1995 Ford ESCORT: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN I HAD THE CAR IN TO REPAIR A LEAKING RADIATOR I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR SPRINGS OF THE CAR WERE BROKEN - THESE WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TWO REAR TIRES WHICH HAD BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO THE BROKEN SPRINGS. SIX MONTHS LATER BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE PUNCTURING THAT TIRE - PER THE GARAGE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS ARE BROKEN AND MUST BE REPLACED. SINCE I'VE HAD THE CARE IN TWO DIFFERENT GARAGES I'VE HEARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCORTS.

Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000071 at NHTSA ↗

I CANNOT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN MY 1995 FORD ESCORT STATION WAGON. THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN THOUGH THE IGNITION IS TURNED TO OFF AND THE KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED. THERE HAVE BEEN 4 IGNITION SWITCHES INSTALLED IN THIS CAR, BUT THE LOCKSMITH DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS THE PROBLEM. HE BELIEVES THAT SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING IN THE COMPUTER THAT TELLS THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS CAR WAS TO REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE AND THEN REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DO WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING.

Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000713 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER VEHICLE IS HAVING SAME DEFECT WITH IT'S FUEL TANK LEAKING AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 97 V 145 000, BUT VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004257 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO PRESS THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 21,525 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004496 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT, CRUISE CONTROL, AND PAINT ON HOOD. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005092 at NHTSA ↗

PLASTIC FUEL TANK STARTED LEAKING CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. I CONTACTED TWO LOCAL FORD DEALERS AND BOTH TOLD ME THAT THE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS IN FORD ESCORTS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND WERE SUBJECT TO EMERGENCY MAJOR RECALLS. AFTER RESEARCH ON RECALLS 97V144 AND 97V145, BOTH DEALERSHIPS TELL ME THAT FOR SOME REASON MY VIN NUMBER IS EXCLUDED BUT BOTH DEALERSHIPS FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN DEFECT AND POSES A "SEVERE" SAFETY HAZARD TO LIFE. I CONTACTED FORD CONSUMER SERVICE ND THEY BASICALLY SHINED ME ON. I FEEL FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE FUEL TANK…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006816 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK FOUR INCHES ABOVE THE LOCK POSITION. IT CAN NOT BE MOVED USING THE MECHANICAL OVER RIDE. A FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HAS INSPECTED IT AND CLAIMS THE TRACK ITSELF IS DAMAGED AND AS A RESULT, THE MOTOR IS BURNED OUT. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS MORE THAN $500. THERE ARE A NUMBER IF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE, INCLUDING AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY FORD SERVICE PERSONAL THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD. IT IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION, AS THE DRIVER IS NOT SECURELY STRAPPED IN, EVEN WHEN FAST…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008526 at NHTSA ↗

THE LEFT FRONT SAFETY BELT BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. *JB THE LEFT FRONT SLIDING TRACT OF THE SEAT BELT WERE REPLACED. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009700 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1994-10-11 (October 11, 1994)

TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM MODULE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MISSING. IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE MODULE CAN COME OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Consequence: THIS WOULD NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER AND WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL AND TORQUE TO SPECIFICATION THE MOUNTING BOLTS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.

Reported: 1994-11-10 (November 10, 1994)

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE WELD SEAM CAN SEPARATE, CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO FAIL TO DEPLOY PROPERLY AND HOT GASES TO BE EXPELLED FROM THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY FROM THE HOT GASES AND THE AIR BAG FAILURE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG MODULE.

Reported: 1997-09-03 (September 3, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.

Reported: 1997-09-03 (September 3, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ARIZONA. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.