1997 Ford Escort engine problems

ENGINE

VALVE SEAT NO. 4 FELL OUT OF HEAD AND WAS DESTROYED, DAMAGING NO. 4 AND NO. 3 PISTON, AND THE HEAD ITSELF. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE TOTAL FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE PARKED RATHER THAN ON THE INTERSTATE, AT WHICH TIME POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WOULD HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN MODE OF FAILURE FOR THIS ENGINE BUT, APPARENTLY, FORD AND NHTSA TOOK NO STEPS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WAS DISCONTINUED IN 2005.

NHTSA complaint #10554623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #10456933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY COMES ON , EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF TAKING IT TO THE AUTO SHOP TO BE HOOKED TO THE COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG AND AFTER HAVING IT FIXED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10232425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

1997 FORD ESCORT FUEL EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. PURGE CONTROL VALVE CIRCUIT MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #10198475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A CRACK LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN INFORMED.

NHTSA complaint #10163500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1997 FORD ESCORT PCV NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER BEING INSTALLED A YEAR AGO. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *TS

NHTSA complaint #10142172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

DT: WHEN IT RAINS CAR GETS MOLDY, AND A FUNGUS SMELL. IT ACTUALLY CAUSES BREATHING PROBLEMS. ALSO, MY HORN IS GOING OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AND IT DOESN'T STOP UNTIL CONSUMER HITS THE STEERING WHEEL. HORN WAS REPLACED, BUT IT IS STILL AUTOMATICALLY GOES OFF. THE HORN EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING . THE REASON SHE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED THE FIRST TIME WAS BECAUSE THE HORN BLEW SO MUCH IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10123773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CAMSHAFT CRACK IN HALF DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSE THAT TOO HAPPEN

NHTSA complaint #10122191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN 1997 FORD ESCORT.

NHTSA complaint #10100998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 1997 FORD ESCORT SW.

NHTSA complaint #10100480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

WHILE DRIVING , THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *JB CONSUMER FEELS THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE'S REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT 16219 MILES. THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AT 16279 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING NOISE. *BF

NHTSA complaint #10092438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN IN REVERSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE. ANOTHER DEALER TOLD HER IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS.

NHTSA complaint #10091851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON IT STALLED . TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND IT BLEW UP, BURNING COMPLETELY TO THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10089859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 1997 FORD ESCORT THAT IS AT DRBN TOTAL AUTOMOTIVE, 23420 VAN BORN RD.,DBN HTS, MI 48125 FOR A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ISSUE. REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK (VERY MINOR AT THIS POINT, A LITTLE SPOT ON TRANS) WAS FOUND BY BELLE TIRE (DRBN, MI). DRBN TOTAL REPLACED FRONT PUMP SEAL & REAR MAIN SEAL FOR $486.85 ON 6/5/04. I RETURNED 6/14/04 (STILL LEAKING, BUT NOW ON THE GROUND). THEY KEPT FOR 9 DAYS, CHANGED THE SEAL & PUT A COVER ON THE CRANK. WHEN I PICKED UP, I GOT 5 MINUTES AWAY & THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS POURING OUT OF MY CAR & SMOKING. I HAD CAR TOWED IN 6/24/04 & IT IS STILL THERE. THEY ARE NOW PUTTING A SEAL SAVER ON THE MAIN SEAL. THE MANAGER OF THE STORE ADVISED ME THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO & THEY TALKED TO THE DEALER OF THE CAR. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH AN ESCORT BEFORE. DRBN TOTAL SAYS THEY WILL GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK IF THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I DISAGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE I CAME IN THERE WITH MONEY & A CAR THAT WAS RUNNING WITH A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WITHOUT KEEPING MY CAR FOR 3 GOING ON 4 WEEKS (OFF AND ON) & DESTROYING MY TRANSMISSION. I AM HANDICAPPED & WORK & I WAS RECOMMENDED THIS STORE BY A USMA AUTOMOTIVE MEMBER & I PRIDE MYSELF IN KEEPING UP MY MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR. NOW I'M STUCK, PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10078993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10072277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ENGINE VALVE GUIDE DROPPED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE WAS DESTROYED.

NHTSA complaint #10072295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 FORD ESCORT IN SEPTEMBER 1996. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE FITTING WAS MISSING SOME THREADS. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. THIS PAST JANUARY I GOT A LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG MONITOR/SENSOR PROBLEM AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM CORRECTED. NOW THE CAR HAS A SLOW COOLANT LEAK. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 62,850 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $800.00 - $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. I FEEL THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS PREMATURE AND FORD SHOULD PAY FOR IT. THIS WAS THE FIRST FORD VEHICLE I EVER PURCHASED AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE THE LAST. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY CANNOT PUT A $14,000 CAR TOGETHER CORRECTLY AND ASSURE ITS QUALITY TO LAST. I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS AND PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE REGARDING THE 1997 FORD ESCORT AND THEY ARE DISTRESSING TO SAY THE LEAST. MY NEXT VEHICLE WILL BE A GM PRODUCT.

NHTSA complaint #10037367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING OUT.*MR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE AND ALMOST STALL AT EVERY STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICE FIVE TIMES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *TS. THE SPARK WIRES WERE REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS CLEANED, THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, THE DEALER THEN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS CARBON BUILD UP, AND IT WAS EXPLAINED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN THE NEW HEADS SHOULD HAVE REVISED VALVE GUIDES AND EXHAUST VALVES TO PREVENT CARBON BUILD UP

NHTSA complaint #10029631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATED A RUBBER PIECE WAS LOOSE INSIDE THE ENGINE. *AK THE DAMP ASSEMBLY SEPARATED AND MOVED FORWARD INTO THE FENDER WALL THROUGH THE SERPENTINE BELT. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10027276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS CAUSED BY AN OIL SENSOR FAILURE DUE TO A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN WHICH RUSTED THE BELTS PER MECHANIC.

NHTSA complaint #10026248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS CAUSED BY AN OIL SENSOR FAILURE DUE TO A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN WHICH RUSTED THE BELTS PER MECHANIC.

NHTSA complaint #10026248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GIVEN A TUNE UP. A DAY LATER THE ENGINE SIEZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TOT HE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10019381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DEALER STATED THE DAMPER FAILED AND THE BELT WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE DAMPER AND FENDER WELL.

NHTSA complaint #567157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER FOUND DAMPER FAILED BELT CAUGHT BETWEEN DAMPER AND FENDER WELL WAS DAMAGED. REPLACED DAMPER AND BELT.

NHTSA complaint #567461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FELL OFF.*AK

NHTSA complaint #8014294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. WHEN DEALERSHIP DROPPED VEHICLE OFF THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. ENGINE LOCKED UP.

NHTSA complaint #8012285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER SHUT ENGINE OFF, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT RESTARTING. CONSUMER TRIED TO INVESTIGATE, AND FOUND THE ANTIFREEZE FLUID OVERFLOWING, AND CAUSING ELECTRICAL WIRES TO MELT.

NHTSA complaint #8003130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IS OCCURRING WITHIN VEHICLE WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE BATTERY TO COMPLETELY LOSE POWER. *AK CONSUMER STATES RADIO CAUSED BATTERY TO DRAIN AND SPEAKERS TO POP, RADIO REPLACED 3 TIMES, EXPERIENCING OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING WHEN THE HEATER IS ON OR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND POOR ACCELERATION WHEN GOING UP A HILL.

NHTSA complaint #8002796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.