While traveling at 45 MPH to home noticed a strong smell of something burning from dash area. Vehicle towed to an independent repair shop who informed consumer that a fire broke out from a wiring harness under the dash. Dealer/manufacturer were notified, and informed consumer that no recall was found on that vehicle. Feel free to provide any further information.
1991 Ford Escort electrical complaints
Page 2 of 5: complaints 11 to 40 of 104, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Ignition switch is faulty, consumer feels a full recall is needed and states that vehicle could stall in traffic.
Engine had been cut off about 15 minutes. Someone told consumer vehicle was smoking. Ignition area and dashboard were burning. Consumer had not contacted dealer. *ak consumer states that all of the dash area around the ignition was destroyed.
Vehicle was parked 2 weeks when it started smoking from under hood. Contacted fire department. Flames seen in front of vehicle were extinguished. Fire department gave indication that electrical wiring caused the problem. Vehicle was totaled.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Consumer has read in media that this model has a problem with ignition module, it could catch fire at anytime.
When consumer put key in ignition switch and turned key, vehicle did not turn on. When she shoved key back and turned opposite way. It will turn. Dealership was aware of problem.*ak
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Ignition lock cylinder locked up. Vehicle has been repaired. A recall has been issued on the vehicle's make/model. However this vehicle was not included due to VIN. Manufacturer notified.
Ignition switch failed and caused short in the starter and burning.
Ignition lock completely disengaged from steering column housing (as described in the federal safety agency recall campaign id # 93v057000), but local ford dealership claims that my vehicle VIN shows that my vehicle does not qualify for this safety recall. My car's ignition cylinder is so loose that, several times a week, I have difficulty starting the car (the entire ignition cylinder rotates as the key is turned), I often cannot remove the ignition key (the ignition cylinder rotates, preventing the key from being disengaged from the cylinder), when the key is finally removed, the ignition cylinder is still partially rotated because the "key in ignition'" warning noise occurs when the drivers door is opened. No loss of control at this time, but I feel that this is always a possibility with the problems that I am having with the ignition cylinder. Also, when I am having a problem with the ignition cylinder, I can hear a metallic "click" (from within the steering column housing) as the ignition cylinder is rotating ( the loose roll pins?).
Driver side seat belt malfunctioned. Yh
Battery cable corroded. Nlm
None
When starting the car up there was a burning smell coming from under the dash and also from under the hood. Owner had to replace the wirng harness under the hood and under the dash. Dealer has not seen vehicle. Ak
Tail lights located in the rear window short circuited, causing an electrical short within the wiring, and resulting in a fire in the socket. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer has yet to replace parts. Please provide any further details.
Inline fuse fuse to gas tank is blowing out due to contact with with fuel pump and sending unit.
Attempting to start the vehicle, didn't start. But, the starter kept running even after the key was removed, resulting in a fire.
Fuel pump failed, and electrical wiring to fuel pump and wiring under dash melted. Also, two sets of wiring to headlights melted to bare wire. High current overheated the wiring. Contaced ford. And vehicle is almost totalled. Provide further information...
The ignition lock in the steering column housing experienced failure, prior to recall notice (93v057000). However, repairs were not done due to the recall notice, but experienced the same failure.
Steering column came apart and the shaft was loose causing steering difficulty prior to recall notice. (91e-019)
Fuel leak from the seams of the fuel tank.
Was pulling away from stop light when black smoke appeared from dashboard. Pulled to side of road, & called for tow truck. Vehicle at mechanic. Wiring from fuel pump had shorted out. Wiring harness has to be replaced.
Roll pins securing ignition lock failed.
While driving 30 MPH the vehicle stalled. Driver smelled electrical smoke in vehicle. Vehicle was towed to a garage, where mechanic discovered that the fuel was flowing out of fuel tank because the wires that lead up to the fuel sensor were burning which burned a hole in the fuel tank, and started to burn a hole in the rear seat of the vehicle.
Wiring harness failure caused burning, this was a recall related failure, however consumer's vehicle did not meet the requirements, dealer installed a fuse to the new harness to prevent burning.
Vehicle caught fire when ignition switch was turned.owner notes that dealer noted vehicle tried to start by itself with ignition turned off.
Power door locks don't work properly. Also, ignition lock moves around and key doesn't work properly.
Vehicle started smoking under dashboard, wirng harness wires burnt, traced burnt wires to sending unit where shorted out, wires replaced by auto repair shop, not included in the federal safety agency recall #92v117000.
While driving the faulty ignition system caught on fire.fire was due to a possible electrical short.
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