1998 Ford Escort Transmission Problems

I HAVE HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS RELATING TO CAR FUEL PUMP OR TRANSMISSION SHOPS COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS BUT THE DRIVABLITY OF MY 98 ESCORT ZX2 COST ME MORE MONEY IN PROBLEM SOLVING, 1,500 PLUS IN RECENT REPAIRS INCLUDING EMERGENCY AND REPEAT REPAIRS AND FAULTY REPAIRS. MY FUEL ECONOMY IS 160 MILES PER TANK TO ALMOST 200 MILES. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM(S). LARGE THUNKING IN REAR TRUNK (SCARY)WHEN IM TAKING OFF AND REACHING A STEADY SPEED. TAKE THE CAR TO MAJOR FORD DEALERSHIPS, TO NO AVAIL. CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS "GO" FROM A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC,THIS HAS CAUSED QUITE A SCARE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR HELPING AND MAKING NOTE OF MY ACCOUNT. DEBBIE

NHTSA ID

10157775

Incident

Apr 26, 2006

THE FAILURE INVOLVES THE INTERLOCK THAT KEEPS YOU FROM SHIFTING OUT OF PARK WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. MY LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL BULB HAD BURNED OUT. I STOPPED THE CAR, PUT IT IN PARK, AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, TO GET OUT AND CHECK THE OTHER TURN SIGNALS. FIRST I TURNED ON THE LEFT SIDE AND VERIFIED THAT THE LEFT REAR BULB WASN'T WORKING. THEN I ASKED THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR TO SWITCH ON THE RIGHT SIGNALS. SHE LEANED ON THE SHIFT LEVER TO TRY TO REACH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, AND WHEN SHE DID, THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE. IT MOVED BACK SLOWLY SINCE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON, SO I JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY AND GOT IN AND STOPPED IT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THIS: THAT IF THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL BULB IS BAD, THE SHIFT INTERLOCK IS RELEASED WHEN YOU TURN ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, ALLOWING THE SHIFT LEVER TO BE MOVED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE BRAKE FIRST. WHEN I PUT IN THE NEW BULB, THE BEHAVIOR DID NOT HAPPEN ANYMORE. I PUT THE BAD BULB BACK IN, AND IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. IF I HAD NOT SET THE PARKING BRAKE, I COULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS DEFECT MAY EXIST IN SEVERAL MODEL YEARS ON THIS VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY OTHER FORD VEHICLES. THIS PROBLEM WAS ON A 1998 FORD ESCORT SEDAN WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10135027

Incident

Aug 29, 2005

Mileage

91,500 mi

DT: CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN A FIRE STARTED IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, AND HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 HOURS. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS FROM THE POWER CONTROL MODULE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10127109

Incident

Feb 20, 2005

WHILE DRIVING THE GEARS ON THE VEHICLE CHANGE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL ON THEIR OWN. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10109405

Incident

Jan 30, 2005

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION HAD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10022388

Incident

Jun 4, 2003

THE VEHICLES GEAR SHIFT LOCKED AND COULDN'T BE MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012524

Incident

Mar 26, 2003

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 5 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION, STILL LURCHES IN FIRST, HAS HEAVY SIDEWAYS VIBRATION UNTIL VEHICLE HITS HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR REPAIR WHILE UNDER WARRANTY FROM FIRST REPAIR, FORD MOTOR COMPANY DID NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. DT

NHTSA ID

769267

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT WOULD ONLY MOVE IN REVERSE AND WOULD SLIP IN ALL GEARS. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS DUE TO MODIFICATION CONSUMER MADE TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION WHEN IN TOW. WARRANTY REPAIR IS DENIED BY THE DEALER. *JG

NHTSA ID

566352

Incident

Jan 18, 2000

Mileage

11,019 mi

TS

NHTSA ID

768000

Incident

Dec 2, 1998

VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION REPAIRED IN AUGUST OF 2001. SOON THEREAFTER, IT STARTED TO HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH SHIFTS. NOW, THE VEHICLE GRINDS GOING INTO 5TH GEAR / REFUSE TO GO INTO 5TH AND WILL ACTUALLY FORCE ITSELF OUT OF 5TH GEAR WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO / DRIVE ON DC HIGHWAYS. TOOK IT TO A DEALER ON MAY 30TH, WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO SAME DEALER ON JULY 5TH, RODE WITH SHOP MANAGER WHO RECREATED THE PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS FOR REPAIR. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO HAD IT ALL WEEK, REPAIRED SOME COMPONENT, BUT PROBLEM RESURFACED ON TRIP HOME FROM DEALERSHIP. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED THAT I COULD DRIVE A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION ON THE HIGHWAY FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, THEN BRING IT IN. I AM TEACHING IN ANOTHER STATE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, SO I AM IN AN URGENT NEED OF A FUNCTIONAL VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

764177

TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN EVERY GEAR AND SHIFTS HARD, ESPECIALLY ON COLD MORNINGS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 2 TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

8004057

Incident

Nov 15, 2001

WHEN VEHICLE GETS STARTED UP IT WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. VEHICLE WILL JUST SIT THERE AND NOT MOVE ANYWHERE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003657

Incident

Feb 5, 2002

WHEN YOU TRY TO USE THE WASHER FLUID IT LEAKS ON THE HOOD OF THE CAR CAUSING THE HOOD TO BECOME DISCOLORED FROM THE WINDSHEILD WASHER FLUID. ALSO WHENEVER YOU ARE AT A STOP THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE, THEY FORD SAY THAT IT IS FROM THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND THAT IT IS NOT HAZARDOUS SO THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT. LAST THEIR IS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISION, WHENEVER YOU ARE MOVING SLOW OR IN A STOP POSITION AND START TO MOVE THE CAR JERKS REALLY BAD. IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE SOMEONE RAN INTO YOU OR THAT YOU RAN SOMETHING OVER. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE COMPANY, BUT THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT. I HAVE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE ECAXT SAME CAR HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID

757475

Incident

Dec 1, 1998

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, IT OFTEN REVS AT HIGH RPM AND DOES NOT RETURN TO A NORMAL RPM UNLESS VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.*JB

NHTSA ID

785442

TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH. PRIOR TO BREAK DOWN, HAD HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND. VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD. WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A USED ONE SINCE OLD TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPAIRABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

887258

Incident

Mar 28, 2001

I LIVE IN BURLINGTON ONTARIO CANADA, YET FELT THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED BEYOND CONTACTING THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION IN CANADA, (OF WHICH I AM IN THE PROCESS OF DOING). I BELONG TO A LARGE GROUP OF ESCORT ZX2 OWNERS WHO ARE ON THE SECOND AND EVEN 3RD TRANSMISSION! THIS MODEL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1998(THE YEAR OF MY CAR) AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR TRANSMISSIONS. IT IS EXTREMELY WEAK AND HAS FREQUENT MIS-SYNCING SHIFTS. I FEEL THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE, YET ONE THAT DESERVES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. PLEASE HAVE FORD DO A STUDY ON THIS TRANSMISSION AND COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF "FIX" AS THE PRESENT IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERY OTHER CHANNEL OF WHICH I COULD IN CANADA AND AM NOW COMING TO YOU. PLEASE HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID

737227

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM

NHTSA ID

556082

Incident

Jul 28, 2000

VEHICLE DOESN'T GO INTO OVERDRIVE ABOUT 60%OF THE TIME. VEHICLE IN A HIGH SPEED AND IT WILL DROP OUT OF OVERDRIVE AND DRIVE. SHE HAS TO PULL OVER TO THE SGOULDERS TO MANUALLY PULL THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

871102

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC FIXED VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC REPLACED WIRING IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND PROBLEM CAME BACK THREE MONTHS AGO.DEALER TOLD HER TO RIDE WITH SENSOR LIGHT ON. *AK SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON STEADY DUE TO POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ID

868150

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

FUEL GUAGE FAILS TO REGISTER THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP/JERK FORWARD IF PLACED INTO GEAR. WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK. REAR PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED. MECHANIC INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG.*AK

NHTSA ID

865251

ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR 2 DAYS. DEALERSHIP INSISTED ONLY LOSE CLAMP, TRANS OK. ON 4/30/00 BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH 1ST GEAR. HAD TO HAVE COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

722234

Incident

Oct 11, 1997

VEHICLE STARTED, ENGINE RATTLED UPON ACCELERATION AT ALL SPEEDS AT 2300 MILES. AFTER NUMEROUS FAILED REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY DEALER,I SENT COMPLAINT TO FORDS DSB BOARD.WORKING THROGH ARBITRATION VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY ENGINEER.THEY REPLACED PCM.PROBLEM GOT WORSE,ALONG WITH NEW PROBLEMS,LACK OF POWER,HARD START,TRANSMISSION HESITAING.THEN THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP,DIDNT HELP, THEN IGNITION SWITCH, DIDNT HELP,THEN MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND AIR FILTER, DIDNT HELP.FINALLY VEHICLE STARTED STALLING WHILE DRIVING, DURING ACC. TOWED BACK TO SHOP, FORD HAD IT SIX WEEKS THIS TIME REPLACED PCM TWO MORE TIMES.I HAVE VEHICLE BACK,STILL PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION HESITATING.VEHICLE IN SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR SAME OR RELATED PROBLEMS AND TOTALLING ALMOST THREE MONTHS IN SHOP. STILL IN ARBITRATION, CONSDERING CLOSING CASE AND TAKING TO DSB. PERSONALLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

717171

Incident

Sep 12, 1998

WHILE DRIVING TANSMISSION DISENGAGES.THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

852463

Incident

Oct 28, 1999

THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. WOULD BE MAKING LOUD NOISES. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. WAS RUNNING ON 2 CYLINDERS (25 AUG 99). HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. THE MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WOULD NEED TO ORDER A ENGINE. SO FAR NO ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

851534

Incident

Mar 23, 1999

INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

846707