1994 Ford Escort

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/29/1998· SEAT BELTS

  THE FRONT AUTOMATIC PASSENGER SEATBELT SENSOR STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY AFTER THE FORD DEALERSHIP (CHARLIE HENDERSON FORD IN WAVELAND, MS) REPLACED THE RETRACTING UNIT IN THE PASSENGER DOOR AT 16000 MILES DUE TO A BROKEN SEATBELT HARNESS LOCK. IT IS CAUSING THE SEATBELT TO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHEN THE PASSENGER CAR DOOR IS OPENED OR CLOSED. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THE SENSOR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SAFETY WARRANTY (5YRS OR 50,000 MI) ALTHOUGH THE SENSOR CONTROLLED THE AUTOMATIC SAFETY RESTRAINTS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE FORD COMPANY THRU THEIR DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS I FEARED THE SEATBELT MIGHT GET STUCK IN THE CHANNEL AND MY FEARS WERE JUSTIFIED. THE DRIVERSIDE SENSOR WENT OUT JUST BEFORE 50000 MI, LOCKED IN THE CHANNEL, AND CAUSED THE RETRACTOR CABLE TO COME OUT OF THE SEALED CABLE CHANNEL. THE DRIVERSIDE SHOULDER HARNESS IS NOW LOCKED IN FRONT OF THE RETRACTOR CHANNEL AND NOT IN THE PROPER SAFETY POSITION TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER AS IT IS STUCK MIDWAY IN THE CHANNEL. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY BUT THEY SAID I WAS OUT ON MY OWN AS I WAS NOW PAST 50000 MI. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I NEED YOUR HELP.

• 12/27/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WIFE DROVE TO WORK; WENT INTO BLDG.; CO-WORKER NOTIFIED OWNER THAT VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES; FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED, PUT FLAMES OUT; POLICE ARRIVED ALSO; WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. HAD CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

• 12/19/1997· SEAT BELTS

  ENTERED & STARTED VEHICLE. NOTICED SEAT BELTS MOVING SLOWLY & THEN STOPPED HALF WAY. SEAT BELT FELL OUT OF THE TRACK. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK

• 12/18/2006· SEAT BELTS

  TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ESCORT. THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT IS JAMMED. THE CONTACT'S SEATBELT IS MOTORIZED AND WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOOR IT RETRACTS HALF WAY AND IS STUCK, IT WONT MOVE LEFT OR RIGHT. SEATBELT WILL NOT SECURE HIM IN PLACE. YESTERDAY IS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME OF THIS INCIDENT.

• 12/13/2000· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER' SEATBELT ATTACHED TO THE DOOR IS STUCK IN A "L" SHAPE, WHICH WON'T PROTECT OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. *AK

• 12/13/1995· POWER TRAIN

  PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW HAVE 11,000 MILES NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. TT

• 12/11/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLS/ HESITATES AND MISFIRES WHILE DRIVING. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

• 12/11/2000· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY, DEALER REPLACED ASSEMBLY. *SLC

• 12/11/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS CRACKED; ALSO, CAMSHAFT FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF FITH GEAR. *AK

• 12/06/2001· AIR BAGSCrash

  DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT FULLY EXPAND AT THE TIME OF CAR ACCIDENT. CAR WAS TOTAL PER INSURANCE COMPANY. SEAT BELT SAVED DRIVER FROM FURTHER INJURY.*AK

• 12/05/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/04/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE IN CRASH, CAUSING INJURY.

• 11/30/1995· SEAT BELTS

  THE SHOULDER HARNESS DOES NOT WORK WELL. TT

• 11/29/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THIS REPORT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC ON THE HEADLIGHT UNIT. I HAD NOTED PROBLEMS WITH ROAD LIGHTING BY MY CAR FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND HAVE USED THE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO ILLUNIATE THE ROADS. (I DO NOT DRIVE MUCH AT NIGHT.) RECENTLY, THE ROAD ILLUMINATION BY THE FORD ESCORT WAGON BECAME SO POOR, I AND MY FAMILY TRIED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS WORKED, BUT ILLUMINATION WAS NOT GETTING PAST THE DETERIORATED PLASTIC WHICH HAS NOT HELD UP TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE SUBTLE AND TAKES A WHILE TO DEVELOP. BECUASE OF THAT, THE CONSUMER IS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WHERE I TAKE MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOLD ME THIS WAS A PROBLEM. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD HEAD LIGHT UNITS WHICH I CONSIDER NO LONGER SAFE FOR DRIVING AND HAD FORD INSTALL NEW UNITS. I HAVE NOTICED A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMINATION. I NOW CONSIDER THESE PLASTIC UNITS TO BE POTENTIALLY UNSAFE FOR THE PUBLIC AS THEY DETERIORATE. I AM SURE OTHERS MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD. I BELIEVE THAT ACCIDENTS WILL BE CAUSED WHEN THE UNIT PLATIC BECOMES SO CLOUDED AS TO BLOCK THE LIGHT AND NO PROVIDE PROPER ROAD ILLUMINATION. ODI IS MORE THAN WALCOME TO EXAMINE MY OLD HEADLIGHT UNITS.

• 11/29/1994· STEERING

  STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. 8AK

• 11/28/1994· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT FAILS TO LATCH WHEN USING CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *SKD

• 11/27/1996· TIRES

  GOODYEAR TIRES FAILED.

• 11/21/2001· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S MOTOR SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN FORWARD POSITION.*AK

• 11/21/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THIS VEHICLE HAS TOTALLY INADEQUATE BRAKES. THIS IS THE ONLY NON-ABS CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED WHERE THE BRAKES CANNOT BE LOCKED UPINTENTIONALLY AT ANY SPEED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND ALL THEY DID WAS BLEED AND CLEAN THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD BRAKE PADS AND SHOES REPLACED, THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM BLED, NEW MASTER CYLINDER INSTALLED, PEDAL AND BOOSTER CLEARANCES CHECKED. NOTHING MAKES A DIFFERENCE. I HAVE SEEN FROM YOUR OTHER DEFECT REPORTS THAT THERE IS A 'REVISED POWER BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER' AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACT THE DEALERS PARTS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THEY DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU!

• 11/20/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT THE CURB . *AK *JB

• 11/19/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKS OPENED , CAUSING CHILDREN TO FALL FROM THE VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAIL INFORMATION. *AK

• 11/18/1994· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TIMING BELT FAILURE.

• 11/17/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE PEDAL GOES 1/4 TO 1/2 WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE BRAKES ENGAGE. VERY SPONGY FEEL. TWICE HAVE ALMOST REARENDED OTHER CARS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING RUSH HOUR. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO LOCAL GOODYEAR SERVICE TO INSPECT BRAKES AND BLEED AIR FROM THE SYSTEM. THEY SAY BRAKE PADS AND SHOES ARE FINE AND THAT THEY FOUND NO AIR BUBBLES OR CONTAMINATED FLUID WHEN THEY TRIED BLEEDING THE SYSTEM. THEY SAID THAT FORD HAS A TSB OUT FOR THE ESCORT FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY UNSAFE AND IF FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL. FORD SHOULD BE REPLACING THESE PARTS AT THIER EXPENCE. MY FAMILYS SAFETY AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD WITH ME ARE AT RISK. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER YET; THIS REPORT IS TO DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM AND IS MY FIRST STEP IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WOMEN SEEM TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF WHEN DEALING WITH SERVICE MANAGERS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU COULD BE WITH RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM.

• 11/16/1999· SEAT BELTS

  WE FEEL THAT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST HAVE A RELIABLE SAFETY SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR AND THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS OUR THIRD SEAT BELT THAT BROKE ON THIS VEHICLE. HOW CAN FORD ETHICALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT PUTTING OUT A PRODUCT WHERE EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY HAS WORN OFF, THE PRODUCT IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY SAFE FOR MY WIFE AND CHILDREN BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD BY LETTER AND BY PHONE AFTER EACH OF THE THREE INCIDENCES WHERE OUR SEAT BELTS HAVE BROKEN AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO TELL MY KIDS, "SORRY KIDS YOU HAVE USED UP YOUR ALLOTED WARRANTY TO RIDE SAFELY FROM NOW ON YOU WILL HAVE TO RIDE UNSAFE. THE LACK OF SEAT BELTS IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATHS IN THE STATE OF UTAH FOR PEOPLE FROM 0 TO 24 YEARS OF AGE. IN 1998, OVER 370 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE STATE OF UTAH IN MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES, 75% OF THOSE WERE NOT WEARING SEATBELTS. I DO NOT EVEN HAVE THE CHOICE BECAUSE THE SEATBELTS IN MY CAR ARE DEFECTIVE AND DO NOT WORK. WHAT IS FORD'S EXCUSE? I HAVE JUST PAID $350.00 TO GET ONE OF THE SEAT BELTS FIXED. AM I SUPPOSE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO FIX THE OTHER TWO BROKEN AND DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS? I DO NOT FEEL SAFE HAVING MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN FORD'S ESCORT. DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMETHING TRAGIC TO HAPPEN BEFORE SOMEONE AT FORD WILL LISTEN AND START MAKING VEHICLES WITH SAFE SEAT BELTS THAT ACTUALLY WORK? I WOULD LIKE THE DEFECTIVE SEATBELTS IN MY FORD ESCORT REPLACED AND SOME FORM OF RE-ASSUREANCE THAT THE OTHER SEAT BELTS IN MY VEHICLE ARE SAFE. THAT IS THE LEAST THAT FORD COULD DO. SINCERELY, TIM M. COSGROVE, MURRAY, UTAH 801-588-3672, WK, 801-685-0673, HM. *AK

• 11/15/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MOTOR FAILED. MJS

• 11/14/1994· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DRIVER GETS AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND CONTACTING LEFT DOOR. *AK

• 11/12/1998· SEAT BELTS

  IE98074; MOTORIZED SEAT BELT JAMMED. THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RETRACTOR, AND A BIG WIRE IS HANGING OUT. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. REPORT GIVEN BY DAUGHTER, NICOLE CALDWELL. *AK

• 11/11/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  I WAS IN A NEAR HEAD-ON COLLSION, I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IF MY AIR BAG WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IT WAS NOT DISCONNECTED, NOR HAS IT EVER BEEN MODIFIED, AND I HAVE HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. *AK

• 11/11/1995· SEAT BELTS

  REAR SEAT CENTER SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY TIGHT. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 490749). *DSH

• 11/11/1995· SEAT BELTS

  REAR SEAT CENTER SEAT BELT LOOSENED IN COLLISION, ALLOWING BOOSTER SEAT TO SHIFT. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601091). *DSH

• 11/09/2000· SEAT BELTS

  NON SENSOR AND OR RETRACTOR OF SEAT BELTS. *AK CAUSE OF FAILURE MAY BE DEALER'S MAJOR REPAIR WORK. *YH

• 11/09/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT IS HANGING FROM CEILING OF CAR, BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY.*AK ENGINE FAILED AND REPLACED. CONSUMER CONCERN THE ODOMETER READING WILL NOT MATCH. *YH

• 11/08/1994· EQUIPMENT

  STEREO POWER SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING POWER SURGES/CASSETTE DECK MEMORY LOSS. *SKD

• 11/08/1994· SEAT BELTS

  REAR RIGHT SEAT BELT FAILURE. *AK

• 11/04/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT--BURNED OUT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

• 11/01/2006· EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFire

  HEADLIGHT COVER CLOUDED FROM AGE. DRIVERS CAN'T SEE WELL AT NIGHT. I'VE NOTICED THAT ALL ESCORTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED A RECALL ON REPLACEMENT LIGHTING THAT LEADS TO SUGGEST THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT COVERS. WHY ISN'T MANUFACTURE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS? ESPECIALLY SAFETY PARTS. PREVIOUS OWNER HIT SOMETHING SLIGHTLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE LIGHTING. *NM

• 10/30/1994· SUSPENSION

  FRONT END MISALIGNED. *AK

• 10/29/2007· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT REMAINS OPERATIVE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THIS FAULT. *TR

• 10/29/1999· AIR BAGS

  NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING FRONT END DAMAGE COLLISION. MJS

• 10/29/1999· SEAT BELTS

  PASSIVE RESTRAINT SAFETY BELT MOTOR FAILED, WILL NOT MOVE INTO LOCK POSITION. MJS

• 10/28/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TIMING BELT FAILED. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD NO RESPONSE WHEN ACCELERATOR PRESSED.

• 10/27/1998· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH REAR COIL SPRINGS. REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE CONSISTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER HAS TO START APPLYING BRAKES AT A LONG DISTANCE FROM THE DESTINATION DESIRED TO STOP. *AK

• 10/26/1997· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND WOULD NOT MOVE. *AK

• 10/24/1994· POWER TRAIN

  AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARSHLY. *TW

• 10/21/2018· SEAT BELTS

  AUTOMATIC SEATBELT IS JAMMED AND SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS

• 10/20/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SINCE THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROMBLEMS WITH MY VECHILE,

• 10/20/1997· SEAT BELTS

  THE SEAT BELT HARNESSES FAILED.

• 10/18/2004· SEAT BELTS

  BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER PASSIVE RESTRAINT SEAT BELTS WERE IN OPERATIVE. BOTH SEAT BELTS WERE STUCK AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

• 10/17/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE HIT A DUMPSTER HEAD ON, TO AVOID A CRASH TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. DAMAGES WAS DONE TO THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

• 10/17/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  UPON IMPACT DURING REAREND COLLISION, WAS FORCED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, CAUSING MULTI-CAR CRASH, FRONTAL IMPACT 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, 45 MPH, AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK