1999 Ford Escort Electrical Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HEATER BLOWER FAILED AND SPARKS WERE SHOOTING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE HARNESS BEFORE A FIRE IGNITED. THE CONTACT LOCATED A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE WIRING OF THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM, IN WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON HIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10364409

Incident

Nov 6, 2010

Mileage

105,000 mi

RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WAS GOING ON AND OFF FOR A COUPLE DAYS. GOT A REPLACEMENT BULB TO CHANGE LIGHT. FOUND THE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS INTO THE BACK OF THE LIGHT TO BE MELTED AND PARTIALLY BURNT. HAD TO REPLACE HARNESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288831

Incident

Sep 20, 2006

Mileage

67,100 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A MONTH OF HER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 2007. A DAY OR TWO LATER, THE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE RADIO AND CLOCK IN THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON AND OFF AND MADE A STRANGE NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,964 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150. UPDATED 5/19/08 *CN THE GEAR LIGHT WENT OUT. THE MARKER LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10225715

Incident

Apr 11, 1999

Mileage

150 mi

I PURCHASED MY SE IN NOVEMBER OF 2006 WITH LESS THAN 83K MILES ON IT. THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT, ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS CRACKED. I HAD THE HEAD REPAIRED, AND LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT THE HEAD CRACKED AGAIN. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED. I HAVE NOW HAD NEW HEADS, NEW ENGINE, NEW FUEL PUMP AND A NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLED AND NOW AM HAVING A NEW PROBLEM. WHEN I PULLED OUT FROM A STOP, THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE ENGINE IS NOW EMITTING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN STOPPED, AND I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS ALL IN ADDITION TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING, FAULTY FRONT HEADLIGHT, TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS FLUSHED AND LOUD ENGINE NOISE. I HAVE SPENT MORE ON REPAIRS THAN I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE, AND NOW HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY IN TO IT, AND IT STILL HAS LESS THAN 94K MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY FIRST FORD, AND WILL BE MY LAST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225453

Incident

Feb 10, 2007

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER HORN DOES NOT WORK. SHE WAS UNABLE TO PLACE HER VEHICLE IN DRIVE BECAUSE OF BLOWN OUT FUSES, INCLUDING THE HORN FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WIRES TO THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE BLOWN. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE HORN FAILED TO WORK AGAIN. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO PURCHASE A FORD FUSION AND TO CONTACT THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10193957

Incident

Jun 15, 2007

Mileage

70,000 mi

I WAS OUT OF TOWN, DROVE FOR 2 1/2 HRS THEN PARKED FOR SHOPPING. WAS ON WAY BACK HOME..10 MIN INTO DRIVE, WHEN MY FORD ESCORT ZX2 JUST LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD LITTLE WARNING..A MINUTE BEFORE IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH THEN NOTHING..NO GAUGES OR STEERING ETC. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED (DID NOT THINK TO KEEP THE OLD PART) AND HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL FUSES "JUST BECAUSE" SINCE IT KEEPS DOING THIS AND THE SCARY PART IS I BOUGHT IT FOR MY SON WHO IS A NEW DRIVER AND HE HAD IT HAPPEN TO HIM TWICE IN ONE DAY AND TWICE TO MYSELF THE NEXT DAY. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT BACK HOME AFTER JUMPING IT TWICE IN 8 MILES THE LAST TWO TIMES IT QUIT. IT IS NOW PARKED FEARING WE WILL BE STRANDED OR WORSE LOSE CONTROL AND END UP IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, STEERING ETC. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155253

Incident

Apr 3, 2006

Mileage

109,240 mi

I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD ESCORT FROM CARMAX IN MAY OF 2001. ABOUT 2-3 WKS LATER I CONSTANTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. I GOT TICKETED BY THE POLICE SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. THEN ONE DAY DRIVING FROM WORK MY ENGINE DIED. WITHOUT ANY WARNING AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO CARMAX AND THEY THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. WHENEVER I PUT THE AC ON THERE IS A RUMBLING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. FRANKLY THE CAR IS A LEMON AND I HAD NO IDEA BECAUSE THERE WAS NO REPORTS ON THE CAR AND I REMEMBERED ASKING THE SALES REP. IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAR THAT I NEEDED TO KNOW AND I WAS TOLD NO. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO BECAUSE I AM SPENDING MONEY ON THIS CAR FOR MANUFACTURER PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131740

Incident

Nov 23, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAW FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10119335

Incident

Apr 22, 2005

Mileage

76,000 mi

MY CAR HAS 55000 MILES AND ITS A 1999 ESCORT.Y TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, THIS AT LESS THAN 55000 MILES? I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY STREET AND THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE SHOP REPLACED THE TIMING BELT AND THE PULLY'S. NOW I HAVE GONE TO WORK MONDAY MORNING AND CAME OUT TO GO HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN, JUST TRIED TO TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP AGAIN, NOW ITS THE FUEL PUMP. THERE IS NO WAY THAT ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE STARTED TO HAPPEN YET ON THIS CAR. THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH IT, I NEED SOME RESOLUTION ON THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096479

Incident

Oct 25, 2004

Mileage

54,000 mi

I HAD TO PUT AN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR LAST YEAR. NOW MY AC DOESN'T WORK AND I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AND PUT A NEW ALTERNATOR IN IT TOO. I HAVE HAD ISSUE AFTER ISSUE WITH MY ZX2. *JB

NHTSA ID

10074726

Incident

May 30, 2004

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10014778

Incident

Mar 18, 2003

Mileage

128,239 mi

MEMBRANE SWITCH FOR HORN STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION CAUSING HORN TO BLOW CONSTANTLY. WIRE TO HORN HAD TO BE PULLED TO REMEDY PROBLEM. MEMBRANE SWITCH NOT AVAILABLE FROM DEALER. DEALER STATES ENTIRE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $500. NOT HAVING AN OPERATIONAL HORN OR LOGICAL AND ECONOMICAL WAY TO REPAIR IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN SAFETY EQUIPMENT. DEALER BENEFITING BY HUGE REPLACEMENT COST. PART SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE OR MANDATORY RECALL IS NECESSARY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10005102

Incident

Oct 14, 2002

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE VEHICLES HORN STOPPED BLOWING. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE HORN IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND OTHER DRIVERS NEED TO BE MADE AWARE. TS THE REPAIR F THE HORN WOULD REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG. SCC

NHTSA ID

8023365

Incident

Nov 20, 2002

Mileage

68,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT FUSES WILL JUST BLOW OUT. UNDER THE DASH THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE BACK OF THE TURNING SWITCH, IT MELTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.REPLACE THE HARNESS. PROBLEM REACCURED. TS

NHTSA ID

8021714

Incident

Oct 28, 2001

CONSUMER GOT A RECALL TO UPGRADE COMPUTER ON VEHICLE, BUT FORD REFUSED TO DO RECALL BECAUSE VEHICLE'S TITLE WAS BRANDED. *JG *AK

NHTSA ID

8001334

Incident

Jan 2, 2002

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, CONSUMER HONKED THE HORN AND IT WOULD NOT STOP BLOWING, CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO STOP THE HORN.*JB

NHTSA ID

785758

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

WIRING HARNESS THAT IS CONNECTED TO HEADLIGHT BULB OVERHEATS AND SHORT CIRCUITS, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS FAILED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.*SLC

NHTSA ID

897853

TAPE GETS STUCK IN TAPE DECK AND WON'T PLAY OR EJECT. IT JUST MAKES A WHINING NOISE. HEATER/DEFROST DOESN'T WANT TO WORK IN EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

751985

Incident

Feb 21, 2000

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 5 TIMES, AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR 4 TIMES/ STARTER, AND BATTERY ONCE. CANNOT REMEDY. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

894142

Incident

Sep 4, 2000

MOTOR DIED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CONSUMER HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT DEALER HAS REPLACED 4 ALTERNATORS/ ONE STARTER, AND A BATTERY. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHCLE IN FEAR THAT IT MAY STALL AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

894133

Incident

Sep 4, 2000

IGNITION SWITCH IS TOO CLOSE TO ENGINE BLOCK WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO COMPLETLEY SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

886654

IGNITION WILL ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. BEEN TO DEALER WHO CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

882077

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

WHEN CAR IS OFF THE RADIO CAUSES A POP IN THE SPEAKERS INDICATING THAT POWER IS STILL ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

739303

Incident

Jan 13, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON A SIDE STREET MAKING A LEFT TURN AND VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WASN'T AWARE OF PROBLEM. BUT CONSUMER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

878117

Incident

Jan 11, 2001

WITH WIRING I COULD SMELL BURNING AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. WITH TIRE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY . HAD TIRE REPLACED, I HAVE RECEIPT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 7JJK7U17P9 TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)

NHTSA ID

739285

Incident

Jan 9, 2001