171 of the 5,050 complaints filed about the Ford Escort are about the steering — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.
171
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
18
Crashes
7
Fires
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 2006 THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 02/02/10 *BF UPDATED 02/05/10.
NHTSA complaint #10299709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WE HAVE A 2002 ESCORT ZX2 . THE CAR WAS BOUGHT FEBRUARY 2002 . I HAVE HAD SOME REAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TIE -RODS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM NOW IS THE WIRING TO THE TAIL LIGHTS. WE HAVE HAD A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE FUSE BLOWING AND WE REPLACE IT , THEN THE LIGHT BULBS BLOW THEN WE REPLACE THEM . WE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM THIS TIME AND HE HAS FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE REFLECTOR ARE MELTED. THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE TAIL LIGHTS WORKING WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR CRUISE CONTROL . UPON THE REMOVAL OF THE BULBS THE BULBS HAD GOTTEN SO HOT THE LIGHT BULBS HAD HOLES IN THEM BUT STILL WORKED AS BRAKE LIGHTS . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEAT CLOSEST TO THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10266763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD ESCORT LX. THE CONTACT POURED BRAKE FLUID INTO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE BLED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION, AND NOW THE VEHICLE IS SPEWING FORTH POWER STEERING FLUID. THE ALTERNATOR WAS LOPSIDED AND ITS SCREWS WERE MISSING. THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS REMOVED AND THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW THE REASON. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO RESTART AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE WOULD SEND A TOW, BUT ONE NEVER ARRIVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
NHTSA complaint #10226363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, AND FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT SHE DOES NOT TRUST THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS CURRENTLY WORKING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 06-03/08. *LJ THE TIE ROD END, REAR SPRING, WINDSHIELD, UPPER BALL JOINT, ODOMETER KNOB, REAL PASSENGER SEAL WERE ALL REPLACED. UPDATED 05/30/08
NHTSA complaint #10226312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. SHE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY. SHE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS DARK COLORED AND LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE DRAINED AND MORE TESTS WERE NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 176,432. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07.
NHTSA complaint #10201213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I BOUGHT THIS 1999 ESCORT FROM A DEALER. IT WAS USED WITH AROUND 20K MILES ON IT. I MADE THE DEALER CHANGE OUT THE TIE ROD ENDS BEFORE I TOOK IT BECAUSE I NOTICED THEY WERE BAD. THE CAR NOW HAS 54K MILES ON IT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD END FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID AND TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DUE TO A QUICK-REACTING ONCOMING DRIVER, NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THIS COULD HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY DEATHS. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT WHENEVER HE GETS A CALL FOR A FAILED TIE-ROD, ITS AN ESCORT. THIS WAS DEFINITELY CHANGED TOO. I CHECKED IT MYSELF AFTER THE DEALER DID THEM. THEREFORE THE TIE ROD ENDS ONLY LASTED FOR AROUND 35K MILES BEFORE EXTREME FAILURE OCCURRED. SOMETHING HAS TO BE WRONG WITH THE STEERING/SUSPENSION DESIGN IN THIS MODEL CAR. EVERY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED I'VE DRIVEN INTO THE 100K MILE RANGE AND STILL NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TIE ROD ENDS. WHAT IS THE DEAL HERE?
NHTSA complaint #10200965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHEN ON HIGHWAY 55 MPH OR MORE TRANSMISSIONS ACTS LIKE IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL HAVE NO OVERDRIVE OR DRIVE THEN ALSO SLIPS IN AND OUT. ALSO HAVE LIKE POWER SURGES WHEN USING THE HEATER IN THE CAR THE ENGINE REVS UP AND DOWN LIKE YOU ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL EVEN WHEN IN PARK HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THESE ISSUES YET. ALSO HAVE HAD THE REAR WIPER MOTOR AND STUFF REPLACED AND STILL DO NOT GET WASHER SOLVENT TO REAR WIPER THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BACK WINDOW DOES NOT WORK EITHER CAUSES STILL UNKNOWN IT IS A 1995 FORD ESCORT LX WAGON WITH ONLY 73000 MILES 1.9 L.
NHTSA complaint #10156484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO 2 PARKED CARS. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S HANDS, BACK AND FEET. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE POLICE RESPONDED AND PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE PARKED VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10155058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I TOOK MY 99 FORD ESCORT TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO FIX ONE FRONT TIE ROD (ANOTHER FREQUENT PROBLEM ON ESCORT) AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE SPINGS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS BROKEN. I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT WHEN DRIVING AND I DON'T KNOW FOR HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN BROKEN. THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH ESCORT, AND ADVISED ME TO CHECK THE EXISTANCE OF A RECALL WITH A FORD DEALER. TO THIS DATE (JAN 2006) THERE IS NO RECALL. HE ALSO ADVISED ME TO KEEP THE RECEIPT OF THE REPAIR ($ 750 TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS AND STRUTS ON BOTH SIDES) IN CASE A RECALL WILL BE MADE IN THE FUTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10147184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT: CONSUMER TOOK 1998 FORD ESCORT FOR A OIL CHANGE ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005. THE MECHANIC FOUND BOTH REAR COILS SPRINGS BROKE. THE REAR STRUTS WERE DAMAGED, AND THE LEFT FRONT TIE ROD WAS BROKEN. THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE AT TIME OF SERVICE WAS 71, 127 MILES. THE CONSUMER USED THE CAR FOR SHOPPING AND PLEASURE WITH NO HARD DRIVING AT HER AGE. SHE WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THIS WAS COMMON FOR THE 1997 AND 1998 FORD ESCORTS. I HAD OTHER FORD ESCORTS PRIOR TO THIS ONE AND I HAD NO PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM COST THE CONSUMER $732. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER. HAD NO ACCIDENTS. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE DRIVES MUCH BETTER AND IS QUIETER SINCE HAD THE PROBLEMS FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10138999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT: THE VEHICLE WAS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. BOTH OF THE BACK COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. CONSUMER FOUND THIS OUT WHEN GETTING THE BRAKES INSPECTED. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, TIE RODS AND THE REAR STRUTS INCLUDING THE COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INSPECTION TOOK PLACE ON 7-8-05. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE ALL THE PARTS REPLACED. THEY WERE REPLACED ON 7-20/22-05. VEHICLE WAS SHAKING BEFORE HAND. CONSUMER KNEW THAT FORD COMPANY ISSUED A RECALL ISSUE CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR OTHER MODELS. *AK UPDATED 11/02/2005.
NHTSA complaint #10129752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
STERING COLUMN LOCKED,HAD TO BE TOWED.TOW DRIVER SAID THIRD ONE HE HAD THIS WEEK,CAR IS NOW AT FORD DEALOR. IT WILL BE REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10110508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHENEVER IT RAINS AND I DRIVE IN A PUDDLE OF WATER MY SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF, CAUSING MY CAR TO HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND MY BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. EVERYTIME THIS HAPPENS I GO TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS TO MANUALLY PUT THE BELT BACK ON. THE MECHANIC TELLS ME HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT BECAUSE HE'S INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.
NHTSA complaint #10106194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I TOOK MY 1998 FORD ESCORT TO GAGNE FORD IN PRINCETON, WISCONSIN, TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE TIE RODS. "OUTER TIE ROD ENDS. RIGHT OUTER IS LOOSE. LEFT OUTER IS SIEZED." SINCE THERE IS ONLY 23,200 MILES ON THE CAR, I CHECKED FOR RECALLS. ARE PEOPLE JUST HAVING THIS REPAIR DONE AND NOT REPORTING IT? DO I REALLY NEED THIS WORK DONE?
NHTSA complaint #10088160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE CAR HAD 2400 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BEEN PRE OWNED. THEY SOLD IT TO ME SAYING IT WAS NEW BUT SOMEONE ELSE PUT 2400 MILES ON IT. NOW I FELL THATS THE REASON WHY MY TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELEY. FORD HAS DENIED ME A AWA BECAUSE THEY SAID I'M NOT A LOYAL CUSTOMER JUST BECAUSE I GOT MY TRANSMISSION SERVICED SOMEWHERE ELSE. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT PLEASE E-MAIL/CALL ME AT ANY TIME TO TELL ME WHAT STEPS I COULD TAKE TO HAVE FORD PAY SOME/ALL OF THE COST OF REPAIR TO MY TRANSMISSION. THANKS AGAIN, KEON WALKER
NHTSA complaint #10070296 — 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.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD FAILURE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE TIE RODS ON BOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. WHEN TAKEN IN TO THE SHOP THEY FOUND THE RIGHT SIDE WAS VERY BAD ALSO. THIS CAR HAS 59,000 MILES. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. PRETTY SCARRY STUFF...
NHTSA complaint #10058366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DURING A STATE INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE STATE OFFICER THAT THE FRONT END DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE UPPER LEFT FRONT TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE IN 2002 AND 2003. THE CONSUMERS CONCERN IS THAT THE LOWER RIGHT AND LEFT TIE ROD MAY GO SOON. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10046212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.