1998 Ford Escort: hesitation when accelerating

7 of the 374 complaints about the 1998 Ford Escort describe hesitation when accelerating.

owner complaints: 7
of this car's complaints: 2%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 17 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Hesitation when accelerating by model year

2002
1
2001
1
2000
2
1999
2
1998
7
1997
2
1995
2
1994
2
1993
1
1992
1
1991
3

What owners say

Filed Dec 12, 2000 · Acceleration, Electrical · NC

Engine vibrates, and has a high idle. Engine runs rough and shakes. Engine surges and hesitates. Car stalls. I have had the vehicle in for this same repair several times since the purchase of it. The mechanics have replaced spark plugs, fuel guage, fuel filter, valve idle air control, vapor management, motor mounts. The dearlership in hillsborough replaced a cable something (the service manger quit and a ticket was not found for this repair.) the vehicle continues to have same problem without being totally fixed. The last time I brought the car in for stalling, the repair was done, but the next morning the car continued to stall. As of this date, I am taking the car in for the same problem again. Please note: in reviewing the information after submittting I noticed that in # of failures passenger air bag deployed 8 times with the date of 7/24/98. This is incorrect, car was not in an accident and air bags were not used.

Filed Jan 10, 2000 · Electrical, Engine · NV

Vehicle started, engine rattled upon acceleration at all speeds at 2300 miles. After numerous failed repair attempts by dealer,I sent complaint to fords dsb board.working throgh arbitration vehicle looked at by engineer.they replaced PCM.problem got worse,along with new problems,lack of power,hard start,transmission hesitaing.then they replaced fuel pump,didnt help, then ignition switch, didnt help,then mass air flow sensor and air filter, didnt help.finally vehicle started stalling while driving, during acc. Towed back to shop, ford had it six weeks this time replaced PCM two more times.I have vehicle back,still problem with transmission hesitating.vehicle in shop eight times for same or related problems and totalling almost three months in shop. Still in arbitration, consdering closing case and taking to dsb. Personally.

Filed Sep 20, 1999 · Engine · MD

Vehicle hesitates consistently during acceleration and sometimes spark-knock and surge causing the vehicle to lose forward momentum. Nlm

Filed Jul 4, 1999 · Airbags · CT · crash

In a crash, I was hit by a car going approx. 40 MPH, the airbags did not deploy. However, for 4 days following the accident there was an overwhelming odor of propellant in the car. This odor brought on a severe asthma attack for me. Also, the car hesitates and loses power when the air conditioning compressor kicks in. The car loses power enough so that it slows itself down when traveling on the highway. Also it is very alarming when it kicks on when accelerating from a stop sign or stoplight. The hesitency and power loss causes great concern for the welfare of the car.

Filed May 19, 1999 · Acceleration · CA

While driving vehicle hesitated/revved, and finally accelerated, almost causing a rear end collision. Dealer could determine problem. Please provide further information.

Filed Feb 1, 1999 · Engine, Seats · CA

Engine timing is missing, slight hesitation. Mgm

Filed Sep 11, 1998 · Electrical · CA

When in a parking lot vehicle hesitated when the accelerator was pressed. Also, at a stop sign the vehicle hesitated when the accelerator was pressed. The vehicle is very hard to start on cold mornings dueto electronic control module failure.