557 of the 5,050 complaints filed about the Ford Escort are about the engine — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.
557
Complaints
11%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
67
Fires
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,998.
NHTSA complaint #11256695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING , THE CAR LOST POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN, AFTER COMING TO A STOP, WE TRIED TO START THE CAR UP AGAIN IT BSOUNDED LIKE IT WANTED TO TURN OVER BUT DIDN'T AFTER A FEW TRIES IT STOPPED MAKING ANY NOISE. A MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE BLEW AND THAT IT WAS A ON GOING PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF CAR. THE ENGINE WAS PUT IN THE CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, IT WAS ADVERTISED AS NEW SO THE PREVIOUS OWNER MUST HAVE HAD THISHAPPEN TO THEM AND KNOWINGLY SOLD US THEIR PROBLEM. PLEASE WE NEED HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10992090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
SINCE 2001, I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT FORD AND SEARS REPAIR SHOP TO ADDRESS MY COMPLAINTS THAT WHEN MY CAR IS STATIONARY IT HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. I WAS TOLD BY MANY FORD SHOPS THAT IT WAS NOTHING THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR MOUNTS. IT WAS REPLACED THE MOUNTS AND IT LAST LONG AND STILL THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. RECENTLY, I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REGARDING THAT SAME COMPLAINT AND THEY FOUND IT IS AN "ENGINEER DEFECT: ENGINE-IDLE VIBRATION". CAN THIS BE REPAIRED BY FORD AND AT NO COST TO ME?
NHTSA complaint #10947015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. TENSIONER ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING SHREDDING THE BELT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED.
NHTSA complaint #10817765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE MOTOR FAILED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,083.
NHTSA complaint #10443205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THE OIL DIP STICK FRACTURED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THE DEFECT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE DIP STICK WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 01/05/12*LJ UPDATED 01/12/12
NHTSA complaint #10437947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 FORD ESCORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STOPPING AND DYING WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACE THREE TIMES, AS WELL AS OTHER COMPONENTS. HOWEVER, THE STALLING CONTINUED. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #10435936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2001 FORD ESCORT ZX2. IVE HAD IT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW. THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM IS GETTING VERY FRUSTRATING. WHEN I START MY CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS GETTING READY TO DIE. IT JUST STRUGGLES AT VERY LOW RPM. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO ADJUST THE IDLE BUT IS THERE A FIX?
NHTSA complaint #10322750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE IN FULL THROTTLE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. FORTUNATELY IT WAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND OUT OF GEAR WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. I HAD STOMPED ON THE GAS PEDAL BY MISTAKE. I SEARCHED THE FLOOR AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCELERATOR FROM DISENGAGING AND FOUND NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE PHENOMENON.
NHTSA complaint #10319837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BURN OUT MOTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10295502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT PURCHASED APRIL 2002. THE REAR COIL SPRINGS, STRUTS, AND EGR VALVE WERE PLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $870.00. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, AND STRUTS FAILED, THEY THEN ADDED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR HER MODEL TYPE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 59,000. UPDATED 11/23/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/24/09
NHTSA complaint #10291068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
COMPANY STATES THEY DO A COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION, SELL HIGH QUALITY USED VEHICLES, MEET CUSTOMERS PERSONAL NEEDS, AND BACK THEIR PRODUCT. NO INSPECTION WAS DONE, ONLY COSMETIC REPAIRS TO SELL THE CAR. NO INSPECTION REPORT CAN BE PRODUCED EXCEPT THE REPAIRS BEFORE CAR WAS PUT ON LOT. THIS VEHICLE IS FAR FROM THE HIGH QUALITY. WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE BACK IN THE SHOP 14 TIMES IN 14 MONTHS. IT DID NOT MEET THE 4 PERSONAL NEEDS WE REQUESTED. EVERYTHING WITH THOSE NEEDS HAS GONE COMPLETELY WRONG! WE DID NOT WANT A FORD; WE GOT A FORD, IT IS NOT RELIABLE. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE AC AT THE SHOP 7 TIMES, NOW RENDERING THE CAR DISABLED. IT IS NOT RELIABLE, KEEPS BREAKING DOWN. IT DOES NOT GET GOOD MILEAGE; CAR GETS 21 MPG WHEN IT SHOULD GET ABOUT 35-38 ACCORDING TO MFG. WARRANTY WAS BURNED BY MILES GOING BACK AND FORTH TO SHOP FOR CONSTANT REPAIRS. 700 MILES FOR THE SAME ISSUE- THE AC. SERVICE ISSUES ARE THAT THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE ROUTE OF THE PROBLEM AND WE KEEP HAVING TO GO BACK TO GET THE SAME THING FIXED. OWNER IS UNCOOPERATIVE, WONT LISTEN, ALWAYS COMES BACK WITH RESPONSES AND REPLIES THAT GO IN CIRCLES. HE WILL NOT LISTEN. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A DIFFERENT CAR SINCE TWO WEEKS AFTER WE BOUGHT THIS CAR; WHEN WE FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO BE PUT ON THE ROAD. WITHIN TWO WEEKS IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS, BROKEN TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, BAD FUEL PUMP, WORN BRAKE PADS TO METAL. WHICH WERE WORN IN TWO WEEKS AFTER THEY WERE CHANGED BECAUSE OF A WARPED ROTOR. WE HAD TOLD THEM THERE WAS A SHAKE IN THE CAR WHEN WE DID A TEST DRIVE. THEY SAID IT WOULD HAPPEN TO A FORD. WE DID NOT WANT A FORD! WE WERE DESPERATE BECAUSE OUR CAR WAS DISABLED, OLD AND READY FOR THE JUNKYARD. WE WERE BROKE AND COULD NOT COME UP WITH A DOWN PAYMENT. THIS WAS THE ONLY PLACE THAT ADVERTISED NO DOWN PAYMENT. WE DID NOT NEED TO REPAIR CREDIT AS MOST PEOPLE WHO GO HERE. WE WERE APPROVED EVERYWHERE, JUST HAD NO DOWN PAYMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10284836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OK, SO I JUST BOUGHT MY 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2 ON DECEMBER 1, 2008 AT 82,000 MILES. 2 MONTHS LATER I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ALTERNATOR IN FEBRUARY 2009. IN MAY 2009 MY ENGINE BLEW, APPARENTLY THE #1 ROD SEPARATED AND WENT THROUGH THE OIL PAN. I REPLACED THE ENGINE SINCE I STILL HAVE A LOAN ON THE CAR. IT IS NOW JULY 2009 AND MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I ONLY HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 8 MONTHS AND REPAIR COSTS ARE MORE THAN WHAT I PAID FOR THIS. UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T GET RID OF IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR A BETTER CAR AND NOW I AM IN THIS ENDLESS CYCLE OF REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10277102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXCESSIVE ENGINE VIBRATION BRAKES FRONT EXHAUST PIPE AND FUMES GET INTO CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10257216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE DROPPED TWO VALVE SEATS. AS A RESULT, TWO CYLINDER HEADS FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS IF IT WERE NOT RECEIVING ANY POWER AND THEN SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL DROVE POORLY. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A DISTURBING, CHOPPING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. SHE PURCHASED A REBUILT ENGINE AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION SENSORS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW ENGINE, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER A LIFETIME WARRANTY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10238875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM WRITING YOU TODAY ABOUT A SITUATION THAT OCCURRED JULY 3RD 1986 IN MORTON GROVE ILLINOIS AT 11:52P.M. I AM THE MOTHER OF A 2 YEAR OLD THAT WAS BURNED TO DEATH IN A 1986 FORD ESCORT THAT WAS NOT ON IN THE PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE. YES IT HAS BEEN OVER 20 YEARS, BUT DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TIME I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYONE TO LISTEN TO MY STORY. WELL, THIS PARTICULAR CAR WAS A RENTAL FROM BUDGET RENTAL IN GLENVIEW ILLINOIS AND WE WERE ON A FAMILY OUTING. ALL WAS WELL AND THEN WE STOPPED OFF TO GET SOME FIRE WORKS. I COULD ONLY AFFORD SMOKE BOMBS AND SPARKLES. NEEDLESS TO SAY WHEN THIS HORRIFIC EVENT OCCURRED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE REASON THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THAT IS NOT TRUE. YOU CAN'T START A FIREWORK WITHOUT A LIGHTER. THE RENTAL CAR DID NOT HAVE A CIGARETTE LIGHTER OR THERE WERE NO MATCHES. I FOUND A NEWS ARTICLE DATE IN THE VIRGINIAN PILOT, APRIL 18, 1996, TEN YEARS LATER STATING THAT THERE WAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM IN CARS DATED AS FAR BACK AS 1984. PLEASE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH THIS MINI MOVIE PLAYING IN MY HEAD OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH NO RESOLUTION. THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY OR FAME. MY CHILD DIED BEFORE HE COULD SEE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE WITH HIS FAMILY. HERE IS A COPY OF THE ARTICLE. I NEED HELP. THIS INCIDENT HAS CRUSHED MY FAMILY. MY OLDEST SON AND I HAD TO WITNESS THIS UNABLE TO HELP MY BABY. YOU WONDER WHY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO WRITE THIS LETTER, IT IS VERY HARD FOR ME TO DO THIS NOW. I NEED CLOSURE. EVERY YEAR ON THIS DATE, I SIT AT HIS GRAVE SITE AND WONDER WHAT WENT WRONG. I RENT CARS ALL THE TIME AND I AM IN FEAR OF ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. BUT IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN FACT OF A PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGED 10 YEARS LATER, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. YOUR COMPANY HAS IMPROVED DURING TRIAL AND ERROR, HOWEVER, DID MY SON HAVE TO DIE DURING THE ERROR PART.
NHTSA complaint #10236821 — 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.