1999 Ford Escort

MY THEN 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1999 ESCORT ZX2. SHE STOPED AT A STOP SIGN, AND AS SHE BEGAN TO ACCELL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. SHE WAS SHAKEN UP, AND BURNED ON HER FACE AND ARMS. I REPORTED THIS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE AND WOULD NOT EVEN INESTIGATE THE CONCERN. THEY ADVISED ME TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE CO. I CONTACTED FARMERS INS. THEY SAID THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT IT WAS NOT COVERED. HOWEVER THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE INVESTIGATION. A REPORT WAS MADE BY AN INDEPENDANT CO. THEY RECOMMENDED TAHT THE AIR BAG MODULE BE REMOVED AND SENT TO A QUALIFIED ENGINEER FOR EVALUATION. NORTH POINT FORD IN N.L.R. AR. REMOVED THE PART, AND FARMERS SENT IT TO BE EVALUATED. IN THE MEAN TIME MY VEHICLE IS DAMAGED AND NO ONE WILL HELP. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING MORE FROM FARMERS, AS OF 1-31-05. I KNOW THAT FORD HAS RECALLED OTHER YEAR MODEL ESCORTS FOR THE SAME POSSIBLE CONCERN, BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME OR EVEN INVESTIGATE. I HAD ESP TO 100,000 MILES , I CARRY FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE, AND THIS KIND OF DAMAGE AND INJURY IS NOT COVERED , THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT TO ME . IS THERE ANYTHING MORE I CAN DO. PLEASE ADVISE. *AK

WHENEVER IT RAINS AND I DRIVE IN A PUDDLE OF WATER MY SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF, CAUSING MY CAR TO HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND MY BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. EVERYTIME THIS HAPPENS I GO TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS TO MANUALLY PUT THE BELT BACK ON. THE MECHANIC TELLS ME HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT BECAUSE HE'S INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

DRIVING IN THE RAIN, RUNNING THROUGH PUDDLES CAUSES MY SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF. HAD A MECHANIC PUT THE BELT BACK ON. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BELT OR THE TENSION. APPARENTLY JUST GETTING THE BELT WET IS ENOUGH TO HAVE IT WALK OFF THE BOTTOM PULLEY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I OF COURSE LOSE MY POWER STEERING AND IT RUNS MY BATTERY DOWN.*AK

1999 FORD ESCORT, 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STATION WAGON: OIL LEAKED THROUGH THE CAMSHAFT BOLTS INTO THE MANUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, CAUSING IT TO GUM UP AND EVENTUALLY FAIL TO DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED THE CAR LURCHING FORWARD WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED, AND A THUMPING SOUND WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE BY KAYSER FORD IN MADISON WI; UNCLEAR WHAT WAS DONE WITH THE OLD PARTS.*JB

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