Electrical System Problems of Ford Escort - part 1

Flashing air bag readiness light in a "51" pattern.

See all problems of the 1997 Ford Escort 🔎.

I turned right into a parking lot and slowly turned right again into a parking space. While I was braking, the car accelerated and hit a building.

I was at the store with my son (12 years old) and my grandson (3 years old), when we went to leave the key would not turn and the steering wheel was locked up. It was very cold outside, after about an hour I got ahold of someone to come pick us up. When I got home I did some internet research and found out this is a common issue and no recall? no car, can't pick my daughter up at her friend's house (she is stranded), can't take my grandson home and have to figure out a way to work tomorrow. This is a major safety issue leaving people stranded without warning. Especially if there are health issues or children involved. My dad is 73 and loves Ford, he was surprised and disappointed about this also. What is Ford thinking?. . Greed and money.

See all problems of the 2001 Ford Escort 🔎.

Air bag control diagnostic module shorted out due to ruptured heater core. When I spoke with the local dealership they told me to contact a local junk yard. There is a recall on this item. I never received a recall notice.

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Escort. While driving approximately 35 mph, the power steering seized without warning. The vehicle had to be towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wires and fuses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.

I am not sure if this is the correct section to file this in. I am being unsuccessful in a continued effort to correct a malfunction in the check engine light sensor. I have done all I know to correct this matter including changing the light bulb with no success. This malfunction is continuing to cause me not to pass a simple smog test. Is there any record of there being a manufacture defect to this part.

See all problems of the 1996 Ford Escort 🔎.

Right front headlight was going on and off for a couple days. Got a replacement bulb to change light. Found the harness that connects into the back of the light to be melted and partially burnt. Had to replace harness.

See all problems of the 1999 Ford Escort 🔎.

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.

I own a 1998 Ford Escort with 32,000 miles and recently had the air conditioner control module replaced. When the repair shop attempted to locate a new part, they were told that this part was on national backorder. This leads me to believe that there has been many problems throughout the country and maybe should have been recalled by the manufacturer.

See all problems of the 1998 Ford Escort 🔎.

My daughter was on her way to work , when she called me & said "dad my car has loss power & is running very rough". I told her to pull over & I would be there shortly, since she was only about 8 miles down the road. As I was prepairing to leave, my daughter called me back & said there was a fire under the hood. I told her to call 911 and get away from the car. It took me less than 10 minutes to get there & by that time the firemen had put the fire out. The car was totaled. The car had been running great, with no problems at all.

Consumer was driving when suddenly smoke came from the steering wheel. He pulled to the side of the road and saw flames. The fire department responded to put the fire out.

I purchased a 1999 Ford Escort from carmax in may of 2001. About 2-3 wks later I constantly had problems with the headlight going out. I got ticketed by the police several times because I was unaware of the problems. Then one day driving from work my engine died. Without any warning at all. I took it to carmax and they then took it to another repair shop. Whenever I put the ac on there is a rumbling coming from the front end of the vehicle. Frankly the car is a lemon and I had no idea because there was no reports on the car and I remembered asking the sales rep. If there was anything about the car that I needed to know and I was told no. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do because I am spending money on this car for manufacturer problems. Thank you.

Upon turning the vehicle on it stalled . Tried starting it again and it blew up, burning completely to the back seat of the vehicle. There were no warnings or indications.

Spontaneous vehicle combustion: y 1996 Ford Escort was stuck 3 hrs. In traffic jam on major nassau county, NY route in middle of snow storm. Fire started from engine compartment, spreading to dashboard. Had fire dept. Not quickly arrived on scene to extinguish fire, a chain reaction of exploding vehicles might have ensued involving hundreds of drivers. Fire dept. Described fire as electrical in origin.

The vehicle caught on fire, possible electrical problems.

Request for restitution of losses resulting from a vehicle fire. The passenger area trans equipment/electrical wire) the consumer requested restitution. The consumer stated she many mechanical problems with the vehicle.

The plastic light bulb socket for my center high mount stop lamp (chmsl) has repeatedly melted causing the chmsl to not work. I have gone through two (2) sockets and they have both failed in the same manner.

The vehicle caught on fire.

Consumer stated the engine light illuminated and the vehicle stalled, due to electrical problems with the vehicle.

Defective spark plug, robert bosch corp. After a routine change of spark plugs in our 1996 Ford Escort, my car quit running. The bosch spark plug blew up in my car. We have had the top of the engine repaired for $900+ and the bottom needs repair for $1000. + we have contacted the company on numerous occasions, and they in fact blame my car!!!! when the car was running fine before the installation of the bosch spark plug. My wife drives this car and since this happened last year, the knock in the engine is getting louder, she can not drive it on the expressway, and I hope we can resolve this matter before the engine quits entirely and someone gets hurt. Precision tune, who repaired the top of the engine last year said that these bosch platinum spark plugs are defective and they have seen them explode in other autos (bosch platinum spark plug hr9hp0).

Consumer states auto caught fire , burning his back seat and everything in the back seat. Consumer states he observed burned wires in his truck of his auto.

While driving, flames started coming from under the dash, claim 13-7568-816.

While driving, flames started coming from underneath the dash, claim 13-7568-816.

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.

Air bag light illuminated, the shop asked the consumer to return the vehicle in 2-3 days, during this time a fire occurred in the center module located in the console, later while the vehicle was parked at the dealership, someone noticed the module was again smoldering, claim 28-3088-664.

Vehicle burned from the outside, fire started from underneath the dashboard by the floorboards on the passenger side, possible electrical failure, claim 04-1295-042.

Consumer states prior to fire, lights were flashing on the dash, there was also an odor that smelled like firecrackers, the next day was when smoke was seen coming from the vehicle, fire was in the floorboards which spread when the doors were opened, claim 35-w686-849.

Dash lights began to flash and there was an odor that smelled like a firecracker, vehicle was parked the next day when consumer noticed smoke and fire coming from the floorboards, claim 35-w686-849.

Consumer states prior to fire, lights were flashing on the dash, there was also an odor that smelled like firecrackers, the next day was when smoke was seen coming from the vehicle, fire was in the floorboards which spread when the doors were opened, claim 35-w686-849.

The vehicle began smoking, then caught on fire, damages are under the dash, claim 53-c737-570.

Vehicle caught on fire in the passenger compartment, there is damage under the dash, claim 53-c737-570.

Consumer was turning off the ignition and noticed that there was fire under the steering wheel area, consumer and her daughter tried to put out the fire themselves, however could not, claim 14-1385-223.

While turning off ignition, consumer noticed a fire under the steering wheel area, claim 14-1385-223.

Consumer saw smoke and some sparks come from underneath passenger front seat, the area where sparks and smoke came from is the exact same area where avr had worked, fire department stated the fire was an electrical fire centered under the seat, claim 03-3209-456.

Consumer saw smoke and sparks underneath passenger front seat, vehicle caught on fire quickly after the driver and passenger exited the vehicle, consumer also stated that the area she saw the sparks and smoke is exactly where avr had worked, the fire department stated that the fire was caused by an electrical problem centered under the seat, claim 03-3209-456.