Three problems related to brake disc pads have been reported for the 1999 Ford Escort. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Company states they do a comprehensive inspection, sell high quality used vehicles, meet customers personal needs, and back their product. No inspection was done, only cosmetic repairs to sell the car. No inspection report can be produced except the repairs before car was put on lot. This vehicle is far from the high quality. We have had this vehicle back in the shop 14 times in 14 months. It did not meet the 4 personal needs we requested. Everything with those needs has gone completely wrong! we did not want a Ford; we got a Ford, it is not reliable. We have been dealing with the ac at the shop 7 times, now rendering the car disabled. It is not reliable, keeps breaking down. It does not get good mileage; car gets 21 mpg when it should get about 35-38 according to mfg. Warranty was burned by miles going back and forth to shop for constant repairs. 700 miles for the same issue- the ac. Service issues are that they have not found the route of the problem and we keep having to go back to get the same thing fixed. Owner is uncooperative, wont listen, always comes back with responses and replies that go in circles. He will not listen. We have been asking for a different car since two weeks after we bought this car; when we found out the car was unsafe to be put on the road. Within two weeks it was in the shop for broken motor mounts, broken transmission mounts, bad fuel pump, worn brake pads to metal. Which were worn in two weeks after they were changed because of a warped rotor. We had told them there was a shake in the car when we did a test drive. They said it would happen to a Ford. We did not want a Ford! we were desperate because our car was disabled, old and ready for the junkyard. We were broke and could not come up with a down payment. This was the only place that advertised no down payment. We did not need to repair credit as most people who go here. We were approved everywhere, just had no down payment.
Our zx2 has been nothing but trouble! on 9-10-02 (29,183 miles) $342. 30 worth of work was done on the brake system: friction reline, disc pads, brake shoes, rotors, drums, disc hardware (which was broken), shim kit, return springs (weak), bleed & adjust, and bearing pack. On 6-19-03 (37,829 miles) we had to have the complete transmission replaced. The cost for this was $1560. 07, but since our warranty had just expired our local mechanic had firend at a Ford dealer who gave us the 'good faith' policy and we only paid half. Gee. . . What a bargain for a 4 year old car. 2 months later, our a/c went out. W delayed repair due to $. On 2-10-04 (44,000 miles) the housing and water pump broke. This is a huge metal piece which the mechanic said he'd had never seen break. It snapped like plastic. The cost of this was $509. 47. On 2-24-04 (44,428 miles) we had to have the battery and cabels replaced which cost $117. 58. On 3-22-04 we repaired the a/c (45,524 miles). The technician found constant control relay module faulty. This cost $375. 76. On 4-25-04 (@ 45,700 miles) another huge metal piece broke! it was the serp. Tension housing and belt. The mechanic again said he has never seen that problem, special ordered the part from a Ford dealer who was also shocked. This cost us $195. 96. So far, we have sunk $2321. 11 into this car. The worst part is that we still owe on it. May of '04 we went to lou grubb Ford and were told that they were not responsible because our oil changes were not done at a Ford dealer! Ford field engineer denied seeing us. The Ford c. S. Woman said, "well, I guess it's time to trade in the car. People trade in bad cars all the time". I have issues knowing that some poor soul will own this money trap. We have written 3 letters to the Ford headquarters in dearborn, mi, but have had no response. It shakes & idles like it could die at any time! I would love to see a class action suit. I will never buy a Ford again if this is their idea of 'built Ford tough'.
1) headlamps: originally thought there was a loose wire because right light would work periodically. Upon further inspection, my mechanic found the connection to which the "bulb" was plugged had melted some what. He suggested that I return to the dealer to ask if there were any recalls on this particular problem, which I intend to do tomorrow. 2) brake pedal: recently I found it necessary to have new brake pads installed. Part of the problem (for me) was the brake pedal was too soft and too low (the brakes were bad also). The repairs were made by an extremely reputable mechanic. Unfortunately, the brake pedal is still too soft and too low.