Membrane switch for horn stuck in closed position causing horn to blow constantly. Wire to horn had to be pulled to remedy problem. Membrane switch not available from dealer. Dealer states entire air bag assembly must be replaced at a cost of over $500. Not having an operational horn or logical and economical way to repair is a safety hazard. I have read several of the same complaints which seems to indicate some sort of defect in safety equipment. Dealer benefiting by huge replacement cost. Part should be made available or mandatory recall is necessary.
1999 Ford Escort electrical complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 39 of 39, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The vehicles horn stopped blowing. The consumer feels that the horn is a safety issue, and other drivers need to be made aware. Ts the repair f the horn would require the replacement of the air bag. Scc
Consumer states that prior to the incident fuses will just blow out. Under the dash the wire harness from the back of the turning switch, it melted and caught on fire.replace the harness. Problem reaccured. Ts
Consumer got a recall to upgrade computer on vehicle, but ford refused to do recall because vehicle's title was branded. *jg
While making a left turn, consumer honked the horn and it would not stop blowing, consumer was forced to pull the fuse in order to stop the horn.
Wiring harness that is connected to headlight bulb overheats and short circuits, causing headlights to become inoperable. *ak consumer stated the front headlights failed at different times.
Vehicle has stalled 5 times, at any speed. Dealer has replaced alternator 4 times/ starter, and battery once. Cannot remedy. Consumer is afraid to drive vehicle.
Motor died at a traffic light. Consumer had car towed to dealer. Dealer stated that it was alternator. Consumer indicated that dealer has replaced 4 alternators/ one starter, and a battery. Consumer is afraid to drive vehcle in fear that it may stall again.
Ignition switch is too close to engine block which causes vehicle to completley shutdown while driving. Please give any further details.
Ignition will only work intermittently. Been to dealer who cannot remedy problem.
Consumer was traveling about 25mph on a side street making a left turn and vehicle just shut off without prior warning. Dealership wasn't aware of problem. But consumer will be notified.
With wiring I could smell burning and did not know what it was. With tire it was under warranty . Had tire replaced, I have receipt. *ak (dot number: 7jjk7u17p9 tiresize: p185/65r14)
Air conditioner doesn't get cold--car also idles very low to the point where it stalls out.
Problem is intermittent; when driving at any speed and without prior warning vehicle will cut off. Also, noticed shimmying coming from front end. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer unable to determine the cause. Please provide any further details.
While traveling at 50 MPH engine check light came on. Engine stalled, and steering locked up. Consumer felt that this was very unsafe because driver was unable to steer properly.
While driving and getting close to a light vehicle will stall, and steering wheel will lock up.. Same problem had happen more then ten times.
Vehicle stalls intermittently and fails to start intermittently. Dealership said the first time that it was a fuel pump failure, second time it was a defective fuel pump, third time it was the fuel sensor and fuel module. Now doing it again. Reported to the dealership awaiting report on this fourth incident.
Vehicle has continuously stalled. Dealer was contacted and vehicle was brought in due to vehicle would turn off while idle, vehicle would not go when the gas pedal was pushed and then finally the vehicle just would not start. Dealer informed that the wiring harnest as well as the computer needed to be replaced. This was able to be figured out after the third time due to the fact that the check engine light did not come on until the third time, in which the dealer informed that they could now find what was wrong, unlike previous times when the car would not stall for them.
Horn would blow by itself for twenty minutes. Took vehicle to dealer, and dealer said it had something to do with the airbag. In order to correct the problem, the air bag must be replaced at owner's cost. *ak
In the process of starting vehicle ignition switch caught on fire. As a result, both airbags deployed, and interrior of dashboard was ruined.
When vehicle was involved in a minor front end crash, a fire started behind the left headlamp, and engulfed the engine compartment. Vehicle was totalled from the fire. Please give any further information. Report given by julie good, insurance claim representative.
Vehicle experienced complete shut down due to a defective starter, repairs were done, however vehicle still experience failure causing difficulty in shifting and electrical component failure which resulted in smoke.
On 06/30/99 at 02:10 hours the crystal fire department responded to a vehicle fire in the back lot of elk county ford. The department found a new, 1999 ford escort se (VIN #[xxx]) burning in the area of the left front tire and wheel well area. The cause of the fire was determined to be a short in the wiring in the vicinity of a "block" of relays and fuses in the left side of the engine compartment. This caused the wiring to burn and ignited nearby plastic items and the left front tire. The vehicle was just manufactured (june 1999) and had only been sitting on the lot for about 5 days. The vehicle had not been operated recently (2:00 am in a small community car dealership). Although the vehicle did not belong to any consumer, this report is being filed in order to document a potential problem. [xxx] , fire chief, crystal fire department. *ak information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Leased. Vehicle stalls when braking and starting again, it stalls and dies out. The problem occurred two times. Dealer contacted contacted and stated computer chip defective. Problem still exists.
Since the car was first bought the engine has been extremely loud as well as shaking occasionally when stopping at a traffic light. I spoke with my salesperson, who was friendly and took it on a test drive again, and he found nothing wrong. He said it was probably due to the cold weather, but told me to take it to my local dealer to have it looked at as a precaution. I went to the local dealer and they would not see me then so I asked to make an appointment for a better time. I was told that no appointments could be made and they accepted cars on a first come first served basis. Since neither dealer is located close to me, I decided to wait a while to see if it was just the weather. In february, the air bag light came on and would not go off for 2 days and since then it will come on and stay on for a while, and sometimes it will turn off after a few days. This is a major concern because I don't want it to come out unexpectedly or to fail when needed. I went to the same local dealer 2 days ago and they would not see me. At first, the man tried to make me think it was all in my head, but after insisting on having it checked out anyway, he told me they could not see me and that I would have to make an appointment. I explained that I had tried to before, but was told I couldn't and he basically told me to call later to set up an appointment. Since a failure could cause a tragic accident I don't know where else to turn to have ford check the car. It is only 3 months old and this is the 4th time I have had to see about it which makes me leary of either the quality of fords or that my car is not up to the same safety standards as it should be. Please help. I also saw on the news last night that several ford cars are being recalled now due to safety concerns so I would like to make sure my car is safe before me or someone else gets hurt. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me, and please let me know what steps to take.
While the vehicle was parked for a while it caught on fire. Fire department claimed it was the fuse box that caused the fire. Please provide further information.
The car will inconsistently not start. I have been having this problem since july of 1998 (it began mildly and continued to get worse), and the dealer has been contacted. They have replaced one part, but after several weeks after the problem began again. Now I am waiting for ford to come out with some computer configuration. When you turn the key sometimes it will be totally dead, sometimes it will begin to idle, as long as you keep pumping the accelerator (recommended by my dealer), however, the second you remove your foot from the accelerator the car "shuts off."once the car does start (usually after trying 10 times) it runs very rough. When I have brought the car into the dealer they have attempted to duplicate the problem, but are unable to do so. About 10 days before christams, I brought the car into my dealer and they again, for the third time or so attempted to duplicate the problem. They returned my car to me the following day when I learned of a possible computer configuration that ford was coming out with. It is important to not that the problem was duplicated when they first changed the initial part. They have run various tests and feel that the part replaced (fuel injection censoring)is not causing the problem after all. This is where I currently stand with my car. Some mornings it starts and some it does not. I have had occurrences where the car will start in the morning, I will drive 20 min. To work. Park the car and attmept to start it 4 hours later and it will not start. There have been times that it will not even start after 20 minutes of resting times.
Whenever the horn has to be used it fails to operate properly after being hit. There is no noise. Just silence. Will be taken vehicle to dealer to have it checked out, design of the horn is hampered by the installation of the air bag.
Consumer has been experiencing problems with horn. When consumer they applies horn, it's hard to make it make a sound. Because of this, the consumer was almost involved in an accident. Could not let other drivers be aware of vehicle's presence. The manufacturer has yet to be contacted.
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