1999 FORD ESCORT Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

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. *TR

Mileage: 112,802

I OWN 2 FORD ESCORTS A 1999 ESCORT SE, AND A 2002 ESCORT SE, I'VE NOTICED ON BOTH VEHICLES, WHEN I'VE HAD TO DO AN EMERGENCY STOP (SLAMMING THE BRAKES) BOTH VEHICLES TAKE FAIRLY LONG TO RESPOND, INCREASING THE BRAKING DISTANCE. I HAVE 2 OTHER FRIENDS WHO OWN SIMILAR ESCORTS, AND NOTICE THE SAME PROBLEM, I FEEL THAT THIS CONCERN NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, HE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB UPDATED 12/31/07

Mileage: 100,000

1999 FORD ESCORT MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS THE TONE RING THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TONE RING IS A PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY PROVIDED NOT ASSISTANCE. *NM

Mileage: 60,000

DT: THE VEHICLE WAS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. BOTH OF THE BACK COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. CONSUMER FOUND THIS OUT WHEN GETTING THE BRAKES INSPECTED. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, TIE RODS AND THE REAR STRUTS INCLUDING THE COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INSPECTION TOOK PLACE ON 7-8-05. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE ALL THE PARTS REPLACED. THEY WERE REPLACED ON 7-20/22-05. VEHICLE WAS SHAKING BEFORE HAND. CONSUMER KNEW THAT FORD COMPANY ISSUED A RECALL ISSUE CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR OTHER MODELS. *AK UPDATED 11/02/2005. *NM

Mileage: 131,569

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'. *AK

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'. *AK

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. *JB

Mileage: 37,300

THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES.*JB

6-7 TIMES BRAKE PEDAL GOT STUCK. IT HAPPENED ONLY ON HIGHWAY AND BELTWAY AT 55 MPH OR HIGHER. WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON BRAKE PEDAL IT GET STUCK, AND CONTINUING TO PRESS DOWN IT BECAME UNSTUCK. DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, BUT THEY COULD DO ANYTHING WRONG. 2 MECHANICS HAS TEST DRIVEN VEHICLE, AND ANOTHER MECHANIC FROM DEALERSHIP WILL BE TEST DRIVE IT AGAIN. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE AT 55 MPH, THE BRAKES BECAME HARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMYED FOLLOWED BY BRAKE GOING TO FLOOR. *YH

BRAKES MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING. *AK

BRAKES WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELNG 40MPH WHEN SOMEONE TURNED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, HE SLAMMED ON BRAKES, BUT THERE WERE NONE. 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS HAVE STATED TO BRING VEHICLE IN WHEN PROBLEM FIRST ACCURS. *AK

CONSUMER IS HAVING CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THERE IS NO NOISE. BUT IN ORDER FOR VEHICLE TO STOP, PEDAL MUST BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS CAUSING CONSUMER FEAR OF DRIVING, AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ABS FAILURE RESULTING IN EXTENED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAUSED AND ACCIDENT. NLM

ABS BRAKES FAILED IN DRY, SUNNY WEATHER IN SCHOOL ZONE AT 3 PM WHEN KIDS WERE COMING OUT OF SCHOOL. COULD NOT TURN VEHICLE ONTO SIDEWALK BECAUSE OF CHILDREN AND HIT STOPPED VEHICLE DESPITE A 200 FT STOPPING DISTANCE AT 25 MPH. ABS BRAKES DID NOT SLOW VEHICLE AT ALL. FORD CLAIMS NO ABS BRAKE DEFECT. CAR RETURNED FROM FORD DEALER'S COLLISION BODY SHOP AFTER 3 MONTHS. CAR NOW STOPS BUT LIKELY HAS UNDIAGNOSED ABS BRAKE DEFECT. FORD REFUSES TO PROVIDE A LETTER STATING THAT CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. CAR IS LIKELY HAZARD TO FAMILY DRIVERS AND THE PUBLIC. PLEASE HELP ME. *AK

LOUD SQUEALING SOUND MADE WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND A CLICKING WOULD COMMENCE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE BEEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND PROBLEM STILL GOES UNRESOLVED. *AK

WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, CONSUMER HAD IT CHECKED OUT, AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKES LINES HAD EXPLODED, AND ALL THE FLUID WAS LOST. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, CONSUMER HAD IT CHECKED OUT, AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKES LINES HAD EXPLODED, AND ALL THE FLUID WAS LOST. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

REAR BRAKES ARE NOT ADJUSTING THEMSELVES.*ET

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED IT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP, IT SLOWS TO A STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH BRAKE CALIPERS WOULD START TO RUB AGAINST THE BRAKE PADS, CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY. IT WOULD SOUND LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING NOISE. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. *AK

BRAKES FAILURE AT INTERSECTION. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE, AND CRASH OCCURRED. *AK

BRAKES FAILURE AT INTERSECTION. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE, AND CRASH OCCURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH DOWNSHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR AND WAS MAKING A RIGHT, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKES/NO POWERSTEERING, AND VEHICLE WENT ACROSS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD ABOUT 137 FEET AND END UP ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT PEDAL WENT THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BRAKE DRUM FAILED, CAUSING NOISE. *YC

BRAKES NOISY DUE TO GROVE (HOLE) IN DRUMS. *YC