This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
> from: Gally > comments: > greetings, > > please be advised that we recently purchased the above subject vehicle, and now we are experiencing a fuel leak from the plastic gas tank. The leak comes from the same location that the NHTSA recalls (referenced above) occur. > > I have spoken on the phone both with Ford corporate and the local dealer ( heller Ford, escondido, ca. ) and have been advised that the vehicle was not part of the recall, nor would there be any assistance in having the repair made at the manufacturer or dealer expense. > > in my research of the vehicle and recalls specific to the 1995 Escort model, I came across various documents online which lead me to believe that any vehicle of similar make/model and year which had similar defects as the vehicles specified in the recall mentioned above, should be presented to the manufacturer or their representative (the dealer) and repairs would be made. The cost of the repair would then be recovered by the dealer from the manufacturer. Please refer to Ford recall service bulletin 97S79 page two. > > an added note. Currently the vehicle in question is the sole source of transportation for my girlfriends daughter and her 1 year old granddaughter. Their safety is our primary concern, as well as the safety of others. > > please ensure a timely response to this issue. We wish to have this issue addressed immediately and hope to discover that Ford stands behind their products, their reputation, and existing and future customers. > > please feel free to email me at this address or call me directly.> ?
On April 11, 1995 I purchased a new 1995 Ford LX, 1.9L sefi, VIN# [xxx]. after driving the car for a few days and settling into it, I began to notice a clicking sound coming from what to me sounded like the engine area on the driver's side and the steering column. I took the car back to the dealership immediately. The vehicle was not test driven and I was simply told that it was probably just new engine noise and it would stop. As time went on the clicking continued. I called back to the dealership several times then I just gave up because the vehicle was running okay and had caused no concern. On September 8, 1997 (clicking noise still there) I took the vehicle in for other problems. As invoice states, noise may be coming from engine area. On May 22, 2002 while driving the vehicle it just stopped!!!!! referencing North central Ford invoice no. [xxx] (which is attached) you can see the work that was performed. In reference the above-mentioned invoice, you will notice that the timing belt was replaced, one of the phone calls I received was to explain that the timing belt had snapped. Please notice that you will find nowhere mentioned that valves or anything else was checked. By the time all of this took place, the clicking noise had become more apparent and they were made aware that it was still there. Now for the grand finale, on April 29, 2003 I drove the car to a nearby store and when I came back out the clicking noise turned into a noise as if the engine were going to explode. I immediately stopped the vehicle and called a tow truck and it was taken to North central Ford. I was informed that the mechanic thought push rod had gone. I have spoken to more than one mechanic (ase certified) who clearly believes that the valves should have been at least checked when that belt broke. This [xxx] vehicle was my pride and joy it was pampered. The mileage on it was a mere 74,639. [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
After installation of "magnetizer" (magnetizer.net), Bosch platinum +4 spark plugs, Bosch oxygen sensor, K&N high flow air filter car makes 36 mpg I town & 39 mpg on highway. That shows that aftermarket parts can improve any cars gas mileage by up to 25% why car producers don't use these technologies as standard equipment.
Upon annual state inspection, it was discovered that both rear coil springs had broken, fortunately both in a way that had not caused tire damage. Speedometer fluctuates greatly and creates buzzing-like noise at speeds greater than 55 mph.
The car got alcohol smell since the first day I bought it. Then it made me dizzy & cough badly all the time, sometime I was thinking that if somebody light up a cigarette which may put my car into fire since there are alcohol smell all over. I began open all the windows whenever I drive this car ( no matter how cold it is, or even when it is raining.). and besides drive it to work, I never drive it during the weekend. Because I think my body need some rest from this car. I did not know how bad it could be untill I read a book talk about how dangerous the emitted gasses from the car could hurt people's health, after I read that book I stopped to drive the car & begin to find out how to take care the problem. Before I am sure the car is safe to drive, I would not drive it or sale to other people. I wish no body will get hurt by this car. Please take care this car's problem. Otherwise I really don't know how to do with this car. I am taking bus eveyday to go to work since Jan. And the dealer can't find the problem. Ford told me to call your dept. Is there a kind equipment which can test the inside car air quality to see is it safe to human health. ?, it would not be good if any body get dizzy (co, O3, hc, ...) from the bad air quality inside the car on the high way. I think there shoud be a equipment for the public to check their inside car air quility, so everybody know they are safe to breath in the car and safe to drive the car without hurt their health & not hurt other people on the high way. We need such a equipment. & every car sold from the dealer should. Pass the "inside air quility " test. Please help me !!!!! thanks for your time.
My name is: Steven encarnacion. Address: 1204 St. Joseph way, petaluma, ca 94954-5360, E:mail stevoe@home.com. Telephone #(707)763-7437. This is the second (1st ODI#: 719304) of four complaints (of which the third one is about a saftey defect that caused an injury) against G&C autobody, re:renting vehicles with the gross knowledge of saftey defects. On 01/15/2000 I rented my second vehicle from G&C autobody, a Ford Escort (customer rental agreement #25745, repair order#000676, cost: $5 per day) as a loaner vehicle while my vehicle was to be repaired. The Ford Escort wouldn't always start, there were times when I was stalled for fifteen minutes before it would decide to start, but usually I would just sit there and listen to the engine turn over and over before it would start. I was stuck in the parking lot one day at college for fifteen minutes with a stalled engine, when it finally started I drove it to G&C autobody to tell them that this car has problems. They called a mechanic to check it out and he said he couldn't find anything wrong with it. The mechanic also told me that if I have a problem with it to bring it back. I drove to their second bodyshop down the street to pickup some things I had in my car that was being repaired and when I got in the car to leave, it wouldn't start and the engine would just turn and turn. A crowd of bodyshop repairmen started to gather around because thay could hear me trying to start the car. So I drove right back to G&C autobody and told them that I want a different car, that this Ford Escort needs to have some work done on it. So they rented me a third vehicle. I was told to contact your Agency by contact 4 (channel four news in the S.F. bay area). No safety defect listed in the summary.
Since we bought this used program vehicle, we have had to replace the tires at least 4-5 times, the back top brake light numerous times (fuse) the brakes at least twice and when my son was hit during the winter the airbags did not deploy and he had back injuries his passenger had chest pains from the seat belts, we did replace the timing belt this year and than in July the engine stopped working and the mechanic (pride auto) stated that the engine was damaged this occured while driving appx. 25 hrs per mile. The dealership refused to help us stating that we got 99,000 miles out of it. We are voluntarily returning the vehicle, they are giving us a hard time about it.
Fuel tank cracked and leaking.not due to driver error!! radiator clogged up and when engine ran hot, warning lights and gauges failed. This caused a cracked cylinder head.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Diego, CA, USA