Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 42 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 42, in the owner's own words
TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE. TECH DISCOVERED BOTH REAR SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. WAS QUOTED $1200 TO REPLACE, INCLUDING STRUTS (STILL GOOD). I AM IN MINNESOTA AND THIS CAR HAS NO TRACTION IN THE SNOW. I CAN DRIVE AT 10 MPH AND THE BACK STILL BREAKS TRACTION. I HAVE SPUN OUT MORE DRIVING THIS CAR THAN I HAVE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I DO THINK FORD DESIGNED AND SOLD AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR
I BOUGHT A USED 1999 FORD ESCORT STATIONS WAGON WITH ONLY 16K MILES ON IT. AT 30K MILES I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE FOR $585 TO REPLACE THE REAR COIL SPRINGS THAT ARE BROKEN, SAYING IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. NOTE I NEVER ASKED FOR MORE THAN A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE. IN READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS HERE FOR BROKEN SPRINGS I BELIEVE FORD HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT THAT EVEN ITS DEALERS ARE WELL AWARE OF. *TR
I OWN A 1999 FORD ESCORT S . THE MILEAGE IS 48,700 MILES. I TOOK IT IN YESTERDAY FOR A STATE INSPECTION. I WAS INFORMED THAT NOT ONLY ONE BUT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE READ THAT THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. BUT YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. DURING A VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER, THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,350. UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF UPDATED 06/09/08
DURING REPLACEMENT OF TIRES AND ALIGNMENT, SERVICE PERSONNEL ADVISED THAT THE REAR COILS SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. WAS ADVISED THAT SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED WITH BOTH NHTSA AND MANUFACTURER BUT NO RECALLS HAD BEEN ISSUED. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH CAN RESULT IN ADDITIONAL VEHICLE DAMAGE, INJURIES OR DEATH. A MANDATORY RECALL NEEDS TO BE REQUIRED AND ENFORCED. *TR
REAR COIL SPRING FAILURE. 2 SEPARATE REAR COIL SPRING FAILURES WITHIN 2 MONTHS. 1 OF WHICH PUNCTURED THE TIRE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR LOST CONTROL AND WENT INTO THE MEDIAN. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS INJURED AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. REPAIR SHOP NOTED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ESCORTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AT THE REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE SHOP STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE COILS SPRING RUSTING. THE CONTACT HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OR THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE'S FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AXLE WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
DURING SAFETY INSPECTION DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SPRINGS OF 1999 FORD ESCORT SE HAD BROKEN. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD ESCORT I HAVE OWNED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. FIRST VEHICLE WAS A 1997 FORD ESCORT LX THAT I PURCHASED FROM A DEALER IN FT. COLLINS, CO. I HAVE OWNED THAT THE REAR SPRINGS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IT WAS DETERMINED THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND NEW COIL SPRINGS HAVE BEEN ORDERED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
I HAD MY 99 ESCORT IN FOR A/C WORK AND A INSPECTION WAS DONE AND FOUND BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN, I HAVE NOTED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IN YOUR FILES ON THIS. THE CAR HAS 28K MILES NO REPAIRS WERE DONE YET. *JB
REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKE. *NM
1-COURTESY CHECK BY A LOCAL TIRE & AUTO SERVICE CENTER DURING A TIRE ROTATION. SUGGEST REPLACE REAR COIL SPRINGS. 2-WE WERE TOLD ONE OF THE REAR COIL SPRINGS IS BROKEN, THESE HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN PAIRS. 3-THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD NOT BE A REGULAR ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A PAIR OF COILS AND A SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A RECALL INSTEAD OF PAYING MONEY OUT OF OUR POCKET FOR AN ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY THIS IS TRUE BECAUSE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME REASON FOR YEARS OF 1997-2001 FOR FORD ESCORTS/SEDANS AND MERCURY TRACER/SEDANS. *JB
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
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A BROKEN REAR SPRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. DEALER FOUND IT BROKEN WHILE DOING A SAFETY INSPECTION. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE SPRING WAS BROKEN. MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD IT FIXED BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE. CONTACT BELIEVED IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 -*NM
OUR 1999 FORD ESCORT WITH ONLY 11,904 MILES ON THE ODOMETER (WE DRIVE A SUBARU FORESTER MOSTLY), RECEIVED ITS ANNUAL INSPECTION (NYS LAW) ON AUGUST 11, 2005. THE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. I ASKED THE TECHNICIAN HOW THAT COULD HAPPEN WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND SO LITTLE USE AND BOTH HE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER (THEY ARE A HIGHLY REGARDED, AFTER-MARKET, AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS, SERVICING ALL MAKES OF VEHICLES, AND HAVE NO CAUSE FOR BIAS) SAID THAT IN THEIR EXPERIENCE FORD ESCORTS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING WEAK AND DEFECTIVE REAR COIL SPRINGS AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED MANY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS (MORE THAN ANY OTHER MAKE OR MODEL). TO A LESSER DEGREE THEY ALSO NOTED THAT THE TAURUS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. BEFORE HAVING THE WORK DONE I HAD CALLED THE DEALER (SAM DELL FORD OF LIVERPOOL, NY) AND THE FORD CONSUMER COMPLAINT OFFICE. NEITHER WERE AT ALL HELPFUL, DENYING ALL KNOWLEDGE OF A DEFECT WITH THE REAR COIL SPRINGS. I AM ATTACHING A MEMO FROM THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, DOCUMENTING THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE ESCORT.
DT: 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION THE REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED FORD, THEY DID NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AFTER MARKET REPAIR SHOP. THEY STATED THIS WAS SEEN ALL OF THE TIME. THE ESCORTS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR BAD REAR SPRINGS. THIS VEHICLE HAS 11,904 MILES ON IT. THE REAR SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. *AK
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
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, AND TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS DAMAGE, THOUGH I HAD NOTICED SOME SUSPENSION NOISE WHEN TURNING. ALSO, THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE WAS MUCH "LOOSER" IN THE REAR. TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE SPRINGS COULD FURTHER DETERIOTE AND THE BODY OF THE VECHICLE COULD COLLAPSE ONTO THE CHASSIS. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS WAS $750.00, THOUGH NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE.
AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. *TC
WHEN I TOOK MY CAR (1999 FORD ESCORT STATIONWAGON VIN.#[XXX]) IN FOR ITS OIL CHANGE & INSPECTION. IT FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE A REAR COIL SPRING WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED IN HALF. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD, BUT ONLY HAD 8,953 MILES ON IT. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND ONLY DRIVE THE CAR ON A LIMITED BASIS, USUALLY FOR SHOPPING OR TO A DOCTOR'S OFFICE. I WAS TOLD THE THE SPRING WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND WAS CHARGED A TOTAL OF $412.99 (PLUS TAX) FOR THIS REPAIR. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT FORD DIRECTLY TO SEE IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE TO COMPENSATE ME. MY SON CALLED FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS # AND WAS TOLD TO SEE THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER, WHO WOULD THEN SUBMIT THE CLAIM FOR ME. AFTER 2 SEPERATE VISITS TO THE DEALER, MY SON WAS TOLD: 1) THE MANAGER HAD GONE HOME EARLY THAT DAY & THAT ONLY THE MANAGER COULD DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. ON THE NEXT DAY 2) THE MANAGER WAS IN A MEETING (FRIDAY AFTERNOON @ 4:00 PM) & COULD NOT BE DISTURBED. MY SON RETURNED HOME & CALLED FORDS CUSTOMER RELATIONS #. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER HAD CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY COMPENSTAION. AS FOR THE BROKEN COIL SPRING, MY SON HAD TOLD ME TO REQUEST THE BROKEN PARTS AND I DO HAVE THEM. WHEN THE SPRING BROKE, I DO NOT NO BECAUSE THE RIDE OF THE CAR WAS ALWAYS THE SAME AS WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW. NOW WITH THE NEW SPRINGS, THE REAR OF THE CAR RIDES HIGHER.*AK UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
DEFECTIVE VEHICLE BACK SPRINGS. BOTH BACK SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND I PAID TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. FORD KNEW THEY WERE DEFECTIVE SINCE THEY HAD RE-DESIGNED THE SPRINGS. THE NEW SPRINGS WERE PUT ON AND NOW THE WHOLE VEHICLE BOUNCES ON THE ROAD. HANDLING IS BAD AND IF I HAVE TO TRAVEL ON A BUMPY ROAD I HAVE TO TAKE A DRAMININE. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE INSTALLED 6 NEW SPRINGS AND 8 STRUTS BUT I STILL GET SEASICK DRIVING MY CAR. IT IS SO BUMPY MY NECK HURTS RIDING IN MY CAR. *LA
TOOK VEHICLE FOR SAFETY INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD ONE BACK SPRING HAD CRACKED AND OTHER HAD MOVED OFF MOUNTING WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO FURTHER MOVE AND PUNCTURE TIRE. FORD CORP. SAID NO RECALL ISSUED BUT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER DID NOT HAVE PARTS, WERE ON BACK ORDER, DIDN'T KNOW WHEN AVAILABLE. *LA
BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE ON A 1999 FORD ESCORT WAGON WITH 102000 MILES PROVIDING VERY DANGEROUS HANDLING SITUATION. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN.*AK
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT SAME TIME. CAR HAD ONLY 37,000 MILES AND WAS 4 YEARS OLD. INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN FIXED AT LEAST 8 OTHER FORD ESCORTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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