62 of the 725 complaints about the 1995 Ford Escort are about the engine — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 81,939 miles.
62
Complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1995 FORD ESCORT WITH 136,000 MILES ON CAR CAUGHT A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10258671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 5 TIMES ON MY CAR. I'M A SINGLE MOM AND ON LIMITED INCOME AND HAVE HAD TO GO WITHOUT CAR MONTHS AT A TIME. I HAVE TO HAVE THE SWITCH REPLACED FOR AROUND $150 EACH TIME PLUS TOWING. I HAVE NOT KEPT THE OLD PARTS BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW I NEEDED TO. ON THIS SAME CAR THE TIMING BELT HAS GONE OUT TWICE SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, FOR THREE YEARS NOW. IS THIS DUE TO THE CAR OR IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WHEN REPAIRED?
NHTSA complaint #10116045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACED A PLASTIC SENSOR, WHICH HAD MELTED ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10091422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE DEVELOPED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THE ONLY REASON IT COST 600.00 WAS THAT I REPAIRED IT MYSELF. SEATBELTS AND TRANSMISSION HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10069107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON APRIL 11, 1995 I PURCHASED A NEW 1995 FORD LX, 1.9L SEFI , VIN# [XXX]. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS AND SETTLING INTO IT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM WHAT TO ME SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE STEERING COLUMN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TEST DRIVEN AND I WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY JUST NEW ENGINE NOISE AND IT WOULD STOP. AS TIME WENT ON THE CLICKING CONTINUED. I CALLED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES THEN I JUST GAVE UP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING OKAY AND HAD CAUSED NO CONCERN. ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1997 (CLICKING NOISE STILL THERE) I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR OTHER PROBLEMS. AS INVOICE STATES, NOISE MAY BE COMING FROM ENGINE AREA. ON MAY 22, 2002 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT JUST STOPPED!!!!! REFERENCING NORTH CENTRAL FORD INVOICE NO. [XXX] (WHICH IS ATTACHED) YOU CAN SEE THE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED. IN REFERENCE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED INVOICE, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED, ONE OF THE PHONE CALLS I RECEIVED WAS TO EXPLAIN THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SNAPPED. PLEASE NOTICE THAT YOU WILL FIND NOWHERE MENTIONED THAT VALVES OR ANYTHING ELSE WAS CHECKED. BY THE TIME ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE, THE CLICKING NOISE HAD BECOME MORE APPARENT AND THEY WERE MADE AWARE THAT IT WAS STILL THERE. NOW FOR THE GRAND FINALE, ON APRIL 29, 2003 I DROVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY STORE AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT THE CLICKING NOISE TURNED INTO A NOISE AS IF THE ENGINE WERE GOING TO EXPLODE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND IT WAS TAKEN TO NORTH CENTRAL FORD. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC THOUGHT PUSH ROD HAD GONE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MORE THAN ONE MECHANIC (ASE CERTIFIED) WHO CLEARLY BELIEVES THAT THE VALVES SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST CHECKED WHEN THAT BELT BROKE. THIS [XXX] VEHICLE WAS MY PRIDE AND JOY IT WAS PAMPERED. THE MILEAGE ON IT WAS A MERE 74,639. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10070263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATES THAT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAK AND OVERHEAT. CONSUMER FEELS A FIRE MAY START AS A RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #10026374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RADIATOR LEAKING WHERE CHEAP PLASTIC SIDE IS CRIMPED TO THE CORE ONLY FIX IS NEW RADIATOR. THANKS FOR BUILDING SUCK A CHEESEY AND UNREPAIRABLE RADIATOR! DT
NHTSA complaint #770262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
HEAD GASKET BLOWN ONLY 64K MILES AND A NICE $700 REPAIR BILL. FOR A CAR THAT DEPRECIATED 75% ANYWAYS! DT
NHTSA complaint #770263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TIRED TO WORK WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER OF HONDA TO NO AVAIL. THEY WON'T HELP ME AND THE SOLD THE VEHICLE AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN WORKING CONDITION. *NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #766335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CONSUMER STARTED UP VEHICLE. THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE AREA, AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8016358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY THERE IS A SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGHOUT VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD WAS FIXED. VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8011517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER HAD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, THE ENGINE BLEW UP WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.*AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #8001370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHEN TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH, EVERYTHING WILL SHUT DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #899954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY CAR WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO. FORD MAINTENAINCE PUT NEW TIMING BELT ON ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND IT HASN'T BEEN STARTING RIGHT SINCE
NHTSA complaint #754603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE CAR STALLS AT STOPS ALOT NAD NOW IT STALED AND WONT EVEN RESTART!
NHTSA complaint #754477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE OVERHEATS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WILL BE COOL WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR. BUT, IF VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AIR WILL BECOME WARM. THEN, VEHICLE STARTS TO SPUDDER, AND JERK FOWARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC AND HAD RELAYS/ SENSORS, THERMOSTAT/ COOLANT FAN , AND RADIATOR REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE SINCE 1999. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #894141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE OVERHEATS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WILL BE COOL WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR. BUT, IF VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AIR WILL BECOME WARM. THEN, VEHICLE STARTS TO SPUDDER, AND JERK FOWARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC AND HAD RELAYS/ SENSORS, THERMOSTAT/ COOLANT FAN , AND RADIATOR REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE SINCE 1999. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #894141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE OVERHEATS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WILL BE COOL WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR. BUT, IF VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AIR WILL BECOME WARM. THEN, VEHICLE STARTS TO SPUDDER, AND JERK FOWARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC AND HAD RELAYS/ SENSORS, THERMOSTAT/ COOLANT FAN , AND RADIATOR REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE SINCE 1999. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #894141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
VEHICLE OVERHEATS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER WILL BE COOL WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR. BUT, IF VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AIR WILL BECOME WARM. THEN, VEHICLE STARTS TO SPUDDER, AND JERK FOWARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC AND HAD RELAYS/ SENSORS, THERMOSTAT/ COOLANT FAN , AND RADIATOR REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE SINCE 1999. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #894141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WE PLEASE SEND ME TWO SIGNATURE CARDS FOR BOTH VEHICLES JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR ARE DAUGHTER ON 7/01/01 WHAT WAS FUNNY IS THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD WHEN WE GOT IT THEN 9 DAY'S LATER THE RAIDIATOR SATRTED TO LEAK THE SAME PLACE MY 92 TAURUS WAS LEAKING FROM THE DRIVE SIDE SEAL OF THE RAIDIATOR SO I CALLED FORD AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHY THERE MAKING PARTS THAT ARE FAILING IN NOT ONE CAR MADE BUT TWO DIFFERENT CAR'S AND I ALSO WAS TOLD BUT VARIOUS MECHANICS THAT FORD KNOWS OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE TAURUS AND ESCORT BUT WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM WHY WOULD TWO DIFFERENT CARS FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS FORD KNOWS THE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE US HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE 3 MAIN THINGS TRANSMISSION RAIDAITOR AND EGNITION SWITCHS SO WHY ARE YOU NOT LOOKING IN TO THIS CONSUMER FRAUD I'LL BE GLAD TO FILE A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST FORD IF NEED BE AS THEY ARE SCREWING THE PUBLIC.
NHTSA complaint #748700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING AND IDLING HARD TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR SERVICE, THE SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALMOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30MPH. IF LEFT IDLING TOO LONG IT WOULD CUT OFF COMPLETELY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PRIVATE GARAGE AND UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE VALVES HAD DROPPED INTO A CYLINDER, THUS DESTRYOYNG THE PISTON. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHNICS TELL ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE SEEN BEFORE AND THAT THIS MODEL OF ENGINE IS"KNOWN" FOR THIS.
NHTSA complaint #747518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EMISSION HOSE ELBOW HAS MELTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OUT AND DIE WHILE IDLING.
NHTSA complaint #888684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND AT TIME OF DRIVING ENGINE STALLED.
NHTSA complaint #888420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED/ MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #888421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING HAS BEEN COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #888422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE CAR GOT ALCOHOL SMELL SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT. THEN IT MADE ME DIZZY & COUGH BADLY ALL THE TIME , SOMETIME I WAS THINKING THAT IF SOMEBODY LIGHT UP A CIGARETTE WHICH MAY PUT MY CAR INTO FIRE SINCE THERE ARE ALCOHOL SMELL ALL OVER. I BEGAN OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS WHENEVER I DRIVE THIS CAR ( NO MATTER HOW COLD IT IS, OR EVEN WHEN IT IS RAINING.). AND BESIDES DRIVE IT TO WORK, I NEVER DRIVE IT DURING THE WEEKEND. BECAUSE I THINK MY BODY NEED SOME REST FROM THIS CAR. I DID NOT KNOW HOW BAD IT COULD BE UNTILL I READ A BOOK TALK ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS THE EMITTED GASSES FROM THE CAR COULD HURT PEOPLE'S HEALTH, AFTER I READ THAT BOOK I STOPPED TO DRIVE THE CAR & BEGIN TO FIND OUT HOW TO TAKE CARE THE PROBLEM. BEFORE I AM SURE THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE, I WOULD NOT DRIVE IT OR SALE TO OTHER PEOPLE. I WISH NO BODY WILL GET HURT BY THIS CAR. PLEASE TAKE CARE THIS CAR'S PROBLEM. OTHERWISE I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO WITH THIS CAR. I AM TAKING BUS EVEYDAY TO GO TO WORK SINCE JAN. AND THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. FORD TOLD ME TO CALL YOUR DEPT. IS THERE A KIND EQUIPMENT WHICH CAN TEST THE INSIDE CAR AIR QUALITY TO SEE IS IT SAFE TO HUMAN HEALTH. ? , IT WOULD NOT BE GOOD IF ANY BODY GET DIZZY (CO,O3,HC,...) FROM THE BAD AIR QUALITY INSIDE THE CAR ON THE HIGH WAY. I THINK THERE SHOUD BE A EQUIPMENT FOR THE PUBLIC TO CHECK THEIR INSIDE CAR AIR QUILITY, SO EVERYBODY KNOW THEY ARE SAFE TO BREATH IN THE CAR AND SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT HURT THEIR HEALTH & NOT HURT OTHER PEOPLE ON THE HIGH WAY. WE NEED SUCH A EQUIPMENT. & EVERY CAR SOLD FROM THE DEALER SHOULD. PASS THE "INSIDE AIR QUILITY " TEST. PLEASE HELP ME !!!!! THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
NHTSA complaint #742600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT LOCKING UP WHILE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD THE MOTORIZED SOUND WHILE ENGINE WAS CUT OFF AND DOORS ARE AJAR.
NHTSA complaint #880596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45PH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE . VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT ENGINE BLEW A ROD/THERE WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AND IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #879785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE DOES NOT IDLE CORRECTLY AND HAS STALLED A COUPLE TIMES, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. NLM
NHTSA complaint #558386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK DEALER REPLACED PLUGS AND GASKET, HOWEVER STALLING STILL EXISTS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #875088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.