1996 Ford Escort problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILLER LINE FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10864409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

THE DRIVER SIDE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT HAS CEASED FUNCTIONING AND IS NOW STUCK MIDWAY ALONG THE TOP PART OF THE SEAT BELT TRACK. THIS BEING THE CASE THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT PROTECT THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP. IN THIS POSITION IT IS LIKELY THAT IN A SUDDEN STOP THE DRIVER'S HEAD WOULD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND A MORE SEVERE THAN NORMAL WHIPLASH IN THE NECK WOULD OCCUR. I HAVE NOTED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SEAT BELT ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE ONLINE. I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE AND THERE IS NO RECALL NOTICE OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I THINK THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE ON FORD'S PART. AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, WHO HAS WORKED IN A HOSPITAL NEUROSURGERY UNIT, THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY RESULTING FROM A MALFUNCTIONING SEAT BELT SUCH AS REPORTED ABOVE IS VERY REAL. IT SHOULD NOT BE AN OPTION FOR FORD TO NOT REPLACE SUCH A FAULTY SAFETY DEVICE - FORD SHOULD BE MANDATED TO REPLACE SUCH DEFECTIVE SAFETY DEVICES AND THERE SHOULD BE NO TIME LIMIT ON SUCH A REPLACEMENT OR RECALL. A MEDICAL LEGAL LIABILITY CASE WOULD COST FORD MORE THAN THE COST OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT.

NHTSA complaint #10678517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

I AM ADDING ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO THE VAST LIST OF PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING MY 1996 FORD ESCORT AND THE FAILURE OF MY PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT. IT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS FOR PROBABLY THE LAST 8-10 YEARS. IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP MID-TRACK AND "BOUNCING" THE DOOR AGAINST THE HINGE WOULD GET IT TO MOVE. TWO WEEKS AGO, IT STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK. I, TOO, COULD HEAR THE MOTOR TRYING TO MAKE IT GO. I LEFT IT ALONE AND ABOUT 4 DAYS LATER, IT RESUMED OPERATING. NOW A WEEK LATER, IT HAS FROZEN AGAIN, A LITTLE MORE FORWARD IN THE TRACK THAN PREVIOUSLY. I AM DISHEARTEN TO LEARN THAT OTHERS WHO HAVE TRIED THE PROCESS EXPLAINED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO MANUALLY MOVE THE BELT IN THE TRACK HAS FAILED. I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHY FORD, HAVING BEEN NOTIFIED OF SO MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME EXACT FAILURE OF THEIR SAFETY EQUIPMENT, HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE IT! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT IF THIS IS EVIDENCE OF HOW THEY TREAT THEIR FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS! CAN ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS???

NHTSA complaint #10459733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

1996 FORD ESCORT, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. UNIT 1'S HOOD OPENED AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. UNIT 1 CONTINUED ON TO THE NEXT EMERGENCY PULL OFF TO FILE THE REPORT. BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0142-90)*JB UPDATED 04/22/11

NHTSA complaint #10395048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

MY WIFE & I HAVE A 1996 FORD ESCORT WAGON THAT WE PURCHASED USED IN 2008. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IT HAD A SET OF 4 BRIDGESTONE INSIGNIA SL TIRES THAT STILL HAD REASONABLE TREAD DEPTH REMAINING, SO WE DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO USE THE TIRES UNTIL THE TREAD HAD WORN DOWN MORE AND NEEDED REPLACING. ON FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN PART OF THE REAR PASSENGER-SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND SHOT AGAINST THE SHEET METAL ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL. IT RIPPED A LARGE HOLE IN THE VEHICLE'S SHEET METAL, SHOT MANY SMALL PIECES OF TIRE THROUGH THE HOLE INTO THE INTERIOR CARGO AREA IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT THE SAME TIME. THANKFULLY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAR DURING THIS CATASTROPHIC EVENT AND SUCCESSFULLY MANEUVER IT ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME SINCE IT WOULD NO LONGER START, AND WHEN IT ARRIVED I NOTICED THE LARGE HOLE THAT HAD BEEN MADE INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL BY THE TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE STILL HAD PRESSURE, BUT AT THAT TIME I SAW THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY MISSING. SINCE THE FORD ESCORT HAS ITS FUEL CUTOUT SWITCH INSTALLED AGAINST THE PASSENGER-SIDE WHEEL WELL, I CHECKED TO SEE IF THAT HAD TRIPPED AND IT HAD. ONCE IT WAS RESET THE CAR WAS ABLE TO START AND THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY. AS A RESULT OF THIS CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE MY WIFE WAS PLACED IN AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, STRANDED ON THE ROAD, AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO OUR VEHICLE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AS A FORMER AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER THAT TIRE FAILURES OF THIS KIND ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND ANY TIRE THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS FAILURE MUST NOT BE USED. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH NEW TIRES OF A DIFFERENT BRAND AND AM WORKING ON HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT I HAD CHECKED THE PRESSURE IN ALL 4 TIRES AND HAD INFLATED THEM JUST UNDER THE MAXIMUM LISTED ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE (44 PSI).

NHTSA complaint #10348239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE CORRECT SECTION TO FILE THIS IN. I AM BEING UNSUCCESSFUL IN A CONTINUED EFFORT TO CORRECT A MALFUNCTION IN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SENSOR. I HAVE DONE ALL I KNOW TO CORRECT THIS MATTER INCLUDING CHANGING THE LIGHT BULB WITH NO SUCCESS. THIS MALFUNCTION IS CONTINUING TO CAUSE ME NOT TO PASS A SIMPLE SMOG TEST. IS THERE ANY RECORD OF THERE BEING A MANUFACTURE DEFECT TO THIS PART.

NHTSA complaint #10231921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1996 FORD ESCORT HAS HAD CYLINDER HEAD AND GASKET REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE AND NOW IT'S JUST SITTING. **CC

NHTSA complaint #10181595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TIRE SEPARATION WITH CHUNKS OF TIRE GONE LEAVING RADIAL BELT EXPOSE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE, SAME COMPANY AND SAME TIRE THAT HAS SEPARATED. BOTH LEAVING LARGE AREAS OF RADIAL BELT EXPOSED. HAVE PICTURES. NO ACCIDENT NO INJURIES, DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN BOTH EVIDENTLY SEPARATED BASED ON NOISE AND SHAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10178414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

1996 FORD ESCORT'S LEFT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL WAS DESTROYED AND THE FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD BUCKLED/DENTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #10166917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTER DOES NOT RETRACT.

NHTSA complaint #10158829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES

THE HEAD LIGHT LENSES ON THE FRONT OF MY 96 FORD ESCORT FROM THE HEAT OF THE BULBS BEING EVENTUALLY START TO MELT I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM OF POOR QUALITY ON FORDS PART.

NHTSA complaint #10157505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

THREE SEAT BELTS OF 5 IN MY 1996 FORD ESCORT DO NOT WORK. THE SPRINGS OF THE SHOULDER HARNESS OF THE TWO REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. THE ESCORT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT FORD REFUSED TO FIX WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL COST FOR THE PARTS BECAUSE SEAT BELTS WERE NO LONGER COVERED. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS MOTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, CAUSING THE SHOULDER HARNESS TO NOT BE IN A SAFE POSITION. NO INJURIES AT THIS POINT. IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT PASSENGERS AND DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED BY SEAT BELTS. INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE DATE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10139650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

I DO NOT HAVE ANY EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONSISTED OF MY SEAT BACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SNAPPING AT THE BASE. AFTER PULLING THE SEAT COVER OFF I NOTICED THAT THE STAINLESS STEEL FRAME ON THE SEAT COMPLETELY BROKE/SNAPPED ALLOWING THE SEAT TO FALL BACK UNCONTROLLABLY. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND ALMOST WRECKED. I REPLACED THE SEAT WITH A LIKE SEAT FROM A USED VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10138928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

WE ARE THE OWNERS OF A 1996 FORD ESCORT WAGON VIN: [XXX]. WE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE LAP SHOULDER SAFETY BELTS IN THE REAR SEAT ON BOTH SIDES. BOTH OF THE REAR LAP SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISMS HAVE FAILED WITHIN A SHORT TIME OF EACH OTHER. THIS MEANS THE SEAT BELTS WILL NO LONGER RETRACT OR PULL TIGHT WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO USE THE REAR SEAT BELTS. THE REASON WE FEEL COMPELLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS FAILURE IS THAT UNTIL AROUND 9 MONTHS AGO, WE RARELY (A HANDFUL OF TIMES AT THE MOST) USED THE REAR LAP SHOULDER SEAT BELTS. IN AUGUST 2004 WE SWITCHED OUR SON'S CAR SEAT OVER TO A BOOSTER SEAT, MOVED THE SEAT FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND STARTED USING THE LAP SHOULDER SAFETY BELT. IN EARLY NOVEMBER WE WERE FORCED TO MOVE OUR SON'S BOOSTER SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND WAS UNUSABLE. TODAY WE WERE DRIVING HOME IN OUR CAR WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD METALLIC NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR, AND WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH OUR SON'S LAP SHOULDER SEAT BELT. WHEN WE STOPPED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WE DISCOVERED THAT THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE LAP SHOULDER SEAT BELT HAD HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE AS WELL. SO, IN THE NINE MONTHS SINCE WE SWITCHED OVER TO THE TWO POINT SYSTEM ON OUR SON'S BOOSTER SEAT, WHERE THE SEAT BELT WAS REGULARLY DEPLOYED AND RETRACTED, THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM HAS BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SUSPICIOUSLY CONCURRENT EVENT. WE BELIEVE THE RETRACTOR MECHANISMS ON THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE EITHER DEFECTIVE OR WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY WHEN OUR CAR WAS BUILT. BOTH MECHANISM BROKE WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS ON OUR SON, NOT WHILE WE WERE PUTTING ON THE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT WAS ALREADY BUCKLED AND IN PLACE WHEN THEY FAILED. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10121811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 86,000 MILES. SYSTEM FAILURE CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD IN EVENT OF CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #10110318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

MY 1996 FORD ESCORT'S DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER BELT WON'T MOVE TO THE LOCKED POSITION ON THE B-PILLAR. IT IS STUCK TOWARD THE REAR OF THE TRACK JUST PAST THE UPPER BEND IN THE TRACK. *AK I DISCONNECTED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FOLLOWING THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT MOVE MANUALLY WHEN I USED THE EMERGENCY HANDLE TURNING IT CLOCKWISE. EVERYTHING I TRIED TO MOVE THIS INTO POSITION HAS NOT WORKED. I WENT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT ISN'T A RECALL ITEM BUT THE PERSON IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT SAID THE SHOULD HARNESS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH ESCORTS. HE DID NOT HAVE ALL OF THE PARTS IN STOCK. I WENT TO SEVERAL CAR REPAIR FACILITIES INCLUCING SUBURBAN FORD IN WATERFORD, MI. EVERYONE SAID THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR BECAUSE THE INTERIOR BODY WOULD HAVE TO BE DISMANTLED TO GET TO THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I ALSO SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF TIME ONLINE TONIGHT RESEARCHING WHETHER THIS SHOULDER BELT PROBLEM IS COMMON. BINGO. STUCK, STALLED, STICKING DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER RETSTRAINT COMPLAINTS ARE COMMON FOR THE 1996 FORD ESCORT. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND ESCORTS SHOULD BE RECALLED TO REPAIR THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WORK FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A MALFUNCTIONING OR NON-FUNCTIONING SHOULDER HARNESS DURING AN ACCIDENT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF DEATH OR SERIOUS DISABILITY. MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS I REVIEWED COMPLAINED THAT THE SHOULDER HARNESS WAS STUCK IN THE SAME POSITION MINE IS. THIS STINKS OF A DESIGN FLAW. HOW DO I GET FORD MOTOR TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKE THIS REPAIR AT THEIR EXPENSE?

NHTSA complaint #10093334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

RIGHT BEFORE I WAS DUE FOR MY SAFETY INSPECTION, MY AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING, SO WHEN I WENT TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AT DOBBS AUTO CENTER, OF COURSE, IT DID NOT PASS BECAUSE OF THIS AND I HAD TO HAVE A NEW MOTOR INSTALLED AT A COST OF $363.77. EVEN THE GUY WHO INSPECTED IT SAID THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES AND THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. I CAN FAX YOU A COPY OF THE BILL IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10088314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED.CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE OWNED A ANOTHER FORD ESCORT OF A DIFFERENT YEAR AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10087351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT FULLY, AND THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AT ALL. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTRAINT THE OCCUPANTS OR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10083752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT FULLY, AND THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AT ALL. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTRAINT THE OCCUPANTS OR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10083752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY. ALTHOUGH LUCKILY THERE WAS NO INJURY, I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND SIMILAR REPORT FROM THE INTERNET WHOSE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE SAME PERIOD. I THINK SOMEONE HAS TO INFORMED THE OWNER TO CHECK THE TIMING BELT OR RECCOMEND A REPLACEMENT BEFORE ANYONE GET HURT. THE VEHICLE IS FORD ESCORT LX 96, MANUFACTURE ON 12/95.

NHTSA complaint #10068335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TRIES TO ACCELERATE AND PUSH THROUGH STOPLIGHTS WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. ACCELERATES WITH OUT ME AND EVEN TRYING TO BRAKE WON'T STOP. STOP AND PUT IT IN PARK AND IT REVS THE ENGING TO VERY HIGH RPM'S.

NHTSA complaint #10070426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TRIES TO ACCELERATE AND PUSH THROUGH STOPLIGHTS WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. ACCELERATES WITH OUT ME AND EVEN TRYING TO BRAKE WON'T STOP. STOP AND PUT IT IN PARK AND IT REVS THE ENGING TO VERY HIGH RPM'S.

NHTSA complaint #10070426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BE RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10065056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.