1999 Ford Escort: broken coil spring

Filed Sep 25, 2010 · Suspension · 30,650 miles · OH

I bought a used 1999 ford escort stations wagon with only 16k miles on it. At 30k miles I took it to a local ford dealer for an oil change and they gave me an estimate for $585 to replace the rear coil springs that are broken, saying it was a safety hazard. Note I never asked for more than a simple oil change. In reading all the complaints here for broken springs I believe ford has gotten away with a major safety defect that even its dealers are well aware of.

Filed Jun 15, 2008 · Suspension · 48,700 miles · PA

I own a 1999 ford escort s . The mileage is 48,700 miles. I took it in yesterday for a state inspection. I was informed that not only one but both rear coil springs were broken. From my research on the internet I have read that this had been a problem for several years. But yet no recall has been issued.

Filed May 21, 2008 · Suspension · 38,350 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford escort. During a vehicle safety inspection, it was discovered that the driver side rear coil spring failed and needed to be replaced. Approximately two years later, the rear driver and passenger side coil springs failed and were replaced. The current mileage was 59,000 and failure mileage was 38,350. Updated 06/09/08 *bf updated 06/09/08

Filed Jan 9, 2008 · Suspension · 137,400 miles · MI · crash

Rear coil spring failure. 2 separate rear coil spring failures within 2 months. 1 of which punctured the tire at highway speeds. The car lost control and went into the median. Luckily nobody was injured and there were no other vehicles involved. Repair shop noted this is a common problem with escorts.

Filed Jul 19, 2007 · Suspension · 52,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford escort. The contact heard an unfamiliar noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. At the repair shop, it was discovered that the rear passenger side coil springs failed. The shop stated that the failure was due to the coils spring rusting. The contact has not notified the manufacturer or the local ford dealer. The current and failure mileages were 52,000.

Filed Jun 9, 2006 · Suspension · 70,000 miles · PA

Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was inspected it was determined the rear coil springs were fractured. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and new coil springs have been ordered. The manufacturer has been alerted.

Filed May 9, 2006 · Suspension · 67,712 miles · OH

Rear coil springs are broke.

Filed Feb 8, 2006 · Suspension · 76,137 miles · PA

1-courtesy check by a local tire & auto service center during a tire rotation. Suggest replace rear coil springs. 2-we were told one of the rear coil springs is broken, these have to be replaced in pairs. 3-this is a design flaw and should not be a regular item that needs to be maintained. We should not have to pay for a pair of coils and a suspension alignment. We are looking for a recall instead of paying money out of our pocket for an item that should not need to be replaced. Apparently this is true because of other complaints for the same reason for years of 1997-2001 for ford escorts/sedans and mercury tracer/sedans.

Filed Aug 24, 2005 · Suspension · 11,904 miles · NY

Our 1999 ford escort with only 11,904 miles on the odometer (we drive a subaru forester mostly), received its annual inspection (nys law) on august 11, 2005. The inspection revealed that both rear coil springs were broken. I asked the technician how that could happen with such low mileage and so little use and both he and the service manager (they are a highly regarded, after-market, auto repair business, servicing all makes of vehicles, and have no cause for bias) said that in their experience ford escorts are notorious for having weak and defective rear coil springs and that they had replaced many over the past few years (more than any other make or model). To a lesser degree they also noted that the taurus had the same problem. Before having the work done I had called the dealer (sam dell ford of liverpool, ny) and the ford consumer complaint office. Neither were at all helpful, denying all knowledge of a defect with the rear coil springs. I am attaching a memo from the independent repair shop, documenting their experience with the escort.

Filed Jul 22, 2005 · Brakes, Steering · 131,569 miles · MI

Dt: the vehicle was a 1999 ford escort. Both of the back coil springs were broken. Consumer found this out when getting the brakes inspected. The front brake rotors, tie rods and the rear struts including the coil springs needed to be replaced. The inspection took place on 7-8-05. Consumer took the vehicle to a ford dealer to have all the parts replaced. They were replaced on 7-20/22-05. Vehicle was shaking before hand. Consumer knew that ford company issued a recall issue concerning this problem with some of their other models. *ak updated 11/02/2005.

Filed Aug 3, 2004 · Suspension · 8,953 miles · NY

When I took my car (1999 ford escort stationwagon VIN.#[xxx]) in for its oil change & inspection. It failed inspection because a rear coil spring was completely cracked in half. The car is 5 years old, but only had 8,953 miles on it. I am a senior citizen and only drive the car on a limited basis, usually for shopping or to a doctor's office. I was told the the spring was not covered under any warranty and was charged a total of $412.99 (plus tax) for this repair. I was told to contact ford directly to see if anything could be done to compensate me. My son called ford's customer relations # and was told to see the service manager at the dealer, who would then submit the claim for me. After 2 seperate visits to the dealer, my son was told: 1) the manager had gone home early that day & that only the manager could deal with the problem. On the next day 2) the manager was in a meeting (friday afternoon @ 4:00 pm) & could not be disturbed. My son returned home & called fords customer relations #. He was told that the dealers service manager had called and said that they would not offer any compenstaion. As for the broken coil spring, my son had told me to request the broken parts and I do have them. When the spring broke, I do not no because the ride of the car was always the same as when I purchased the car new. Now with the new springs, the rear of the car rides higher.*ak updated 07/26/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Nov 18, 2003 · Suspension · OH

Both rear coil springs broke at same time. Car had only 37,000 miles and was 4 years old. Independent technician fixed at least 8 other ford escorts with the same problem.