31 of the 729 complaints about the 1997 Ford Escort are about the transmission — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,000 miles.
31
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY MOM BOUGHT THE CAR, CERTIFIED USED, WITH ONLY 16,000 MILES ON IT. AS IT NEARED 37,000 MILES IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE IT REACHED 70,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10133630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. DEALER INDICATED TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #10099559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION AXLE SLIPPAGE AND DEFECTIVE BRAKE PROBLEMS. VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN ACCELERATING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10074160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION AXLE SLIPPAGE AND DEFECTIVE BRAKE PROBLEMS. VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN ACCELERATING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10074160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
REQUEST FOR RESTITUTION OF LOSSES RESULTING FROM A VEHICLE FIRE. *MR THE PASSENGER AREA TRANS EQUIPMENT/ELECTRICAL WIRE) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED RESTITUTION. *SCC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE MANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10040403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 FORD ESCORT AT 70MPH DOWN INTERSTATE 75 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. HERE TO FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS WHAT LOCKED UP THE GEARS JUST LOCKED UP TIGHT CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK. I AM 48 YEARS OLD AND HAVE A CDL DRIVERS LICENSE. I DRIVE A 40FT. BOOKMOBILE EVERYDAY FOR A LIVING. MY COMPLAINT IS FORD NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE A LESS EXPERIANCED DRIVER WOULD HAVE ROLLED THE CAR OR BEEN RUN OVER BY OTHER TRAFFIC. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A USED ONE AT A COST OF 887.24. I CONTACTED FORD 2 TIMES AND THEY DO NOT CARE. JUST TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL SO THE PROBLEM WAS ALL MINE.
NHTSA complaint #10028415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, SUDDENLY THE RIGHT AXLE BROKE ,DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION/ STEERING WHEEL, FORCING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10022319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 1997 FORD ESCORT. AT APPROXIMATELY. 37,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRED SERVICE. TOOK CAR TO BOARD FORD IN WHITTIER, CA. TWO DAYS AFTER SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. BOARD FORD ALLOWED AN ESP FOR POWER TRAIN AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION. AT TIME OF REPLACEMENT, BOARD FORD INDICATED THE NEW POWER TRAIN WAS WARRANTED FOR 75,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON THE NEW POWER TRAIN, IT LITERALLY EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT (COMPLETELY CRACKED THE CORE). CALLED BOARD FORD AND FORD MOTOR AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE CAR HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT, THE POWER TRAIN WASN'T WARRANTED EVEN THOUGH THE POWER TRAIN ONLY HAS 45,000.00 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10014273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT DID NOT MOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PUT IN TRANSMISSION FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #10009354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WITHIN THE SAME WEEK THE VEHICLE DEMONSTRATED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE IS OF NO SERVICE TO HER.
NHTSA complaint #567638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I DO NOT DRIVE MY ESCORT "WILD" I TRY TO TAKE CARE OF MY CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY TO GET IT REPAIRED; THEY ONLY COVER PART'S. I AM FIGHTING THE WARRANTY COMPANY THAT CANCELLED ME; THAT PAID FOR THIS AT THE TIME.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #759580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE CAN BE PUT INTO GEARS WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES, ALSO, AT TIMES GEARS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM PARK POSITION, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #888128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HOW CAN A DEALERSHIP NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION ARE BOTH FOREIGN ITEMS. IF I WANTED TO PURCHASE A FOREIGN CAR I WOULD HAVE. AND FOR BOTH MOTOR REPLACEMENT COST $2600 AND TRANSMISSION $2800 TO GO OUT THE SAME TIME. ISN'T THERE SOME LAW THAT STATES A DEALERSHIP/MFG MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (PARTS) BEING USED IN A AUTOMOBILE??
NHTSA complaint #736408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #871011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE POWER TRAIN FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #782961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN OPERATING VEHICLE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME OR CLIMBING A HILL. *AK THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. BUT THE TRANSMISSION'S ERRATIC SHIFT UPHILL AND CHECK THE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CONTINUED.
NHTSA complaint #866109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
EVERYTIME WHEN IN PARK CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE SHIFT LEVER GEAR. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT TELLS CONSUMER WHICH SCREWDRIVER TO USE IN ORDER TO RELEASE OVERDRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #862384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
EVERYTIME WHEN IN PARK CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE SHIFT LEVER GEAR. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT TELLS CONSUMER WHICH SCREWDRIVER TO USE IN ORDER TO RELEASE OVERDRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #862384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FALL OFF. CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE PARTS FALLING OFF, AND CAR STOPPED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED . MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT FELL OFF.
NHTSA complaint #856465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL STATION AS DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE PURCHASE ONE OF THE LAST SELECTOR SHAFT ASSEMBLY SHIFTERS AVAILABLE. TOTAL COST: $349.00.
NHTSA complaint #712821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATES AND JERKS AND HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #849201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY SLIPPED OFF THE SHAFT AND LODGED AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN FOR REPAIR. NEITHER FORD NOR FIDELITY WARRANTY SERVICE, INC. (EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASED AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER, WOULD COVER THE REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #709610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKS OR VIBRATES AND HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #839082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION HAS PREMATURELY MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED OUT, HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #836174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DIED AND HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. ANOTHER TIMES, THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISES AND WAS SLOW TO TAKE OFF. VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. *AK.ET.
NHTSA complaint #837303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TRANSMISSION "BLEW" GOING AT THE SPEED OF 35 MILES AN HOUR IN HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS BEEN LINKED TO THE DIFFERENTIAL IN THE TRANSMISSION. OUTER CASE OF THE TRANSMISSION BOX WAS CRACKED BECUASE OF THE FORCE OF IMPACT. LOSS OF POWER ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP
NHTSA complaint #706009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #781113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TEN TRANSMISSION FAILURES. QCAW
NHTSA complaint #539376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER WORKS VERY ERRATICALLY. VEHICLE WILL NOT GIVE KNOWLEDGE OF SPEED IT'S TRAVELING WHEN MOVING.
NHTSA complaint #822609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE SAFETY LOCK FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #517746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.