1990 Ford Escort: engine stalls while driving

Filed Aug 21, 2010 · Body, Seat belts · IA · crash · 1 injury

While traveling on a freeway at the speed limit of 65 miles per hour, I ended up in a skid on dry pavement. I don't remember how I got into the skid due to head injuries received in the resulting accident. The car skidded sideways for quite a ways and did not respond normally to attempts to steer it. Perhaps the engine stalled and the power steering was no longer working. The car eventually hit the raised concrete rumble strips while skidding sideways. The car then flipped over in the air and tumbled down the median, with the first impact likely to the driver's side roof, knocking out the driver. The car continued to tumble down the median until the car vaulted and landed on its top. I remember being upside down in the air, but nothing else until I came to hanging upside down from my seat belt with blurred vision. I had 2 large lumps on the top of the head, a badly swollen jaw and gums, a swollen tongue (bitten on both sides), one nostril filled with blood, the back of my head neck and shoulders were swollen by what felt like about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. I had bruises around my right elbow, on my right thigh, and likely other places, as well as a compression fracture of the second lumbar vertebra from the bottom (l4?). Since I had difficulty breathing, they did a tracheotomy on me while waiting for the ambulance. They pried open the rear hatch to get me out of the vehicle. I was in the hospital 5 days, out of work 5 weeks, and in various degrees of pain for about 1 year. The roof failed to protect me, the inertia lock shoulder harness failed to prevent my chin from hitting the steering wheel and its failure to work likely resulted in the compression fracture which the doctor said was probably from lunging forward. The only thing that kept me in the car was the manual adjusted lap belt, which is no longer installed in fords. All belts are inertia lock, like the shoulder belt of this car was. The vehicle had a manual transmission.

Filed Feb 23, 2010 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · NC

1990 ford escort with 1.9 l engine, throttle-body fuel inj, and man 5-speed transm. Approx 8 hwy miles from home, passing thru small town with 25-MPH limit, signal light, and rr crossing, the ford's engine suddenly revved to incredibly high RPM's. Frightened, I immediately pushed in the clutch. No floor mat or stuck accelerator/mechanical problems existed. Apparently this was a computer cause. Within seconds, perhaps 4 to 8 seconds, I was prepared to turn off the key ignition to the vehicle. I tried pressing the accelerator once (in former carbureted autos, such an action would settle a revved engine normally). Pressing accelerator had no effect. Then within that range of just seconds, the vehicle settled itself prior to my reaching a railroad crossing. Conditions involved smooth roadway, a gradual decline of speed (normal operation through most of this) from 55 to 45 to 35 to 25 near the signal light and "downtown" area. I owned and drove the 1990 escort from 1992 until 2006, from about 20,000 vehicle miles to about 184,000. This unaccountable acceleration never happened again. The vehicle was famous for losing ignition modules. The most dangerous occasion involved approaching the same town, about 6 miles from home. At 55 MPH, engine stopped cold. Fortunately, I realized situation, pressed in the clutch, and without power steering and little power brakes coasted into church parking lot handily near. Later, I transported with the vehicle at all times a spare ignition module and necessary tools for installation. Through the years the vehicle required about 5 modules. At other times the escort idled so slowly, that when clutch was depressed, vehicle would stall. Full tune-ups never affected the stall tendency. As far as toyota's current sudden surges, I think the problem is very likely computer related. We are current owners of a 1.8 l 2005 corolla with auto transmission and 2004 pontiac vibe (same 1.8 l w/ man transm), and will continue to watch the toyota problems.

Filed Jul 2, 2003 · Electrical · WA

While traveling about 55mph on the highway vehicle stalled without prior warning.

Filed Jan 30, 2001 · Electrical · CA

Merging into traffic on freeway, car lost power, it didn't stall immediately because I had brakes for awhile to get off the road and stop. There was no warning, the drive-train just lost power. Further inspection showed that fuel was being injected. I could turn the key, it would fire and die. Had I been in the middle of the freeway, there likely could've been an accident. I called ford, they knew about the specific problem and said "sorry, we haven't been ordered to repair that yet." apparently, there has been a number of these problems, because the dealerships even knew exactly what I was talking about, they said I'd have to pay about $250.00 for them to fix the defect. Another person I know has had to repair his three times already. This is a dangerous problem that ford knows about, a serious accident waiting to happen. It is very costly to tow and have the problem repaired. Ford said that they know that a judge in ca ordered them to fix and pay for the problem, ford said they didn't have to do what a state judge ordered of them, only what a federal judge or the federal safety agency. Please help us on this.

Filed Sep 3, 2000 · Electrical, Transmission · MI

Since the ignition switched has been replaced vehicle still stalled out.noticed that the engine at idle speed loops or idles erratically.transmission also shifts sloppy have taken the car to two transmission places and found nothing.also cosmetic light on passenger side visor stays lit when flap is closed.

Filed Aug 5, 1995 · Fuel system · NY

Fuel pump failed, causing vehicle to stall.

Filed May 5, 1995 · Electrical · OH

Computer failed, causing vehicle to stall.