Ford Escort stalling problems

Filed Jul 25, 2012 · Airbags · 161,000 miles · MS · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford escort. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the air bag light illuminated and smoke emitted from under the dashboard. The contact maneuvered to the shoulder and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was then towed to the contact's home. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the dashboard was melting. The fire department appeared on the scene to disconnect the battery. The contact noticed there was a recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 02v323000 (air bags:frontal:sensor/control module) and planned on contacting the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 161,000.

Filed Apr 30, 2012 · Engine · 70,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford escort. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle began to shake vigorously and stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic. The mechanic stated that the engine would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred twice. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Jan 9, 2012 · Engine · 93,083 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford escort. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. A local mechanic diagnosed that the timing belt was defective. In addition, the motor failed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 93,083.

Filed Nov 17, 2011 · Engine · CA

2002 ford escort. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle stopping and dying while driving *tgw the consumer stated the battery and alternator were replace three times, as well as other components. However, the stalling continued. No one has been able to determine the reason for the stalling.

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 Aug 9, 2010 · Tires · 151,600 miles · MI

My wife & I have a 1996 ford escort wagon that we purchased used in 2008. At the time of purchase it had a set of 4 bridgestone insignia sl tires that still had reasonable tread depth remaining, so we decided to continue to use the tires until the tread had worn down more and needed replacing. On friday, july 30, 2010, my wife was driving down the freeway at approximately 70 MPH when part of the rear passenger-side tire tread separated from the tire and shot against the sheet metal on the inside of the wheel well. It ripped a large hole in the vehicle's sheet metal, shot many small pieces of tire through the hole into the interior cargo area in the rear of the vehicle, and caused the vehicle to stall at the same time. Thankfully my wife was able to handle the car during this catastrophic event and successfully maneuver it onto the shoulder of the freeway. We had the car towed home since it would no longer start, and when it arrived I noticed the large hole that had been made inside the wheel well by the tread separation. The tire still had pressure, but at that time I saw that about half of the tread was completely missing. Since the ford escort has its fuel cutout switch installed against the passenger-side wheel well, I checked to see if that had tripped and it had. Once it was reset the car was able to start and the engine ran normally. As a result of this catastrophic tire failure my wife was placed in an incredibly dangerous situation, stranded on the road, and significant damage was done to our vehicle. It is my understanding as a former automotive engineer that tire failures of this kind are not acceptable and any tire that is susceptible to this failure must not be used. I have replaced all 4 tires with new tires of a different brand and am working on having the car repaired. Approximately 2 weeks prior to this event I had checked the pressure in all 4 tires and had inflated them just under the maximum listed on the side of the tire (44 psi).

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 Oct 2, 2008 · Transmission · 30,724 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escort. While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. It would not move in reverse or forward. The vehicle was leaking transmission fluid. The transmission rattles and shakes, and the engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The ford dealer tested and repaired the transmission in 2007, but the failure recurred. The transmission has a 80,000 mile warranty, but the dealer does not want to repair the vehicle. The contact took her vehicle to four different ford dealers and they stated that the transmission was the cause of the failure. She feels that because her vehicle has so few mileage and is still under warranty, it should be repaired. The failure mileage was 30,724.

Filed Mar 31, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · 6,000 miles · NC

In 1992 I bought a brand new 1993 escort gt spartanburg, sc. The 1st part of the year everything was fine. After, the car was in and out of the shop to date for hesitation, fuel system problems, odd noises and other things. I filed for lemon law in 1993-94 in texas. Was told they would replace the motor, could take up to a month before I got the car back. When asked if they would supply a loaner car I was told no. Without finances to rent a car to get to & from work (50 mls daily) I could not accept the offer at that time without them providing transportation. Over the years, it's been 1 problem after another. Since 1994, I replaced 3 catalytic converters, numerous diagnostic machines to find why it would stall in idle and no acceleration after car warmed up& other things. In 1995, the fuel tank developed a crack at solder joint between the fuel return & the fuel pump sending unit located at top of tank resulting in fumes & gas leaking when filled. Three ford dealerships said only 1992 ford escorts were included in the recall for this problem and there was nothing they could do even though it was manufactured in 1992. The automatic seat belt, driver side quit working. We replaced it with a new one but still won't work. Something wrong with the wiring. Two ford dealerships can't fix nor two auto electricians. I contacted ford again under lemon law, they told me it was a one time offer. Since I refused the first offer, there was nothing they could do. Recommended I sell the car and buy another one. I can not possibly put these problems on someone else? This was totally unethical. I"ve been loyal to ford since in my teens. This is my 2nd ford escort & my first/only new vehicle I ever owned. I still have the car & would really like ford to do right by me in this situation.

Filed Aug 25, 2006 · Electrical · NY

On several attempts to fix my vehicle I still haven't found the trouble until I saw the recall list, I have had trouble with my shifter, air flow device for idle, to my back light on the top shorting out, to stall with engine light on and not be able to find the problem, I have spent a lot of time and money on these problems and was never notified about parts going wrong on my car, I have a escort 2001 zx2. Now it make a weird sound when driving slow! I have put new brakes on it and the problem is still there.