1985 FORD ESCORT

3 recalls — 31 complaints

89V170000 Oct 13, 1989
SEATS
THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.
Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT ON ALL MODELS AND A NEW SEAT TRACK AS NECESSARY
1,375,500 vehicles affected
89V095000 Jun 12, 1989
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EXTERNAL CRACKS ABOVE THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER (1984 MODELS) OR ROCKER ARM COVER GASKETS SPLITTING (1985 MODELS) COULD ALLOW OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
Remedy: REPLACE CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS (1984 MODELS); REPLACE ROCKER ARM COVER GASKETS (1985 MODELS).
481,049 vehicles affected
85V054000 May 1, 1985
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE THROTTLE LEVER MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE POSITION DUE TO MISALIGNMENT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER SHUT OFF SWITCH TO THE THROTTLE LEVER PIN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A JAMMED THROTTLE COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: ADJUST SHUTOFF SWITCH AND ASSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT TO THROTTLE LEVER PIN.
10,000 vehicles affected
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Jul 30, 2002
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED PROBLEM WITH IGNITION MODULE. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ALSO VEHICLE EMITS FUMES THAT SMELL LIKE ACETONE. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID TO PURCHASE NEW IGNITION MODULE FOR FEAR THAT VEHICLE MAY CATCH ON FIRE.*AK EXHAUST, IGNITION SWITCH, ALTERNATOR, VOLT REGULATOR, IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR AND COIL REPLACED HOWEVER FUMES WERE STILL PROMINENT. *TT
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS Jul 24, 2002
PUT A STOP TO HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS: WHEN AN SUV WITH THOSE LIGHTS COMES UP BEHINE ME, EVEN A FLIPPED DOWN REARVIEW MIRROR DOES NOT PROTECT ME. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE May 30, 2001
THE DISTRIBUTOR MOUNTED IGNITION MODULE FAILED CAUSING INSTANT ENGINE STOPPAGE. *JB
PARKING BRAKE May 30, 2001
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD AFTER BEING SET, CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM STARTED AFTER DEARLERSHIP DID A BRAKE REPAIR ON VEHICLE. *JB
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION May 30, 2001
THE RUBBER BOOT SURROUNDING THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS SO TIGHT, THAT IN COLD WEATHER IT WILL PULL LEVER OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT PUT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL AND ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND HIT A PARKED CAR, CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *JB
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE May 30, 2001
SEAT BELT LATCH INCORPORATES A PLASTIC SPACER WHICH HOLDS METAL BAR IN POSITION, THE METAL BAR HOLDS THE SEAT BELT WEBBING IN PLACE, THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND NO LONGER HOLDS THE BAR IN POSITION, ALLOWING THE SEAT BELT NOT TO STAY FASTENED, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SELL PLASTIC PART, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE HIM TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. *JB
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION Feb 13, 2001
DRIVING AT ROAD SPEED AND CAR STALLS OUT 'IT WILL ONLY START AFTER THE CAR SETS FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES THIS HAS HAPPEND SEVERAL TIMES. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE Jun 23, 2000
CONSTANT OIL LEAK ONTO THE MANIFOLD WHICH REQUIRES ME TO USE A HEAVIER OIL SO IT WONT RUN OUT. OIL LEAKING ON MANY AREA'S OF THE ENGINE WHICH CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. MY CONCERN IS WHAT IS BEING DONE REGARDING THE OIL LEAK PROBLEM RECALL AND WHERE DO I GO TO GET IT CORRECTED. *AK
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE Nov 25, 1999
A PLASTIC PART INSIDE OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS BECOME BRITTLE, REDUCING THE STRENGTH OF THE SEAT BELT. EVEN THOUGH IT LATCHED NORMALLY, MY BELT BUCKLE FELL APART AS I WAS DRIVING. I EXAMINED THE SAME PLASTIC PART ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE SEATBELT, (WHICH HAS ALMOST NEVER BEEN USED), AND FOUND THAT IT WAS BRITTLE AND FALLING APART AS WELL. THIS PLASTIC PART HOLDS IN POSITION A METAL BAR, AROUND WHICH THE SEAT-BELT WEBBING WRAPS. THE PLASTIC BECOMES BRITTLE WITH AGE, AND CAN ALLOW THE METAL BAR TO FALL OUT OF THE BUCKLE, RELEASING THE SEAT BELT. THIS BELT DESIGN IS IN MILLIONS OF FORD VEHICLES ON THE ROAD TODAY, ALL OF WHICH MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SEAT-BELT FAILURE IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS DETERIORATING PLASTIC PART. FRANKLY, IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SEAT BELTS IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. EVEN WORSE, IT IS A PLASTIC THAT DISINTEGRATES WITH AGE.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH Jan 4, 1999
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.
Fire
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH Dec 24, 1998
VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE IN PARK AND RUNNING. THIS CONDITION DAMAGES VEHICLE. DEALER/MFR. NOT NOTIFED AT THIS TIME. *AK
SEATS Mar 25, 1997
THE SPRING THAT SUPPORT THE SEAT CUSHIONS WERE CUTTING THROUGH THE MATERIAL AROUND THEIR ATTACHMENT HOLES.
SEATS Mar 25, 1997
SEAT FRAME AND SLIDE RAIL SUPPORTS CRACKED. (SECOND VEHICLE FROM 514712)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM Dec 31, 1996
ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTOR FAILED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH Sep 23, 1996
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Jul 15, 1996
WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED 60MPH IMPACT 6:00 POSITION, DRIVER AND PASSENGER LAP/SHOULDER BELTS FAILED,IMPACT 12:00 POSITIONS , DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash 4 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE Jun 19, 1996
ENGINE LOST POWER, CAUGHT FIRE. *DH
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH Jun 12, 1996
FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION COLUMN, TOTALLY BURNED. *AK
Fire
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER Jun 1, 1996
GAS GAUGE INOPERATIVE. *SD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH Jun 1, 1996
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD May 8, 1996
EXPERIENCED FIRE UNDERHOOD. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
Fire
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Apr 17, 1996
AFTER A HEAVY RAIN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OR GO OVER 50MPH AND THERE IS NO POWER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH Feb 13, 1996
EXPERIENCED FIRE UNDERHOOD. *TT CONSUMER STATES FIRE STARTED IN THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL,VEHICLE ALSO STARTED BY ITSELF.*JB
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD Feb 13, 1996
EXPERIENCED FIRE UNDERHOOD. *TT CONSUMER STATES FIRE STARTED IN THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL,VEHICLE ALSO STARTED BY ITSELF.*JB
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH Feb 12, 1996
FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH BAD SMELL FROM THE IGNITION. TT
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Feb 12, 1996
THE OWNER WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT BURNING SMELL AND DRIVER PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD AND SMOKE AND FIRE WAS EVERYWHERE. TT
Fire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Dec 14, 1995
WHILE DRIVING AUTO, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET HELP AND LOOKED BACK THE AUTO WENT IN FLAMES. TT
Fire
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Jul 20, 1995
LAP/SHOULDER BUCKLE FELL APART ON DRIVER SIDE, ALSO THE PASSENGER IS EXPERIENCE PROBLEM. TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE May 25, 1995
ENGINE FIRE. *SKD
Fire
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD Jan 19, 1995
DASHBOARD REFLECTS ON WINDSHIELD, IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM Jan 6, 1995
IMPROPER CONNECTION OF THE COOLING SYSTEM TO ENGINE BLOCK. WATER COMES OUT OF GASKET LEAKS EXTENSIVELY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT