1988 Ford Escort Complaints

RADIATOR COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE, AND BLOW THE FUSEABLE LINK THAT SHUTS FUEL PUMP OFF. THIS COMPLETELY CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

FORD ADMITTED TO NEWSPAPER COLUMIST THAT BALL JOINTS ON MANY ESCORTS AND TEMPOS WERE DEFECTIVE. MISSOURI REQUIRED ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTIONS WHICH CAUGHT MANY OF THESE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS BUT MANY STATES DID NOT REQUIRE INSPECTIONS. FORD COVERED THIS PROBLEM UP, SO THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MANY ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY FAILED BALL JOINTS.*AK

RECALL PERFORMED ON IGNITION SWITCH. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. DEALER STATED THAT IT COULD NOT NOT BE RELATED. THE FORD TECH THAT DID THE REPLACEMENT DISTURBED OTHER AREAS IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE FAILURE. HE/SHE FAILED TO CONNECT EVERYTHING IN THE COLUMN.

STEERING WHEEL RETAINER BOLT WILL WORK ITS WAY OUT, CAUSING STEERING COLUMN TO BE MOVEABLE. TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR REDESIGNED BOLT. CONSUMER FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO THIS DEFECT. *AK

THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT OR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRE CONNECTORS. THE DIMMER SWITCH LOCATED INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONNECTORS TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THE DIMMER SWITCH HAVE TURNED BROWN DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT AND MELTING OF THE PLASTIC CONNECTORS. AFTER THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS REPLACED, THE HEADLIGHTS WORK FOR ABOUT 4-6 MONTHS UNTIL THEY BEGIN TO SHORT OUT, AND INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER. SOMETIMES, THE HIGH BEAMS ARE THE ONLY HEADLIGHTS THAT WORK. THE MECHANIC I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS WHILE LIVING IN MARYLAND STATES THAT THIS KIND OF PROBLEM IS VERY TYPICAL FOR FORD ESCORTS AROUND THE TIME MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED.