NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
39 reportsClear category filter105,000 miles · Nov 8, 2010
Electrical SystemVisibilityFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HEATER BLOWER FAILED AND SPARKS WERE SHOOTING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE HARNESS BEFORE A FIRE IGNITED. THE CONTACT LOCATED A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE WIRING OF THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM, IN WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HEATER BLOWER FAILED AND SPARKS WERE SHOOTING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE HARNESS BEFORE A FIRE IGNITED. THE CONTACT LOCATED A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE WIRING OF THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM, IN WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON HIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10364409
67,100 miles · Oct 18, 2009
Electrical System
RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WAS GOING ON AND OFF FOR A COUPLE DAYS. GOT A REPLACEMENT BULB TO CHANGE LIGHT. FOUND THE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS INTO THE BACK OF THE LIGHT TO BE MELTED AND PARTIALLY BURNT. HAD TO REPLACE HARNESS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10288831
85,000 miles · Apr 23, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
I PURCHASED MY SE IN NOVEMBER OF 2006 WITH LESS THAN 83K MILES ON IT. THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT, ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS CRACKED. I HAD THE HEAD REPAIRED, AND LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT THE HEAD CRACKED AGAIN. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED. I HAVE NOW HAD NEW HEADS, NEW ENGINE, NEW FUEL PUMP AND A NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLE…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED MY SE IN NOVEMBER OF 2006 WITH LESS THAN 83K MILES ON IT. THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT, ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS CRACKED. I HAD THE HEAD REPAIRED, AND LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT THE HEAD CRACKED AGAIN. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED. I HAVE NOW HAD NEW HEADS, NEW ENGINE, NEW FUEL PUMP AND A NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLED AND NOW AM HAVING A NEW PROBLEM. WHEN I PULLED OUT FROM A STOP, THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE ENGINE IS NOW EMITTING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN STOPPED, AND I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS ALL IN ADDITION TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING, FAULTY FRONT HEADLIGHT, TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS FLUSHED AND LOUD ENGINE NOISE. I HAVE SPENT MORE ON REPAIRS THAN I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE, AND NOW HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY IN TO IT, AND IT STILL HAS LESS THAN 94K MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY FIRST FORD, AND WILL BE MY LAST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10225453
70,000 miles · Jun 22, 2007
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER HORN DOES NOT WORK. SHE WAS UNABLE TO PLACE HER VEHICLE IN DRIVE BECAUSE OF BLOWN OUT FUSES, INCLUDING THE HORN FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WIRES TO THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE BLOWN. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE HORN FAILED TO WORK A…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER HORN DOES NOT WORK. SHE WAS UNABLE TO PLACE HER VEHICLE IN DRIVE BECAUSE OF BLOWN OUT FUSES, INCLUDING THE HORN FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WIRES TO THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE BLOWN. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE HORN FAILED TO WORK AGAIN. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO PURCHASE A FORD FUSION AND TO CONTACT THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #10193957
109,240 miles · Apr 12, 2006
Electrical System
I WAS OUT OF TOWN, DROVE FOR 2 1/2 HRS THEN PARKED FOR SHOPPING. WAS ON WAY BACK HOME..10 MIN INTO DRIVE, WHEN MY FORD ESCORT ZX2 JUST LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD LITTLE WARNING..A MINUTE BEFORE IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH THEN NOTHING..NO GAUGES OR STEERING ETC. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED (DID NOT THINK …
Read full complaint
I WAS OUT OF TOWN, DROVE FOR 2 1/2 HRS THEN PARKED FOR SHOPPING. WAS ON WAY BACK HOME..10 MIN INTO DRIVE, WHEN MY FORD ESCORT ZX2 JUST LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD LITTLE WARNING..A MINUTE BEFORE IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH THEN NOTHING..NO GAUGES OR STEERING ETC. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED (DID NOT THINK TO KEEP THE OLD PART) AND HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL FUSES "JUST BECAUSE" SINCE IT KEEPS DOING THIS AND THE SCARY PART IS I BOUGHT IT FOR MY SON WHO IS A NEW DRIVER AND HE HAD IT HAPPEN TO HIM TWICE IN ONE DAY AND TWICE TO MYSELF THE NEXT DAY. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT BACK HOME AFTER JUMPING IT TWICE IN 8 MILES THE LAST TWO TIMES IT QUIT. IT IS NOW PARKED FEARING WE WILL BE STRANDED OR WORSE LOSE CONTROL AND END UP IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, STEERING ETC. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10155253
70,000 miles · Aug 5, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD ESCORT FROM CARMAX IN MAY OF 2001. ABOUT 2-3 WKS LATER I CONSTANTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. I GOT TICKETED BY THE POLICE SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. THEN ONE DAY DRIVING FROM WORK MY ENGINE DIED. WITHOUT ANY WARNING AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO CARMAX AND THEY THEN…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD ESCORT FROM CARMAX IN MAY OF 2001. ABOUT 2-3 WKS LATER I CONSTANTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. I GOT TICKETED BY THE POLICE SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. THEN ONE DAY DRIVING FROM WORK MY ENGINE DIED. WITHOUT ANY WARNING AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO CARMAX AND THEY THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. WHENEVER I PUT THE AC ON THERE IS A RUMBLING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. FRANKLY THE CAR IS A LEMON AND I HAD NO IDEA BECAUSE THERE WAS NO REPORTS ON THE CAR AND I REMEMBERED ASKING THE SALES REP. IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAR THAT I NEEDED TO KNOW AND I WAS TOLD NO. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO BECAUSE I AM SPENDING MONEY ON THIS CAR FOR MANUFACTURER PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10131740
76,000 miles · Apr 29, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAW FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10119335
54,000 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Electrical System
MY CAR HAS 55000 MILES AND ITS A 1999 ESCORT.Y TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, THIS AT LESS THAN 55000 MILES? I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY STREET AND THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE SHOP REPLACED THE TIMING BELT AND THE PULLY'S. NOW I HAVE GONE TO WORK MONDAY MORNING AND CAME OUT TO …
Read full complaint
MY CAR HAS 55000 MILES AND ITS A 1999 ESCORT.Y TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, THIS AT LESS THAN 55000 MILES? I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY STREET AND THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE SHOP REPLACED THE TIMING BELT AND THE PULLY'S. NOW I HAVE GONE TO WORK MONDAY MORNING AND CAME OUT TO GO HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN, JUST TRIED TO TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP AGAIN, NOW ITS THE FUEL PUMP. THERE IS NO WAY THAT ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE STARTED TO HAPPEN YET ON THIS CAR. THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH IT, I NEED SOME RESOLUTION ON THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10096479
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I HAD TO PUT AN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR LAST YEAR. NOW MY AC DOESN'T WORK AND I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AND PUT A NEW ALTERNATOR IN IT TOO. I HAVE HAD ISSUE AFTER ISSUE WITH MY ZX2. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10074726
128,239 miles · Mar 31, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10014778