1997 FORD ESCORT Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, AND FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT SHE DOES NOT TRUST THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS CURRENTLY WORKING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 06-03/08. *LJ THE TIE ROD END, REAR SPRING, WINDSHIELD, UPPER BALL JOINT, ODOMETER KNOB, REAL PASSENGER SEAL WERE ALL REPLACED. UPDATED 05/30/08

Mileage: 115,000

1997 FORD ESCORT HAD REAR SPRINGS PROBLEMS. **CC BOTH REAR SPRINGS ON THE VEHICLE BROKE. THE BREAKS WERE IDENTICAL, THE LOWER COILS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND INDICATED THAT THEY SHOWED LACK OF INTEREST. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION AXLE SLIPPAGE AND DEFECTIVE BRAKE PROBLEMS. VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN ACCELERATING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC. *AK

Mileage: 100,000

I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 FORD ESCORT IN SEPTEMBER 1996. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE FITTING WAS MISSING SOME THREADS. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. THIS PAST JANUARY I GOT A LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG MONITOR/SENSOR PROBLEM AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM CORRECTED. NOW THE CAR HAS A SLOW COOLANT LEAK. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 62,850 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $800.00 - $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. I FEEL THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS PREMATURE AND FORD SHOULD PAY FOR IT. THIS WAS THE FIRST FORD VEHICLE I EVER PURCHASED AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE THE LAST. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY CANNOT PUT A $14,000 CAR TOGETHER CORRECTLY AND ASSURE ITS QUALITY TO LAST. I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS AND PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE REGARDING THE 1997 FORD ESCORT AND THEY ARE DISTRESSING TO SAY THE LEAST. MY NEXT VEHICLE WILL BE A GM PRODUCT.*AK

CONSUMER REQUESTING RESTITUTION FOR A HOUSE FIRE THAT WAS CAUSED BY A VEHICLE FIRE.*MR *TS. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKING. *JB

WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE.*JB

WHILE APPYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. A BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON PANEL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE APPYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. A BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON PANEL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

FORD BRAKE ENGINEERS DESIGNED TO BRAKE EFFORT PROPORTIONING THE MASTER CYLINDER TO ALLOCATE 85-90% OF THE BRAKING TO THE FRONT WHEELS AND ONLY 10 TO 15%TO THE REAR WHEELS. THIS PROPORTION IS INCORRECT AND RESULTS IN THE INABILITY TO STOP THE CAR UNDER EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATIONS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLY TO LOCKUP THE REAR WHEELS EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THE FRONT WHEEL BREAK TRACTION ON SLIPERY SURFACES THE CAR LOOSES ITS ABILITY TO STOP IN A REASONABLE LENGTH. THIS MISS ALLOCATION OF BRAKING EFFORT RESULTED IN A NEAR REAR END ACCIDENT IN 1997 AND RESULTED RECENTLY IN TOTALLING THE VEHICLE THIS APRIL. THIS BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO TO CORRECT THE EMBALANCE OF THE BRAKING ACTION. I TRIED TO BRING THIS DESIGN PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN 1995 BUT IT FELL ON DEAF EARS. THIS IS A REAL DANGEROUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 20MPH THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

USUALLY AFTER GETTING THE BRAKES SERVICED BRAKES WILL MAKE A REAL LOUSD NOISE WHNE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

BRAKE PADS WERE WEARING OUT QUICKER THEN NORMALLY. THERE WERE ALSO CLIPS THAT HAVE BROKEN BECAUSE CONSUMER HAS HAD ROTORS CHANGED, AND PADS CHANGED SOON AFTER VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE SHOES AND ROTORS 4 -5 TIMES. DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO DISC BRAKE CALIPERS CAUSING ROTORS TO WARP. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES FURTHER DOWN THAN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH CAUSES ONE FOOT TO HIT BOTH PEDALS. *AK

WITHIN 4 MTHS HAD PROBLEM W/ TRANSMISSION, TOOK 4 MINS FOR DEALER TO SAY THERES NOTHING WRONG, WHEN I GOT MY NEW TIRES FOR PEPBOYS I HAD TO FIX MY BRAKES, TRANSMISSION,SUSPENSION, EVEN GOT SPEED TICKETS FOR NO REASON,I KEEP MY CAR IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND I STILL HAVE MY ENGINE LIGHT ON AND I HAVE ABOUT 70% OF THE SAME PROBLEMS OTHERS HAVE IN THE NHTSACMPLT SECTION. I THINK THE ESCORT SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SO MANY UNSAFE PROBLEMS.( DOT NUMBER: UJ956KLP12 TIRE SIZE: P19570R14 )

BRAKE SYSTEM EXPERIENCES CONTINUED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. MJS

BRAKES.

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE MAKES A POPPING NOISE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED IT HAS TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BRAKES RESPOND. ALSO, THERE IS A GRINDING SOUND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IT CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A LIGHT CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER HAD JUST HAD THE ROTORS TURNED AND FRONT BRAKES REPLACED. *AK

WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A LIGHT CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER HAD JUST HAD THE ROTORS TURNED AND FRONT BRAKES REPLACED. *AK

BRAKE SHOE PIN FAILED. MJS

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A POPPING/GRINDING SOUND OCCURS, AN VEHICLE TAKES A LONGER TIME TO STOP. OWNER'S DAUGHTER WAS IN VEHICLE CRASH DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. *AK`

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE OWNERS FOOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND RAN INTO A TREE. OWNER SAYS THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. *AK *YH

VEHICLE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING A CORNER. DEALER CONTACTED AND RAN OASIS, FOUND NO REPAIR FOR THE VEHICLE AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CAR THAT I HAD PURCHASED HAS NOT LIVED UP TO IT'S EXPECTATIONS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR, I PURCHASED IT IN SEPT. OF 1998, THE BRAKES HAVE COMPLETELY GONE OUT, THE EMERGENCY LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY EVEN THOUGHT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ON. WHEN PURCHASING THE CAR, I HAD EXPLAINED TO THE CAR DEALER THE I, BEING OF ONLY 19 YRS OF AGE AND THIS BEING MY FIRST BIG PURCHASE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO BUY A CAR THEN END UP HAVING TO PUT TONS OF MONEY INTO IT. I AM VERY UPSET AT THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY A SHORT WHILE, THE WARRANTY HAS PASSED (HOW CONVEINIENT) AND I REFUSE TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A FAULTY SENSOR.

AT ANY SPEEDS BRAKES WILL CONTINUOUSLY FAIL, CAUSING A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS/PADS REPLACED. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY MAKE SQUEAKING NOISE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE MAKES SQUEAKING NOISE DURING TRAVEL, SQUEAK STOPS WHILE BRAKING. BRAKES PULSE WHILE BEING DEPRESSED.

OWNER'S SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN LOCKED UP, FORCING HIM TO GO OFF THE ROAD. ALSO BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. *AK

BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.

BRAKES FAILED AND VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25MPH, AND AIRBAGS ON BOTH SIDES DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER'S FOOT CONTACTS THE BAR ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE CONTACTING PEDAL ITSELF.

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK.

BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

BRAKE PEDAL LINKAGE WAS EXCESSIVE AND OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, ALLOWING UNNECESSARY BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL.

HAVE FOOT ON BRAKES & WOULD SHIFT GEAR; HEAR LOUD NOISE, LIKE A METALLIC SOUND; WOULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE & MAKES THE SAME NOISE; TOOK TO DEALER & CAN NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND BRAKES FADE AWAY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER ADJUSTED THE REAR BRAKES. *AK

OWNER STATES THAT BRAKES DO NOT GRAB AND THAT ONCE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR . NO ABS BRAKES, THEY ARE STANDARD POWER BRAKES. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP,BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION.