47 of the
413 complaints about the 1999 Ford Escort are about the
electrical system — 11% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
70,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HEATER BLOWER FAILED AND SPARKS WERE SHOOTING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE HARNESS BEFORE A FIRE IGNITED. THE CONTACT LOCATED A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE WIRING OF THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM, IN WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON HIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA complaint #10364409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 67,100 milesCharles Town, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WAS GOING ON AND OFF FOR A COUPLE DAYS. GOT A REPLACEMENT BULB TO CHANGE LIGHT. FOUND THE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS INTO THE BACK OF THE LIGHT TO BE MELTED AND PARTIALLY BURNT. HAD TO REPLACE HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10288831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesBarton, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I PURCHASED MY SE IN NOVEMBER OF 2006 WITH LESS THAN 83K MILES ON IT. THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT, ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS CRACKED. I HAD THE HEAD REPAIRED, AND LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT THE HEAD CRACKED AGAIN. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED. I HAVE NOW HAD NEW HEADS, NEW ENGINE, NEW FUEL PUMP AND A NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLED AND NOW AM HAVING A NEW PROBLEM. WHEN I PULLED OUT FROM A STOP, THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE ENGINE IS NOW EMITTING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN STOPPED, AND I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS ALL IN ADDITION TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING, FAULTY FRONT HEADLIGHT, TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS FLUSHED AND LOUD ENGINE NOISE. I HAVE SPENT MORE ON REPAIRS THAN I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE, AND NOW HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY IN TO IT, AND IT STILL HAS LESS THAN 94K MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY FIRST FORD, AND WILL BE MY LAST.
NHTSA complaint #10225453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesEverett, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER HORN DOES NOT WORK. SHE WAS UNABLE TO PLACE HER VEHICLE IN DRIVE BECAUSE OF BLOWN OUT FUSES, INCLUDING THE HORN FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WIRES TO THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE BLOWN. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE HORN FAILED TO WORK AGAIN. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO PURCHASE A FORD FUSION AND TO CONTACT THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #10193957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 109,240 milesElgin, OR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I WAS OUT OF TOWN, DROVE FOR 2 1/2 HRS THEN PARKED FOR SHOPPING. WAS ON WAY BACK HOME..10 MIN INTO DRIVE, WHEN MY FORD ESCORT ZX2 JUST LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD LITTLE WARNING..A MINUTE BEFORE IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH THEN NOTHING..NO GAUGES OR STEERING ETC. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED (DID NOT THINK TO KEEP THE OLD PART) AND HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL FUSES "JUST BECAUSE" SINCE IT KEEPS DOING THIS AND THE SCARY PART IS I BOUGHT IT FOR MY SON WHO IS A NEW DRIVER AND HE HAD IT HAPPEN TO HIM TWICE IN ONE DAY AND TWICE TO MYSELF THE NEXT DAY. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT BACK HOME AFTER JUMPING IT TWICE IN 8 MILES THE LAST TWO TIMES IT QUIT. IT IS NOW PARKED FEARING WE WILL BE STRANDED OR WORSE LOSE CONTROL AND END UP IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, STEERING ETC.
NHTSA complaint #10155253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesParkville, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD ESCORT FROM CARMAX IN MAY OF 2001. ABOUT 2-3 WKS LATER I CONSTANTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. I GOT TICKETED BY THE POLICE SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. THEN ONE DAY DRIVING FROM WORK MY ENGINE DIED. WITHOUT ANY WARNING AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO CARMAX AND THEY THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. WHENEVER I PUT THE AC ON THERE IS A RUMBLING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. FRANKLY THE CAR IS A LEMON AND I HAD NO IDEA BECAUSE THERE WAS NO REPORTS ON THE CAR AND I REMEMBERED ASKING THE SALES REP. IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAR THAT I NEEDED TO KNOW AND I WAS TOLD NO. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO BECAUSE I AM SPENDING MONEY ON THIS CAR FOR MANUFACTURER PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10131740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,000 milesGladwyne, PAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAW FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10119335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesWVC, UT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
MY CAR HAS 55000 MILES AND ITS A 1999 ESCORT.Y TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, THIS AT LESS THAN 55000 MILES? I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY STREET AND THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE SHOP REPLACED THE TIMING BELT AND THE PULLY'S. NOW I HAVE GONE TO WORK MONDAY MORNING AND CAME OUT TO GO HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN, JUST TRIED TO TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP AGAIN, NOW ITS THE FUEL PUMP. THERE IS NO WAY THAT ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE STARTED TO HAPPEN YET ON THIS CAR. THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH IT, I NEED SOME RESOLUTION ON THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
NHTSA complaint #10096479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlotte, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I HAD TO PUT AN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR LAST YEAR. NOW MY AC DOESN'T WORK AND I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AND PUT A NEW ALTERNATOR IN IT TOO. I HAVE HAD ISSUE AFTER ISSUE WITH MY ZX2.
NHTSA complaint #10074726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlotte, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I HAD TO PUT AN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR LAST YEAR. NOW MY AC DOESN'T WORK AND I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AND PUT A NEW ALTERNATOR IN IT TOO. I HAVE HAD ISSUE AFTER ISSUE WITH MY ZX2.
NHTSA complaint #10074726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 128,239 milesJeffersonville, VTFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10014778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesPembroke Pines, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
MEMBRANE SWITCH FOR HORN STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION CAUSING HORN TO BLOW CONSTANTLY. WIRE TO HORN HAD TO BE PULLED TO REMEDY PROBLEM. MEMBRANE SWITCH NOT AVAILABLE FROM DEALER. DEALER STATES ENTIRE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $500. NOT HAVING AN OPERATIONAL HORN OR LOGICAL AND ECONOMICAL WAY TO REPAIR IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN SAFETY EQUIPMENT. DEALER BENEFITING BY HUGE REPLACEMENT COST. PART SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE OR MANDATORY RECALL IS NECESSARY.
NHTSA complaint #10005102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesIndependence, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE VEHICLES HORN STOPPED BLOWING. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE HORN IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND OTHER DRIVERS NEED TO BE MADE AWARE. TS THE REPAIR F THE HORN WOULD REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG. SCC
NHTSA complaint #8023365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES THAT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT FUSES WILL JUST BLOW OUT. UNDER THE DASH THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE BACK OF THE TURNING SWITCH, IT MELTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.REPLACE THE HARNESS. PROBLEM REACCURED. TS
NHTSA complaint #8021714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edgewater, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, CONSUMER HONKED THE HORN AND IT WOULD NOT STOP BLOWING, CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO STOP THE HORN.
NHTSA complaint #785758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER GOT A RECALL TO UPGRADE COMPUTER ON VEHICLE, BUT FORD REFUSED TO DO RECALL BECAUSE VEHICLE'S TITLE WAS BRANDED. *JG
NHTSA complaint #8001334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edgewater, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, CONSUMER HONKED THE HORN AND IT WOULD NOT STOP BLOWING, CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO STOP THE HORN.
NHTSA complaint #785758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stafford, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WIRING HARNESS THAT IS CONNECTED TO HEADLIGHT BULB OVERHEATS AND SHORT CIRCUITS, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS FAILED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.*SLC
NHTSA complaint #897853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angelos, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
MOTOR DIED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CONSUMER HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT DEALER HAS REPLACED 4 ALTERNATORS/ ONE STARTER, AND A BATTERY. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHCLE IN FEAR THAT IT MAY STALL AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #894133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angelos, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
MOTOR DIED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CONSUMER HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT DEALER HAS REPLACED 4 ALTERNATORS/ ONE STARTER, AND A BATTERY. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHCLE IN FEAR THAT IT MAY STALL AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #894133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angelos, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
MOTOR DIED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CONSUMER HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT DEALER HAS REPLACED 4 ALTERNATORS/ ONE STARTER, AND A BATTERY. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHCLE IN FEAR THAT IT MAY STALL AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #894133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VEHICLE HAS STALLED 5 TIMES, AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR 4 TIMES/ STARTER, AND BATTERY ONCE. CANNOT REMEDY. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #894142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
VEHICLE HAS STALLED 5 TIMES, AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR 4 TIMES/ STARTER, AND BATTERY ONCE. CANNOT REMEDY. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #894142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE HAS STALLED 5 TIMES, AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR 4 TIMES/ STARTER, AND BATTERY ONCE. CANNOT REMEDY. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #894142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albuquerque, NM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH IS TOO CLOSE TO ENGINE BLOCK WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO COMPLETLEY SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #886654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parkersburg, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION WILL ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. BEEN TO DEALER WHO CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #882077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Independence, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T GET COLD--CAR ALSO IDLES VERY LOW TO THE POINT WHERE IT STALLS OUT.
NHTSA complaint #739152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springlake, NC1 injured1 killed
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WITH WIRING I COULD SMELL BURNING AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. WITH TIRE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY . HAD TIRE REPLACED, I HAVE RECEIPT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 7JJK7U17P9 TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)
NHTSA complaint #739285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Decatur, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON A SIDE STREET MAKING A LEFT TURN AND VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WASN'T AWARE OF PROBLEM. BUT CONSUMER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #878117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT; WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF. ALSO, NOTICED SHIMMYING COMING FROM FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #875002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.