1995 Ford Escort

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

• 12/31/2001· SEAT BELTS

  THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS IN MY ESCORT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AND ONE OF THEM HAS NOT FOR OVER A YEAR. I PAID AROUND $120 TO GET A NEW PART TO FIX THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IN 2000 AND IT BROKE AGAIN 8 MONTHS LATER, WE RETURNED IT TO FORD BECAUSE IT HAD A YEAR WARRANTY AND THEY UNWILLINGLY GAVE A REPLACEMENT BUT INFORMED US THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL A YEAR FROM THE ORIGINAL PARTS PURCHASE DATE (4 MORE MONTHS). IT STILL DOESNT WORK ALL THE TIME. THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT IS STUCK ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK SO IT CAN NOT BE USED AT ALL. THERE IS ONLY LAP BELT RESTRAINT THERE NOW. I DONT THINK I NEED TO KEEP PAYING TO FIX AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THESE CARS. MY SISTER HAD A 1994 ESCORT A YEAR NEWER THAN MINE AND SHE HAD TO REPLACE HER AUTO. SEATBELT ONCE IN THE 2 YEARS SHE OWNED IT. SO I KNOW IT CANT JUST BE A FLUKE IN MY CAR.

• 12/31/1999· SEAT BELTS

  WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME VERY TIGHT AND NOT RELEASE CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

• 12/30/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR.

• 12/28/2012· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING GASOLINE, CAUSED BY A FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT OF THE FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK WALL. THE MECHANIC ALSO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V145000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

• 12/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE DOES NOT IDLE CORRECTLY AND HAS STALLED A COUPLE TIMES, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. NLM

• 12/28/1998· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING OVER 45 MPH VEHICLE SHAKES AND HAS BAD VIBRATION. IT SEEMS LIKE THE FRONT END IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. THERE IS A TSB, AND FORD STATES THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECALL, BUT HAS NO SOLUTIONS. *AK

• 12/28/1998· SEAT BELTS

  MOTOR SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO OPERATE. SEAT BELT WOULD NOT SLIDE ON THE TRACK. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

• 12/27/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  GAS IS LEAKING DUE TO CRACKS THAT DEVELOPED IN GAS TANK . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/26/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  RECALL 97V145 000/FUEL TANK: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FUEL LEAKAGE. TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

• 12/26/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WENT TO START VEHICLE AND IT TURNED OVER ONCE. BUT, KEY WAS PUT IN OFF POSITION AND VEHICLE STARTED, BUT STARTER CONTINUED TO ROTATE. BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. CONSUMER DID SEE SMOKE. *AK

• 12/26/1999· STEERING

  HEARD GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNED WHEELS A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO WHEN IT WEATHER IS COLD, CAN HEAR GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNING IN A CURVE. CAR ALSO SLIPS MOMENTARILY LIKE IT IS SLIDING. REPORTED TROUBLE TO DEALER IN JAN 1997 AND THEY SAID STEERING WAS OK. I ASSUMED THAT THE TIRES JUST NEEDED TO BE WARMED UP. ON DEC 24, 1999 I HAD NATIONAL TIRE AND BATTERY AND 2 OTHER AUTO MECHANICS CHECK CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT BUSHING IN RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS WORN OUT. ONE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE CLAMPS HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION TO THE BODY WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF AND HE TIGHTENED CLAMP, WHICH MADE PROBLEM A SOME BETTER. I AM TAKING CAR TO HAVE IT REPAIRED TOMMORROW ( 12-27-99)

• 12/23/1996· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, CAR WAS AIRBORNE AND NEITHER SEAT BELT LOCKED IN PLACE, DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL; ALSO, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CAUSED BURNS TO THE DRIVER'S LEFT ARM AND HURT BCK. *AK

• 12/23/1996· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND TRYING TO AVOID SOME FRYING PLYWOOD , CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF AUTO AND FLIPPED OVER 6 TIMES , AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD HER. *AK

• 12/22/2004· TIRES

  I PURCHASED 4 BRAND NEW TIRES FOR MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN BACK AT THE END OF JULY 2004. I HAD ONE REAR TIRE TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THE RIM AND SHRED. I WAS CHARGED MY ROAD HAZARD FEE TO REPLACE THE TIRE. AGAIN THIS PAST SUNDAY MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM AND TOTALLY SHREDDED. I WAS GIVEN A NEW TIRE A NO CHARGE THIS TIME, HOWEVER THE SEPARATION WAS SO BAD THAT BY THE TIME I GOT THE VAN STOPPED MY RIM IS NOW CRACKED IN THREE DIFFERENT PLACES. *JB

• 12/22/1995· SUSPENSION

  VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *SKD

• 12/20/2000· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED FOR BRAKES AND TECHNICIAN FOUND A BROKEN REAR SPRING LEAF WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 12/20/1996· SEAT BELTSCrash

  DRIVER WAS HIT BY PLYWOOD ON HIGHWAY AND THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN DRIVER; HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE CAR. *AK

• 12/18/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE THERMOSTAT FAILURE. *AK

• 12/17/1996· STEERING

  ON GOING PROBLEM WITH SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER GOING 65 MPH, DEALERS CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/16/1999· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING. YH

• 12/16/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING A COLLISION.

• 12/16/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE AIRBAG WAS ACTUALLY HIT AND MOVED SLIGHTLY, YET THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED.

• 12/15/2002· SUSPENSION

  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.

• 12/15/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AFTER THE INTIAL FRONTAL IMPACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/12/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  EQUIPPED W/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED W/CAUSE UNKNOWN. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT DRIVER'S ERROR CAUSED HIM TO STEP ON BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

• 12/08/2004· SUSPENSION

  REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN, TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM. *JB

• 12/08/2003· SEAT BELTS

  CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT MOTORIZED SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THE SEAT BELT FROZE ON THE TRACK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD. HOWEVER, FORD STATED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING, AND WOULD CHARGE CONSUMER AN ASTRONOMICAL FEE TO REPAIR THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT. *AK

• 12/07/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY COMPLETELY. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BAGS CAME OUT, BUT DID NOT INFLATE COMPLETELY, CAUSING DRIVER TO SUSTAIN A CONCUSSION. *AK

• 12/07/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN PUTTING KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION SWITCH KEY GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CYLINDER. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

• 12/07/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DH

• 12/06/2004· SEAT BELTS

  FAILURE OF POWER ASSISTED SHOULDER HARNESS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS UPPER BODY INJURY. I REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLE WITH ONE FROM AN AUTO SALVAGE YARD BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE OF A NEW ONE ($265.00).*AK

• 12/06/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHEN TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH, EVERYTHING WILL SHUT DOWN.*AK

• 12/06/1999· SEAT BELTS

  SEATBELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, SHOULDER(AUTOMATIC) STUCK AND WOULD NOT WORK, HAD T WORKED ON, SUUCK AND REPLACED IT WITH A USED ONE. THIS ONE STUCK AND WE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE FROM THE DEALER. NOW THE NEW ONE HAS STUCK AND WILL NOT FUNCTION, WE HAVE PUT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS INTO THE BELT AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. WE ARE VERY UPSET.

• 12/05/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES HEAT UP AND LOCK UP REPEATEDLY W/NUMEROUS BRAKE COMPONENTS REPLACED. VEHICLE TOWED TO VARIOUS DEALERS. TT

• 12/05/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

  THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. 120395. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 12/04/2003· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  AFTER INSTALLATION OF "MAGNETIZER" (MAGNETIZER.NET) , BOSCH PLATINUM +4 SPARK PLUGS, BOSCH OXYGEN SENSOR, K&N HIGH FLOW AIR FILTER CAR MAKES 36 MPG I TOWN & 39 MPG ON HIGHWAY. THAT SHOWS THAT AFTERMARKET PARTS CAN IMPROVE ANY CARS GAS MILEAGE BY UP TO 25% WHY CAR PRODUCERS DON'T USE THESE TECHNOLOGIES AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. *NLM

• 12/02/1996· STEERING,SUSPENSION,TIRES

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HAS IRREGULAR STEERING CONTROL AND ROUGH RIDING, INAPPROPIATE TIRE WEAR. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE CAN NOT BE ALIGNED PROPERLY DUE TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DESIGN WHICH IS CAUSING IRREGULAR STEERING AND TIRE WEAR. *SLC

• 12/01/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  DUE TO A STRESS CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK FUEL IS LEAKING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE TANK ARE WEARING INTO THE FIBERGLASS TANK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES TO FIX TANK. *AK *ML

• 12/01/1998· STEERING

  THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVER STEERS STEERING WHEEL IN ONE DIRECTION, IT TURNS INTO THE OTHER DIRECTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

• 12/01/1998· STEERING

  THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. WHEN CONSUMER MANEUVERS THE STEERING WHEEL IN ONE DIRECTION, VEHICLE TURNS IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. THE CONSUMER OWNS TWO OF THE SAME VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

• 11/30/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET BLOWN ONLY 64K MILES AND A NICE $700 REPAIR BILL. FOR A CAR THAT DEPRECIATED 75% ANYWAYS! DT

• 11/30/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  RADIATOR LEAKING WHERE CHEAP PLASTIC SIDE IS CRIMPED TO THE CORE ONLY FIX IS NEW RADIATOR. THANKS FOR BUILDING SUCK A CHEESEY AND UNREPAIRABLE RADIATOR! DT

• 11/30/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  DOOR TO GARAGE WAS OPENED AND THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL.SAW A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND THAT HAD LEAKED FROM VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED FUEL TANK HAD DEVELOPED A HOLE IN IT THAT CAUSED THE LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

• 11/30/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER HIT A DEER DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EXPERIENCED DEPLOYMENT IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG EXPERIENCED A DELAY WHICH RESULTED IN INJURY TO DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC

• 11/30/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS GETTING ON FREEWAY. CARS HAD STOPPED AHEAD, I WAS PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, CAR SLOWED A LITTLE BUT WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED GETTING ONTO SHOULDER BUT CARS WERE GOING AROUND ME ONTO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE OF RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC. CONTINUED PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESULTS. BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED BUT LOCKED AND CAR SLID INTO 1999 LINCOLN, RESULTING IN FRONT-END DAMAGE. BRAKES WORKED AFTER CRASH. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE SUDDEN FAILURE AND THEN CONTINUE TO WORK. *AK

• 11/30/1998· SEAT BELTS

  THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T WORK DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CABLE IS BROKEN AND THE SEAT BELT WON'T MOVE. *AK *ML

• 11/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE STOPPED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT BY THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE A ROD WAS BLOWN. CONTACTED THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

• 11/29/1999· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. WOULD ACT INDEPENDENTLY, RELEASING ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. TRIED TO EXIT VEHICLE AFTER STOPPING, & SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP & INFORMED BY MECHANIC NOT UNDER WARRANTY & WOULD NOT REPAIR. *AK

• 11/28/2003· SUSPENSION

  TWICE IN THE ROAD LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE, THE REAR SPRINGS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT USED FOR OFFROAD DRIVING NOR IS IT USED TO HAUL HEAVY LOADS.*AK

• 11/28/2000· POWER TRAIN

  THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 1995 FORD ESCORT LX IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN I GET TO 60-65 MPH, THE NEEDLE BEGINS TO JUMP ALL OVER THE PLACE AND A HIGH PITCHED NOISE COMES OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I HAVE EXAMINED YOUR COMPLAINT SITE AND NOTICED A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THESE SPEEDOMETERS. COULD YOU POSSIBLY LOOK BACK AT COMPLAINTS FROM 1993-1996 OWNERS OF FORD VEHICLES AND DETERMINE IF A RECALL IS WARRANTED? I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THIS CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, I DON'T ABUSE IT, AND IT ONLY HAS 51000 MILES ON IT BUT FORD WANTS TO CHARGE ME $700 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF MY SPEEDOMETER...WHICH I BELIEVE THIS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM NOT A PART PROBLEM. THANKS, DENNIS STILL. *AK