1999 Ford Escort Steering Problems

I BOUGHT THIS 1999 ESCORT FROM A DEALER. IT WAS USED WITH AROUND 20K MILES ON IT. I MADE THE DEALER CHANGE OUT THE TIE ROD ENDS BEFORE I TOOK IT BECAUSE I NOTICED THEY WERE BAD. THE CAR NOW HAS 54K MILES ON IT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD END FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID AND TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DUE TO A QUICK-REACTING ONCOMING DRIVER, NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THIS COULD HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY DEATHS. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT WHENEVER HE GETS A CALL FOR A FAILED TIE-ROD, ITS AN ESCORT. THIS WAS DEFINITELY CHANGED TOO. I CHECKED IT MYSELF AFTER THE DEALER DID THEM. THEREFORE THE TIE ROD ENDS ONLY LASTED FOR AROUND 35K MILES BEFORE EXTREME FAILURE OCCURRED. SOMETHING HAS TO BE WRONG WITH THE STEERING/SUSPENSION DESIGN IN THIS MODEL CAR. EVERY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED I'VE DRIVEN INTO THE 100K MILE RANGE AND STILL NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TIE ROD ENDS. WHAT IS THE DEAL HERE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10200965

Incident

Aug 27, 2007

Mileage

54,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO 2 PARKED CARS. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S HANDS, BACK AND FEET. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE POLICE RESPONDED AND PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE PARKED VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

10155058

Incident

Apr 6, 2006

Mileage

24,096 mi

I TOOK MY 99 FORD ESCORT TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO FIX ONE FRONT TIE ROD (ANOTHER FREQUENT PROBLEM ON ESCORT) AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE SPINGS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS BROKEN. I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT WHEN DRIVING AND I DON'T KNOW FOR HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN BROKEN. THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH ESCORT, AND ADVISED ME TO CHECK THE EXISTANCE OF A RECALL WITH A FORD DEALER. TO THIS DATE (JAN 2006) THERE IS NO RECALL. HE ALSO ADVISED ME TO KEEP THE RECEIPT OF THE REPAIR ($ 750 TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS AND STRUTS ON BOTH SIDES) IN CASE A RECALL WILL BE MADE IN THE FUTURE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10147184

Incident

Jan 3, 2006

Mileage

88,000 mi

DT: THE VEHICLE WAS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. BOTH OF THE BACK COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. CONSUMER FOUND THIS OUT WHEN GETTING THE BRAKES INSPECTED. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, TIE RODS AND THE REAR STRUTS INCLUDING THE COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INSPECTION TOOK PLACE ON 7-8-05. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE ALL THE PARTS REPLACED. THEY WERE REPLACED ON 7-20/22-05. VEHICLE WAS SHAKING BEFORE HAND. CONSUMER KNEW THAT FORD COMPANY ISSUED A RECALL ISSUE CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR OTHER MODELS. *AK UPDATED 11/02/2005. *NM

NHTSA ID

10129752

Incident

Jul 8, 2005

Mileage

131,569 mi

WHENEVER IT RAINS AND I DRIVE IN A PUDDLE OF WATER MY SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF, CAUSING MY CAR TO HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND MY BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. EVERYTIME THIS HAPPENS I GO TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS TO MANUALLY PUT THE BELT BACK ON. THE MECHANIC TELLS ME HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT BECAUSE HE'S INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

NHTSA ID

10106194

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

DURING A STATE INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE STATE OFFICER THAT THE FRONT END DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE UPPER LEFT FRONT TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE IN 2002 AND 2003. THE CONSUMERS CONCERN IS THAT THE LOWER RIGHT AND LEFT TIE ROD MAY GO SOON. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10046212

Mileage

47,027 mi

FRONT OUTER TIE ROD ATTACHED TO WHEEL ASSEMBLY FAILED TWICE. FIRST TIME FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING MAINTENANCE, NEXT TIME FAILED WHILE GOING AROUND RAM, INTERRUPTING STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8017165

A GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA OF THE VEHICLE, THEN WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 MPH, GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED AGAIN, AND DRIVER LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ID

899549

Incident

Oct 3, 2001

WHILE TURNING LEFT OUT OF A PARKING LOT THE CAR PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND ENDING UP GOING OVER THE CONCRETE MEDIUM. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS IF THE STEERING LOCKED UP.*AK

NHTSA ID

751541

Incident

Aug 16, 2001

THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE BLEW OUT OF THE PUMP AS WE BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE. THE PUMP QUICKLY EMPTIED ITS OIL SUPPLY ONTO THE SERPENTINE BELT, ENGINE BAY & THE DRIVEWAY. IT APPEARS AS IF THE RETAINING O-RING WAS SHEARED IN HALF AS THE MALE FITTING BLEW OUT OF THE RETAINING NUT THAT ATTACHES IT TO THE PUMP. I HAVE DIGITAL CLOSE-UP PICTURES OF THE FAILED PART IF DESIRED (E-MAIL). THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS TOTALLY DISABLING FAILURE IN A 2 YR OLD CAR!!*AK

NHTSA ID

748485

Incident

Jul 13, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE STALLED, AND STEERING LOCKED UP. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STEER PROPERLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

873848

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AND GETTING CLOSE TO A LIGHT VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP.. SAME PROBLEM HAD HAPPEN MORE THEN TEN TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

873816

Incident

Oct 24, 2000

THE TAPE DECK EATS TAPES AND RADIO GETS VERY WARM AND MAKES CLIKING NOISE.*ET

NHTSA ID

784109

STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID

854655

Incident

Jan 3, 2000

WHILE IN MILWAUKEE PREPARING TO GO HOME MADE A STOP AT THE STOP SIGN THEN MADE A TURN, TRAVELING ABOUT 12-15 FT AND STEERING BROKE, SENDING THE AUTOMOBILE OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A TREE. NO INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

854121

Incident

Nov 14, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH DOWNSHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR AND WAS MAKING A RIGHT, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKES/NO POWERSTEERING, AND VEHICLE WENT ACROSS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD ABOUT 137 FEET AND END UP ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID

847238

Incident

Aug 26, 1999