15 of the 206 complaints about the 1988 Ford Escort are about the lighting — 7% of everything reported for this model year.
15
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON TAILLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. WHEN MOVING SWITCH TAIL LIGHTS WILL WORK, BUT HEADLIGHTS WII NOT. THIS IS THE THIRD SWITCH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WILL REPLACE SWITCH AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #6900676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH
WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON TAILLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. WHEN MOVING SWITCH TAIL LIGHTS WILL WORK, BUT HEADLIGHTS WII NOT. THIS IS THE THIRD SWITCH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WILL REPLACE SWITCH AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #6900676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
RECALL PERFORMED ON IGNITION SWITCH. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. DEALER STATED THAT IT COULD NOT NOT BE RELATED. THE FORD TECH THAT DID THE REPLACEMENT DISTURBED OTHER AREAS IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE FAILURE. HE/SHE FAILED TO CONNECT EVERYTHING IN THE COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #731791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT OR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRE CONNECTORS. THE DIMMER SWITCH LOCATED INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONNECTORS TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THE DIMMER SWITCH HAVE TURNED BROWN DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT AND MELTING OF THE PLASTIC CONNECTORS. AFTER THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS REPLACED, THE HEADLIGHTS WORK FOR ABOUT 4-6 MONTHS UNTIL THEY BEGIN TO SHORT OUT, AND INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER. SOMETIMES, THE HIGH BEAMS ARE THE ONLY HEADLIGHTS THAT WORK. THE MECHANIC I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS WHILE LIVING IN MARYLAND STATES THAT THIS KIND OF PROBLEM IS VERY TYPICAL FOR FORD ESCORTS AROUND THE TIME MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED.
NHTSA complaint #718000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT OR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRE CONNECTORS. THE DIMMER SWITCH LOCATED INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONNECTORS TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THE DIMMER SWITCH HAVE TURNED BROWN DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT AND MELTING OF THE PLASTIC CONNECTORS. AFTER THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS REPLACED, THE HEADLIGHTS WORK FOR ABOUT 4-6 MONTHS UNTIL THEY BEGIN TO SHORT OUT, AND INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER. SOMETIMES, THE HIGH BEAMS ARE THE ONLY HEADLIGHTS THAT WORK. THE MECHANIC I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS WHILE LIVING IN MARYLAND STATES THAT THIS KIND OF PROBLEM IS VERY TYPICAL FOR FORD ESCORTS AROUND THE TIME MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED.
NHTSA complaint #718000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRES TO SWITCH FAILED, TAILIGHTS ALSO FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #527929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRES TO SWITCH FAILED, TAILIGHTS ALSO FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #527929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS CONTINUALLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #542509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LIGHTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #521560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH OVERLOADS AND LIGHTS TURN OFF. WHEN USING DRIVING LIGHTS, THEY CAN ONLY BE TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 5 TO 8 MINUTES BEFORE HEADLIGHTS BEGIN TO BLINK ON AND OFF. WITH CONTINUING USE THE LIGHTS WILL GO COMPLETELY OFF, LEAVING DRIVER IN THE DARK. IN ADDITION, FOG LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #534191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH OVERLOADS AND LIGHTS TURN OFF. WHEN USING DRIVING LIGHTS, THEY CAN ONLY BE TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 5 TO 8 MINUTES BEFORE HEADLIGHTS BEGIN TO BLINK ON AND OFF. WITH CONTINUING USE THE LIGHTS WILL GO COMPLETELY OFF, LEAVING DRIVER IN THE DARK. IN ADDITION, FOG LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #534191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WIRING MELTED, CAUSING LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #515345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT, RESULTING IN A FIRE AND THE HEAD LIGHTS TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #800087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHT GO OUT, REPLACE SWITCH. TT
NHTSA complaint #962323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
MOISTURE INSIDE HEADLIGHT, HEADLIGHT BULB GOES OUT WHEN IT GET WET. TT
NHTSA complaint #959106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.