2001 Ford Escort Problems

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BOLT BECAME LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *NLM WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT OR AT IDLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE BADLY AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN THE WINDOWS WERE HALF WAY DOWN, THEY WOULD RATTLE TERRIBLY. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THEY MAY SHATTER. THE HEADLIGHTS BOUNCED AROUND AT NIGHT, ON THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER AND HAD BEEN CONFRONTED ABOUT THE DISTRACTION. FORD SAID IT WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN FOR THE VIBRATION SINCE PURCHASE. THE MOTOR MOUNTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE CHANGED FOR A SECOND TIME. *SCC *JB

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

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.

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

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

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

CONSUMER STATES A SHORT TIME AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG HEATED METAL ODOR WHEN THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON, THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS POSSIBLY MILDEW PRESENT IN THE VENTING SYSTEM, AND THEY SPRAYED IT WITH AIR FRESHNER, HOWEVER THE ODOR ALTHOUGH NOT AS STRONG IS STILL PRESENT.*JG

THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE IN IDLE AND DRIVING. THE VIBRATION CAUSED THE DASHBOARD TO CRACK. THE VIBRATION ALSO CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY IN THE MIRRORS. THE PROBLEM WAS UNDETERMINED. *JB *TT *JB

THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS WERE JAMMED. I COULD NOT USE THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS OR MANUALLY WITH THE KEY EITHER. TOOK MY ESCAPE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT HAS TAKEN 4 WEEKS TO FIX. IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. WHILE MY ESCAPE IS STILL IN SERVICE, I RECEIV

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

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

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE BOLTS THAT SECURED THE SEAT POSITION BROKE. SINCE THE 36,000 MILES WARRANTY EXPIRED FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR VEHICLE WITHOUT FULL PAYMENT. CONSUMER HAD THE SEAT REPAIRED AT AN AFTER MARKET REPAIR SHOP. *AK

THE METAL PIECE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE DRIVER SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORWARD WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE BRACKET, WHICH ATTACHED TO THE SLIDING MECHANISM, BROKE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. *NM

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.

2001 ESCORT. BOUGHT IN FALL FROM HERTZ. HAVE HAD NEW PLATNUM PLUGS INSTALLED. BUT CAR CONTINUES TO CUT OFF WHEN LEAVING FROM A STOPPED POSITON SUCH AS A STOP SIGN, LIGHT, AND LEFT TURN LANE. CUT OFF 2 DAYS AGO WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP SIGN. HAD PLENTY OF TIME FROM ON COMMING CARS. STALLED IN HWY AND A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK HAD TO BRAKE AND I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. DID SAME THING SEVERAL DAYS AGO FROM A LEFT TURN LANE. WENT TO YOUNG FORD ABOUT IT RUNNING ROUGH AND STALLING. SER MGR STATED THEY DO THAT AND THAT IS THE REASON THEY STOPPED MAKING THEM. HAVE HAD TROUBLE SINC I BOUGHT IT. YOU CANT TELL MUCH ABOUT A CAR WITH A SHORT DEMO RIDE. BOUGHT 9/25/02

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

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.

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

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER, AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM WHEEL. GODDYEAR TIRE AND DEALERSHIP WERE AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK GOODYEAR EAGLE RS A, P185/60R15, DOT NUMBER T30096A. *SLC

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