2003 Ford ZX2 (escort) Owner Complaints

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, OR RELATED CRITICAL COMPONENT PARTS, ON THIS VEHICLE HAS FAILED. IT WAS TOWED TO AVIS FORD ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. THE SERVICE MANAGER, JOHN, WAS REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE TO REVIEW THE PROBLEM. DESPITE DAILY PROMISES OF A CALL FROM THE MANF. REP, NO CALL HAS BEEN RECEIVED, TOTALLY IGNORING OUR CONCERNS. A TRANSMISSION, OR RELATED CRITICAL COMPONENT PARTS, SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER 64,000 MILES OF NORMAL USE. FORD MUST PAY ALL OR MOST OF THE REPAIR COSTS OF THIS FAILURE. THE MANF. REP MUST CALL IMMEDIATELY. THIS MESSAGE IS ALSO BEING SENT TO AVIS FORD, AND A COMPLAINT FILED WITH NHTSA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211982

Incident

Dec 1, 2007

Mileage

63,000 mi

KINKED AND CRIMPED VACUUM BRAKE HOSE CAUSING THE BRAKES TO GO HARD AS A ROCK, LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR UPON BRAKING AND 2 ACCIDENTS. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM LEADING TO THE ACCIDENTS. ACCIDENT 1. $6,000 DAMAGE. ACCIDENT 2, $1,600 DAMAGE. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CRIMPED BRAKE HOSE CLOSED OFF UNDER THE HOOD. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SERVICE OPENED THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THE PROBLEM AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS WRONG. HE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT. NO INJURIES, BUT I CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING KILLED HEAD ON AS I LOST CONTROL WITH THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173025

Incident

Oct 3, 2006

Mileage

2,090 mi

THE OTHER DAY I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD ZX2 AND MY AIR BAGS WENT OFF, LEAVING WITH ARM SCRAPES, BROKEN WINDSHIELD. I WAS GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE POLICE WERE SHOCKED THAT THIS HAPPEN AND SAID I SHOULD TELL YOU GUYS ABOUT. MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE IS ON MY SIDE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160685

Incident

Jun 23, 2006

THE VEHICLE DIES/STALLS WHEN BRAKING TO TURN OFF A HIGHWAY. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING 55-60 MPH THE VEHICLE DIES WHEN BRAKING. YOU LOSE POWER STEERING. CAR WILL TURN BACK ON. *NM

NHTSA ID

10151548

Incident

Feb 15, 2005

WHENEVER THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS ON.....AND YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL....THE CAR CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN ITS SPEED!!....JUST AS IF YOU HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET. THE ONLY TIME THE VEHICLE DOES THIS IS WHEN THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS ACTIVATED. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO BOTH LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HERE AND NEITHER OF THEM WERE ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM RACING WHEN THIS HAPPENS...IS TO TURN OFF THE COMPRESSOR....OR ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND WAIT FOR THE ENGINE TO WIND DOWN.

NHTSA ID

10124239

Incident

Jun 5, 2005

Mileage

11 mi

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ZX2 THAT HAS HAD A SEVERE IDLE VIBRATION FOR NEARLY ONE YEAR THAT FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX. THE DEFECT CAUSES A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, GLOVE BOX, VENTS, AND SEATS OF THE CAR AND OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS IN ANY GEAR OR ANY DRIVING CONDITION. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM DUE TO SERVICE BULLETIN 03-15-15. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIPS THAT THE VEHICLE'S EMISSIONS ARE SO LOW THE VEHICLE IS TRYING TO TURN OFF AT IDLE AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL LIKELY COME ON SOON. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS DEFECT IS MERELY "COSMETIC AND AN ANNOYANCE TO THE CUSTOMER" AND THAT IT CANNOT BE FIXED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO 4 DEALERSHIPS AND 1 LOCAL SHOP AND FORD IS STILL REFUSING TO FIX THE DEFECT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM FIXED, AS WOULD ANYONE IN THIS SITUATION. I FEEL THAT FORD AS A COMPANY IS DOING VERY POOR BUSINESS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10080940

Incident

Jul 12, 2004

Mileage

10,000 mi