21 of the
53 complaints about the 1986 Ford Escort are about the
electrical system — 40% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
80,150 miles.
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE ENGINE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESURFACES AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. A CALIFORNIA JUDGE HAS ORDERED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COMPLY UNLESS THE NHTSA ORDERS THEM TO DO SO. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS TO NOT ENDANGER MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734328
NHTSA complaint #10007035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garden Grove, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESURFACES AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. A CALIFORNA JUDGE HAS ORDERED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COMPLY UNLESS THE NHTSA ORDERS THEM TO DO SO. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS TO NOT ENDANGER MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
NHTSA complaint #734328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OLD Bethpage, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET IT STARTED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8011043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garden Grove, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 70-75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART. WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG AND ALLOWING THE IGNITION MODULE TO COOL FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIMING PLUG. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THE IGNITION MODULE PICKUP WITH ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESURFACES AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. A CALIFORNA JUDGE HAS ORDERED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COMPLY UNLESS THE NHTSA ORDERS THEM TO DO SO. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS TO NOT ENDANGER MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
NHTSA complaint #734328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palo Alto, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 3 YEARS, CAR WAS STALLING AT LOW SPEED. THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RETURNING.
NHTSA complaint #734155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT IGNITION WENT BAD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL . IGNITION WAS REPLACED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #872737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tempe, AZFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DRIVEN ON FRWY, PARKED IN PARKING LOT, TOOK VEHICLE OFF PARKING LOT, ABOUT 1/4 MILE LATER SAW FLAMES COMING FROM HOOD, FIRE DEPT ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT.
NHTSA complaint #984819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, WIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, TURNED IGNITION ON AND VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED, ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #984351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Verona, PAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR THREE MINUTES AND THEN IT WENT UP IN FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #984372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Summit ARG, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, PREVENTING STARTER FROM ENGAGING. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #503660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union, KYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED IN FIRE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #503803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia BEA, VAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WAS DRIVING TO A MEETING, PARKED HIS VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, WENT TO MEETING, RETURNED, SAW FIRE DEPT., SAW VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #983780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia BEA, VAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WAS DRIVING TO A MEETING, PARKED HIS VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, WENT TO MEETING, RETURNED, SAW FIRE DEPT., SAW VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #983780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GIG Habour, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, DEFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE UNDER HOOD, PARKED VEHICLE, MOMENTS LATER FOUND VEHICLE FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #983548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Acron, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FIRE IN DASH AND UNDERHOOD. PLEASE GIVE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #983200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woonsockett, RIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #983158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Peters, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR CHOCK CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #982831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Floyd, VAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE DASHBOARD AND CAR WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #980941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North King, RIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS FAILED, CAUSING FIRE. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #485070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Herndon, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO STOP, ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. TT
NHTSA complaint #964957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.