1994 Ford Escort

CONSUMER BOUGHT CAR IN MARCH. WITH 20 MILES ON VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST TIME, TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. THE SECOND TIME, TRANSMISSION FELL APART AN HOUR AFTER SHE PICKED IT UP. THIRD TIME, TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE, AND FOURTH TIME, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. IT WOULD STAY IN PARK AND MAKE GRINDING NOISE. *AK

THIS REPORT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC ON THE HEADLIGHT UNIT. I HAD NOTED PROBLEMS WITH ROAD LIGHTING BY MY CAR FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND HAVE USED THE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO ILLUNIATE THE ROADS. (I DO NOT DRIVE MUCH AT NIGHT.) RECENTLY, THE ROAD ILLUMINATION BY THE FORD ESCORT WAGON BECAME SO POOR, I AND MY FAMILY TRIED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS WORKED, BUT ILLUMINATION WAS NOT GETTING PAST THE DETERIORATED PLASTIC WHICH HAS NOT HELD UP TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE SUBTLE AND TAKES A WHILE TO DEVELOP. BECUASE OF THAT, THE CONSUMER IS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WHERE I TAKE MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOLD ME THIS WAS A PROBLEM. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD HEAD LIGHT UNITS WHICH I CONSIDER NO LONGER SAFE FOR DRIVING AND HAD FORD INSTALL NEW UNITS. I HAVE NOTICED A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMINATION. I NOW CONSIDER THESE PLASTIC UNITS TO BE POTENTIALLY UNSAFE FOR THE PUBLIC AS THEY DETERIORATE. I AM SURE OTHERS MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD. I BELIEVE THAT ACCIDENTS WILL BE CAUSED WHEN THE UNIT PLATIC BECOMES SO CLOUDED AS TO BLOCK THE LIGHT AND NO PROVIDE PROPER ROAD ILLUMINATION. ODI IS MORE THAN WALCOME TO EXAMINE MY OLD HEADLIGHT UNITS.

WE FEEL THAT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST HAVE A RELIABLE SAFETY SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR AND THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS OUR THIRD SEAT BELT THAT BROKE ON THIS VEHICLE. HOW CAN FORD ETHICALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT PUTTING OUT A PRODUCT WHERE EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY HAS WORN OFF, THE PRODUCT IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY SAFE FOR MY WIFE AND CHILDREN BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD BY LETTER AND BY PHONE AFTER EACH OF THE THREE INCIDENCES WHERE OUR SEAT BELTS HAVE BROKEN AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO TELL MY KIDS, "SORRY KIDS YOU HAVE USED UP YOUR ALLOTED WARRANTY TO RIDE SAFELY FROM NOW ON YOU WILL HAVE TO RIDE UNSAFE. THE LACK OF SEAT BELTS IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATHS IN THE STATE OF UTAH FOR PEOPLE FROM 0 TO 24 YEARS OF AGE. IN 1998, OVER 370 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE STATE OF UTAH IN MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES, 75% OF THOSE WERE NOT WEARING SEATBELTS. I DO NOT EVEN HAVE THE CHOICE BECAUSE THE SEATBELTS IN MY CAR ARE DEFECTIVE AND DO NOT WORK. WHAT IS FORD'S EXCUSE? I HAVE JUST PAID $350.00 TO GET ONE OF THE SEAT BELTS FIXED. AM I SUPPOSE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO FIX THE OTHER TWO BROKEN AND DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS? I DO NOT FEEL SAFE HAVING MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN FORD'S ESCORT. DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMETHING TRAGIC TO HAPPEN BEFORE SOMEONE AT FORD WILL LISTEN AND START MAKING VEHICLES WITH SAFE SEAT BELTS THAT ACTUALLY WORK? I WOULD LIKE THE DEFECTIVE SEATBELTS IN MY FORD ESCORT REPLACED AND SOME FORM OF RE-ASSUREANCE THAT THE OTHER SEAT BELTS IN MY VEHICLE ARE SAFE. THAT IS THE LEAST THAT FORD COULD DO. SINCERELY, TIM M. COSGROVE, MURRAY, UTAH 801-588-3672, WK, 801-685-0673, HM. *AK