1997 Ford Escort

BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE WIRING RECALL AND I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS SPARK KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WHEN IT FIRST STARTS AND UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. WHEN I DRIVE INTO MY PARENTS DRIVE WAY MY PARENTS TELL ME THAT THEY KNOW I AM THERE BECAUSE OF THE RADIO INTERFERENCE ON THE TV SCREEN. I KNOW A LOT ABOUT ELECTRICITY AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY NOISE AND OR SHORTS, BAD CONNECTIONS WHAT HAVE YOU. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE CAR HAS RESISTOR PLUGS. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE COMPUTER ONCE AND NOW THIS RECALL THING! WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS. WHEN ITS REALLY COLD OUT AND GO TO START THE CAR THE STARTER DOES NOT DISENGAGE AND GRINDS ON THE FLY WHEEL. IT TAKES FOREVER FOR IT TO WARM UP AND IT DOES NOT RARELY EVER WARM UP WHEN ITS IDLING YOU HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO GET ANY HEAT. BUT OVERALL ITS ONLY LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED ONCE. THAT'S BETTER THAN OUR LAST VEHICLE!! BUT NOW I WONDER IF THIS CAR IS A TICKING TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN. FORD MAY NOT BE MY NEXT CHOICE OF VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE THAT IS IF IT DOESN'T KILL ME FIRST! *JB

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 12/1/2002 VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE NEAR DASHBOARD AREA. VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS PUSHED INTO NEARBY PARKING DECK. VEHICLE TOWED TO HOME THE NEXT DAY MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AREA HAD CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE IN DECK AND ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND WIRING SYSTEM COMPLETELY DESTROYED. FRONT WINDOW ALSO SUSTAINED MAJOR FIRE DAMAGE. DT

FORD JUST RECENTLY INFORMED ME THAT THE DEFECTIVE HORN REPORTED JUST A FEW WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY. ALSO INVOLVES THE AIRBAG. ROBIN MARSHALL OF FORD HEADQUARTERS CUSTOMER RELATIONS INFORMED OF THIS SAFETY RISK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO: (313)845-5831. FORD NEVER INFORMED US OF THE ADDITIONAL AIRBAG SAFETY RISK UNTIL THIS TIME. I REPORTED THE HORN MALFUNCTION (AS IT WAS SETTING IN THE GARAGE THE HORN SUDDENLY SOUNDED AT AROUND 2 A.M.). FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF AT LEAST $300 AND ONLY RECENTLY AGREED TO EVEN INSPECT THE VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE. AS A RESULT OF THIS INSPECTION (APPARENTLY) WE WERE TOLD OF THE AIRBAG DEFECT WHICH, REMEMBER, HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS NOW.*AK

MY LATE SON'S (ROBERT D. LAWRENCE III) 1997 FORD ESCORT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE SITTING PARKED, WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, ON VOTERS ROAD IN SLIDELL, LA. MECHANIC ADVISED FIRE STARTED AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONER. CONTACTED FORD DEALER AND THE FORD COMPANY, BUT RECEIVED NO INFORMATION OR ADVICE. BOTH IGNORED HIS COMPLAINTAND STONEWALLED HIM.. ROBERT III'S INSURANCE COMPANY (SAFEWAY)PAID OFF A TOTAL LOSS TO FORD AND LEFT MY LATE SON WITH OVER $4,000 STILL DUE. FORD MOTOR CREDIT SUED HIM FOR THE BALANCE JUST BEFORE HE DIED ON JULY 16, 2002. THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN MY YARD IF INVESTIGATORS FROM THE NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN CONNECTION WITH THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION INTO SUDDEN FIRES IN 1997 FORD ESCORTS. FORD SHOULD, AT LEAST, DROP THEIR LAWSUIT. THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THE BOY ANOTHER CAR WHEN THAT ONE CAUGHT FIRE.*AK