2001 Ford Escort Owner Complaints

I PURCHASED ALL FOUR MICHELINS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. SINCE THEN I HAD TWO BLOWOUTS ON THE REAR DRIVE-SIDE TIRE AND ONE ON THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE TIRE. ALL THREE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDEWALLS, TWO OF WHICH WERE ON THE INNER SIDE SIDEWALL AND ONE ON THE OUTER SIDE SIDEWALL. THERE WERE NO NAILS, GLASS, OR OTHER DEBRIS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE BLOWOUTS. THE FIRST ONE NOT ONLY LEFT A GAPPING HOLE ON THE INNER SIDE SIDEWALL, BUT IT GOT SO HOT IT ALSO BLEW OUT THE TIRE STEM AND WAS SMOKING FOR A GOOD HOUR AFTERWARDS. THEY REPLACED THAT TIRE WITH A BRAND NEW MICHELIN OF THE SAME TYPE. THEN THE SECOND BLEW OUT HAPPENED ON THAT NEW TIRE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER ALSO LEAVING A GAPPING HOLE ON THE INNER SIDE SIDEWALL AND IT WAS SO HOT THE GUYS COULDN'T EVEN TOUCH IT TO FIX IT UNTIL THEY DOUSED IT WITH WATER. THEY REPLACED IT WITH A BRAND NEW MICHELIN AS WELL. THEN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER (TODAY) THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW SIMILARLY. I DID NOT CRASH AND THERE WAS NO FIRE, HOWEVER THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE AND THESE INSTANCES COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A LOT WORSE SINCE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY EACH TIME, BUT I'M LUCKY THEY WERE NOT. I DEFINITELY FEEL WE ARE DEALING WITH SOME DEFECTIVE TIRES HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566917

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

Mileage

180,000 mi

I WAS AT THE STORE WITH MY SON (12 YEARS OLD) AND MY GRANDSON (3 YEARS OLD), WHEN WE WENT TO LEAVE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. IT WAS VERY COLD OUTSIDE, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR I GOT AHOLD OF SOMEONE TO COME PICK US UP. WHEN I GOT HOME I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND NO RECALL? NO CAR, CAN'T PICK MY DAUGHTER UP AT HER FRIEND'S HOUSE (SHE IS STRANDED), CAN'T TAKE MY GRANDSON HOME AND HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WORK TOMORROW. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED WITHOUT WARNING. ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE HEALTH ISSUES OR CHILDREN INVOLVED. MY DAD IS 73 AND LOVES FORD, HE WAS SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THIS ALSO. WHAT IS FORD THINKING?.. GREED AND MONEY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10493631

Incident

Jan 20, 2013

Mileage

13,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT ANTI- LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OCTOBER 24, 2003 WHEN THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFTER AND THE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND THAT THE SHOULDER STRAP WOULD NOT BUCKLE PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE ABS LIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE. UPDATED 12/15/11 UPDATED 12/28/11*LJ THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED, WHICH MADE IT INOPERABLE, THE BRAKE SHIFT INTER-LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE FROM PARK TO DRIVE. UPDATED 03.12.12

NHTSA ID

10437580

Incident

Nov 14, 2011

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER ENGINE STARTUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE SHIFTER AND SHIFT CONSOLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED AND CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO NOT LOCK PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10437578

Incident

Oct 24, 2003

Mileage

35,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 FORD ESCORT ZX2. IVE HAD IT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW. THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM IS GETTING VERY FRUSTRATING. WHEN I START MY CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS GETTING READY TO DIE. IT JUST STRUGGLES AT VERY LOW RPM. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO ADJUST THE IDLE BUT IS THERE A FIX? *CN

NHTSA ID

10322750

Incident

Mar 29, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 2006 THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 02/02/10 *BF UPDATED 02/05/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10299709

Incident

Jan 11, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT PURCHASED APRIL 2002. THE REAR COIL SPRINGS, STRUTS, AND EGR VALVE WERE PLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $870.00. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, AND STRUTS FAILED, THEY THEN ADDED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR HER MODEL TYPE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 59,000. UPDATED 11/23/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/24/09

NHTSA ID

10291068

Incident

Jul 10, 2009

Mileage

59,000 mi

I WAS IN A ACCIDENT ON THE 105FWY WEST, GOING BETWEEN 15-25 MPH IN MODERATE MORNING TRAFFIC. I HIT THE BACK OF A CAR, SLAMMED MY FACE AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL, AND SEVERELY DAMAGED MY FRONT HOOD, BUMPER AND ENGINE, WHICH HAS BEEN TOTALED OUT! MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY! ITS A 2001 FORD ESCORT, NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT, AND I HAVE NECK, BACK, AND SEVERE JAW PAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280479

Incident

Aug 10, 2009

Mileage

162,353 mi

I CURRENTLY OWN 2 (TWO) 2001 FORD ESCORT SE. BOTH HAVE THE SAME ELECTRICAL FIRE HAZARD AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR CONNECTOR, BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AS WELL AS THE WIRING HARNESSES AND CONNECTOR, THE CONNECTORS MELTED AND WIRING BURNT UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234345

Incident

Jun 24, 2008

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE COIL SPRING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, ALONG WITH OTHER COSMETIC REPAIRS. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE, IT SURGED FORWARD AGAIN AND CRASHED INTO A PIPE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE. AN INVESTIGATOR FROM HER INSURANCE COMPANY IS IN THE PROCESS OF INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10231999

Incident

May 11, 2008

Mileage

115,000 mi

DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, MY MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE REAR SPRING COILS ON MY 2001 FORD ESCORT (59,000 MILES) WERE NOTICEABLY WORN DOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, AS TO NOT PUNCTURE MY TIRES. HE SAID THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN ESCORTS AND TAURUS AND THAT TIRES CAN BE PUNCTURED BY THESE REAR COIL SPRINGS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAD THE REAR SPRINGS REPLACED, WHICH IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221015

Incident

Mar 10, 2008

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAR SOMETIMES IS IN NEUTRAL INSTEAD. THEN MUST GO BACK TO PARK AND TO DRIVE AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10206196

Incident

Oct 16, 2007

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAR SOMETIMES IS IN NEUTRAL INSTEAD. THEN MUST GO BACK TO PARK AND TO DRIVE AGAIN. FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED FLUID AND THIS HAS CUT DOWN ON OCCURRENCES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166681

Incident

Jan 6, 2006

Mileage

59,000 mi

ON SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX MY VEHICLE I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THE TROUBLE UNTIL I SAW THE RECALL LIST, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH MY SHIFTER, AIR FLOW DEVICE FOR IDLE, TO MY BACK LIGHT ON THE TOP SHORTING OUT, TO STALL WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON AND NOT BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY ON THESE PROBLEMS AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT PARTS GOING WRONG ON MY CAR, I HAVE A ESCORT 2001 ZX2. NOW IT MAKE A WEIRD SOUND WHEN DRIVING SLOW! I HAVE PUT NEW BRAKES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166583

Incident

May 15, 2006

FRONT END COLLISION TOTALING FORD ESCORT ZX2 WITHOUT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157916

Incident

May 19, 2006

Mileage

37,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR OVER TWO HOURS. HE SMELLED SMOKE AND CHECKED IN THE GARAGE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN FRONT OF THE STEERING COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE AND THE CONTACT'S HOUSE. THE PRELIMINARY REPORT INDICATED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. REPORTS WERE TAKEN BY THE POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10143102

Incident

Nov 9, 2005

Mileage

58,000 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN A VERY MINOR ACCIDENT WITH ONLY PAINT DAMAGE TO MY FRONT BUMPER. THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO HAD ONLY PAINT DAMAGE. I WAS STOPPED AND THE OTHER VEHICLE SCRAPED MINE AT A SPEED OF MAYBE 25 MPH. MY AIRBAGS DEPOYED AND CAUSED MORE DAMAGE THAN THE ACCIDENT ITSELF. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142847

Incident

Nov 14, 2005

Mileage

107,000 mi

MY CAR SHAKES, RATTLES AND ROLLS - THINKS IT'S ELVIS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138611

Incident

Mar 16, 2004

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10116947

Incident

Oct 20, 2004

Mileage

19,000 mi

2001 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR 477-LXX. I HAD STARTED UP MY CAR AND BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN MY CAR REFUSED TO RUN. I TRIED TURNING IT OVER SEVERAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. SO I CONTACTED A MECHANIC, WHO TOWED THE CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. HE CALLED ME TODAY WITH THE FOLLOWING: THERE WAS DEFECTIVE WIRING ON FUEL PUMP HOUSING OF MY CAR. THE FUEL PUMP WAS FROM THE FACTORY ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. ONE SET OF 4 TERMINALS ON THE PUMP WERE ANGLED BACK PROPERLY, BUT THE OTHER SET OF 4 WERE STRAIGHT SO THAT THE TERMINALS WERE ALMOST TOUCHING. THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE TERMINALS ON THE TWO CENTER TERMINALS OF THE STRAIGHT SET WERE FUSED UPON INSPECTION. HAD SHORTED OUT THE FUEL PUMP. THE INSULATION WAS BURNED OFF, AND THE MECHANIC ASSUMED THAT THE TWO POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE TERMINALS PROBABLY HAD BEEN ARCING ABOVE THE GAS TANK EACH TIME THE CAR STARTED SINCE IT LEFT THE FACTORY, SINCE THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN BASICALLY UNTOUCHED. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE CAUSED A VIOLENT EXPLOSION OF GAS IN THE FUEL TANK, AND KILLED BOTH ME AND MY MOTHER, AND POSSIBLY BURNED OUR HOUSE DOWN. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED BY THE MECHANIC BY BENDING THE TERMINALS BACK TO THEIR PROPER POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10118445

Incident

Apr 25, 2005

Mileage

35,338 mi

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10101879

Incident

Oct 20, 2004

OUR 2001 ESCORT ZX2 HAS HAD MANY ISSUES. MOST RECENT WAS THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT CATCHING FIRE. NOW THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS HEADLIGHTS AND BRIGHTEST AND TURN SIGNALS HAD A SHORT. CAR CAN NOT BE DROVE AT NIGHT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. ALSO A WHILE BACK THERE WAS A BURNED WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10098236

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10081519

Incident

Jul 7, 2004

Mileage

74,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 59,039 (VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WHEN TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IN PARK OR REVERSE POSITION, COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO MOVE BACKWARD IN ANY SELECTOR POSITION). TRANSMISSION IS BEING "REBUILT" BY A NATIONAL TRANSMISSION SHOP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10078929

Incident

Jun 26, 2004

Mileage

59,039 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STALLING PROBLEM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT VEHICLE SHIMMIED, AND THEN STALLED. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE SHOOK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10064760

Mileage

44,000 mi