123 mi

REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE CRACKED - BOTH SIDES. VEHICLE ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. USED IN PRIMARILY IN CITY, RUNNING ERRANDS - FOR RETIRED COUPLE. ALSO: LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END IS WORN OUT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAUSES A VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ALSO RATTLES WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS (<1") AT LOW SPEEDS (<10 MPH). *JB

NHTSA ID

10018833

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE REAR SUSPENSION IN MY CAR IS ALL OUT OF WHACK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT HE HAS SEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS LIKE WITH REAR SUSPENSION IN THESE CARS. I DRIVE AN ESCORT WAGON. I DON'T GO OFF ROADING SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE REAR SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. SEEMS LIKE THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE OF A FAULTY PART OR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. WHEN I HAVE PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR THE HANDLING IS AWFUL AND I HAVE TO GO REALLY SLOW OVER ANY SORT OF BUMP BECAUSE THE CAR WILL BOTTOM OUT! JUST THOUGHT OTHERS MAY BE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018804

Incident

Jun 16, 2003