1990 FORD ESCORT Electrical System Problems

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT GAS PUMP ISLAND, IGNITION OFF. ENGINE COMPARTMENT ERRUPTED INTO FLAMES. ALL COMPONENTS CONTAINED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARMENT OTHER THAN METAL COMPONENTS COMPLETELY MELTED OR BURNED. VEHICLE WAS MANUALLY PUSHED AWAY FROM GAS PUMP ISLAND WHILE ABLAZE, THEN EXTINGUISHED BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECURE LOCATION, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE SINCE THE FIRE. *NM

THE CAR STARTS FINE WHEN COLD. AFTER DRIVING TO TOWN SOMETIMES WON'T START RIGHT OFF,SOMETIMES IT DOES. MOSTOF THE TIME I HAVE TO TRY AND TRY.SOME TIMES WHEN IT DOES START IT REVS UP THEN DIES. THEN TRY TO START AGAIN, SOMETIME THE SAME THING SOMETIME WILL START. WHEN STARTED IT RUNS JUST FINE. *AK

Mileage: 39,786

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK

THIS WAS AN ORIGINAL PART THAT FAILED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT BURNED THE PART ITSELF UP, THE WIRING, AND STUFF UNDER THE DASH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AS THIS PART IS LOCATED INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN WITH ME AT WORK. I WILL GET IT FROM MY DAUGHTER SO THAT I CAN FORWARD TO YOU.*AK

MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY, CAR LOST POWER, IT DIDN'T STALL IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I HAD BRAKES FOR AWHILE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND STOP. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE DRIVE-TRAIN JUST LOST POWER. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT FUEL WAS BEING INJECTED. I COULD TURN THE KEY, IT WOULD FIRE AND DIE. HAD I BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, THERE LIKELY COULD'VE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. I CALLED FORD, THEY KNEW ABOUT THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND SAID "SORRY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ORDERED TO REPAIR THAT YET." APPARENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF THESE PROBLEMS, BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIPS EVEN KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, THEY SAID I'D HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $250.00 FOR THEM TO FIX THE DEFECT. ANOTHER PERSON I KNOW HAS HAD TO REPAIR HIS THREE TIMES ALREADY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. IT IS VERY COSTLY TO TOW AND HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. FORD SAID THAT THEY KNOW THAT A JUDGE IN CA ORDERED THEM TO FIX AND PAY FOR THE PROBLEM, FORD SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO WHAT A STATE JUDGE ORDERED OF THEM, ONLY WHAT A FEDERAL JUDGE OR THE NHTSA. PLEASE HELP US ON THIS.*AK

I HAVE GONE THROUGH 14 ALTERNATORS AND 6 BATTRIES SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR IN THE FALL OF 1990! RUSTY ECK SEARCHED FOR THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NEVER FIND IT1 EVEN SUGGESTED TAKING IT TO "ELECTRICAL SPECIALTY SHOPS" THEY TOO CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM! IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE BURIED IN THE "WIRING LOOM"! NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE, BUT I HAVE ALL OF THE WORK-ORDERS AND RECEIPTS FROM OVER THE YEARS AS PROOF! I AM HANDICAPPED AND THIS CAR WORKS WONDERFULLY FOR ME OTHERWISE! IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND RUNS PERFECT -- AGAIN, OTHERWISE! HOWEVER, I CANNOT TRUST IT ON THE OPEN-ROAD! WHEN THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON, ITS ABOUT TO BLOW ANOTHER ALTERNATOR -- LIKE NOW -#15!!! WHY CAN'T FORD FIND THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT? HAS IT EVER BEEN A PROBLEM ON OTHER 1990 ESCORTS? I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER AN 1989 ESCORT LX AND IT NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS, NOT ONE! SHE DROVE IT FOR WELL OVER 125,000 MILES THEN TRADED IT IN ON A 1998 SABLE RECENTLY! PLEASE HELP ME! I CAN'T AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER AUTO, BESIDES I DON'T WANT ANOTHER ONE! SINCERELY, DR. JAMES A. GRAY, SR.*AK

I HAVE GONE THROUGH 14 ALTERNATORS AND 6 BATTRIES SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR IN THE FALL OF 1990! RUSTY ECK SEARCHED FOR THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NEVER FIND IT1 EVEN SUGGESTED TAKING IT TO "ELECTRICAL SPECIALTY SHOPS" THEY TOO CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM! IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE BURIED IN THE "WIRING LOOM"! NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE, BUT I HAVE ALL OF THE WORK-ORDERS AND RECEIPTS FROM OVER THE YEARS AS PROOF! I AM HANDICAPPED AND THIS CAR WORKS WONDERFULLY FOR ME OTHERWISE! IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND RUNS PERFECT -- AGAIN, OTHERWISE! HOWEVER, I CANNOT TRUST IT ON THE OPEN-ROAD! WHEN THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON, ITS ABOUT TO BLOW ANOTHER ALTERNATOR -- LIKE NOW -#15!!! WHY CAN'T FORD FIND THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT? HAS IT EVER BEEN A PROBLEM ON OTHER 1990 ESCORTS? I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER AN 1989 ESCORT LX AND IT NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS, NOT ONE! SHE DROVE IT FOR WELL OVER 125,000 MILES THEN TRADED IT IN ON A 1998 SABLE RECENTLY! PLEASE HELP ME! I CAN'T AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER AUTO, BESIDES I DON'T WANT ANOTHER ONE! SINCERELY, DR. JAMES A. GRAY, SR.*AK

AFTER I PURCHASED MY FORD ESCORT, THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THE WINDSHIELD MADE NOISE AS I WOULD DRIVE, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS POPPING OUT OF THE CAR,AND THEN THE WINDSHEILD CRACKS AT THE TOP SEAM OF THE CAR . I CALLED FORD TO BE TOLD THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. NEXT MY IGNITION STARTS MALFUNCTIONING, SOMETIMES THE KEY WONT GO IN, OTHER TIMES THE IGNITION WILL TURN ON WITHOUT A KEY , THE KEY IS TORN UP, THE IGNITION UNIT RECENTLY WONT TURN THE KEY IN IT , I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN STUCK IN PUBLIC CAUSE THE IGNITION WOULD NOT WORK. I REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY? BUT BOTH MY BUCKET SEATS IN THE CAR BREAK AT THE SAME TIME? I'M DRIVING THE CAR, AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW IS THAT I'M LAYING IN MY DAUGHTERS LAP IN THE BACK SEAT., THIS WAS A VERY, SCARY EXPERIENCE. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT, ARE THE SEATS SUPPOSED TO MALFUNCTION IN THIS WAY? LAST MY HATCHBACK RATTLES , IT ACTS LIKE THE HINGES AT THE TOP ARE BREAKING , AND THE HATCHBACK LOCK STOP UNLOCKING THE HATCHBACK, I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD SEND ME INFORMATION, BUT THIS NEVER HAPPENED. CAN YOU HELP ME?

AFTER I PURCHASED MY FORD ESCORT, THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THE WINDSHIELD MADE NOISE AS I WOULD DRIVE, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS POPPING OUT OF THE CAR,AND THEN THE WINDSHEILD CRACKS AT THE TOP SEAM OF THE CAR . I CALLED FORD TO BE TOLD THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. NEXT MY IGNITION STARTS MALFUNCTIONING, SOMETIMES THE KEY WONT GO IN, OTHER TIMES THE IGNITION WILL TURN ON WITHOUT A KEY , THE KEY IS TORN UP, THE IGNITION UNIT RECENTLY WONT TURN THE KEY IN IT , I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN STUCK IN PUBLIC CAUSE THE IGNITION WOULD NOT WORK. I REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY? BUT BOTH MY BUCKET SEATS IN THE CAR BREAK AT THE SAME TIME? I'M DRIVING THE CAR, AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW IS THAT I'M LAYING IN MY DAUGHTERS LAP IN THE BACK SEAT., THIS WAS A VERY, SCARY EXPERIENCE. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT, ARE THE SEATS SUPPOSED TO MALFUNCTION IN THIS WAY? LAST MY HATCHBACK RATTLES , IT ACTS LIKE THE HINGES AT THE TOP ARE BREAKING , AND THE HATCHBACK LOCK STOP UNLOCKING THE HATCHBACK, I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD SEND ME INFORMATION, BUT THIS NEVER HAPPENED. CAN YOU HELP ME?

SINCE THE IGNITION SWITCHED HAS BEEN REPLACED VEHICLE STILL STALLED OUT.NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE AT IDLE SPEED LOOPS OR IDLES ERRATICALLY.TRANSMISSION ALSO SHIFTS SLOPPY HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO TRANSMISSION PLACES AND FOUND NOTHING.ALSO COSMETIC LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE VISOR STAYS LIT WHEN FLAP IS CLOSED.

SINCE THE IGNITION SWITCHED HAS BEEN REPLACED VEHICLE STILL STALLED OUT.NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE AT IDLE SPEED LOOPS OR IDLES ERRATICALLY.TRANSMISSION ALSO SHIFTS SLOPPY HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO TRANSMISSION PLACES AND FOUND NOTHING.ALSO COSMETIC LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE VISOR STAYS LIT WHEN FLAP IS CLOSED.

HAD JUST PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE & LEFT. HALF HOUR LATER SMELLED SMOKE & CHECKED OUT WINDOW. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE GARAGE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. ONLY INDICATION OF ORIGIN WAS ELECTRICAL WIRES COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. *AK

ABOUT ONE HOUR AFTER ARRIVING HOME FROM WORK SOMEONE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR TO NOTIFY ME THAT THE 1990 FORD ESCORT THAT I HAD PURCHASED USED ON MARCH 31,1999 WAS SMOKING. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BY THIS TIME FLAMES WERE SHOOTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HORN WAS BLARING. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUSHED , BUT THE CAR IS NOW TOTALLY USELESS. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN DRIVER TURNS VEHICLE OFF, THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUES TO RUN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

THERE WAS A RECALL LISTED ON THIS MAKE AND YEAR, BUT THE OWNER NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. ON APR.9,1998, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WILL NOT GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE OWNER. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ENGINEER CALL AND TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (96V-071000). *AK

TURN IGNITION ON, HEARD CRACKLING SOUND, THEN NOISE WENT TO A POPLIN SOUND, SMOKE CAME FROM HOOD AND VENT INSIDE, FLAMES NOW EVITABLE, RESULTING IN TOTALLED.

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL. (96V-071)

ALTERNATOR FAILED FOUR TIMES, TWICE SETTING VEHICLE ON FIRE. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE THE FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY LOST. *AK

AT A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF, HAVE A HARD TIME IN STARTING AND IT BACKFIRES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.

DEFECTIVE STARTER.

ALTERNATOR REPLACED 11 TIMES.

WHILE DRIVING WAS ALERTED BY PASSING MOTORIST OF FIRE UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER'S SIDE RIGHT NEAR FRONT TIRE.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *SD

THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

OWNER HEARD FUNNY NOISE AND PULLED OVER AND SHUT VEHICLE OFF. SAW SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. FEW MINUTES LATER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE *AK

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH

IGNITION FAILED. *SD

DRIVING VEHICLE, NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD, PARKED VEHICLE NEXT DAY AT JOB, TURNED TO GO TO BLDG, INFORMED VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. *AK

DRIVING VEHICLE, NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD, PARKED VEHICLE NEXT DAY AT JOB, TURNED TO GO TO BLDG, INFORMED VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. *AK

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN OR THE DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN OR THE DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

AFTER PARKING OVERNIGHT, FOUND VEHICLE IN GARAGE ON FIRE, COMING FROM DASH. *AK

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. SOURCE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THE IGNIITON SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERHOOD; ACCORDING TO FIRE DEPARTMENT, COULD HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL FIRE; EVERYTHING UNDERHOOD BURNT. *AK

IGNITION FIRE. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

IGNITION SHORT RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OWNER NOTICED BURNING SMELL FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. FLAMES GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE THEN STOPPED. VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL NEW SWITCH INSTALLED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HWY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, WILL NOT RESTART BECAUSE OF IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OWNER NOTICED BURNING SMELL FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. FLAMES GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE THEN STOPPED. VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL NEW SWITCH INSTALLED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HWY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, WILL NOT RESTART BECAUSE OF IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AUTO CUTS OFF-NO ACCIDENTS YET. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, THEN FLAMES FROM BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL, RESULT INTERIOR FIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, THEN FLAMES FROM BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL, RESULT INTERIOR FIRE. *AK

IGNITION MODULE FAILED, RESULTING IN ENGINE CUT-OUT REPEATLY, REPLACED THE OLD MODULE. TT

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, UNDER THE HOOD, EA95-002 ACTIVE, DASH WAS COMPLETELY BURNED. TT

COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AW

FIRE IN GLOVE COMPARTMENT AREA, FIRE DEPT STATED THAT FIRE WAS POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL RELATED. TT

UNDER THE HOOD FIRES, VEHICLE WAS SMOKING WHILE DRIVING CAUGHT ON FIRE, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION./ TT

VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 5 MINTUES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. TT

COMPUTER FAILURE. *AK

BATTERY FAILURES, RESULTING IN INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

REPLACED STARTER. *AK

ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, FIRE DEPT SUSPECTS ELECTRIAL SYSTEM AS CULPRIT. TT