1996 Ford Escort Complaints

ON 06/03/2005, A GOVERNMENT OWNED, 1996 FORD BRONCO, WAS OBSERVED ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF AND PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT HOURS WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FIRE WAS OBSERVED AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND BURNED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT COULD BE EXTINGUISHED. THE FIRE WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH.

INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED ON 1996 THUNDERBIRD IN 2000. IT IS NOW CRACKED, AND AFTER SPENDING 550.00 TO FIND THAT OUT, THERE IS NOTHING FORD WILL DO EVEN THOUGH IT IS ON CAMPAIGN (97M91). NOW I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR.

WE ARE THE OWNERS OF A 1996 FORD ESCORT WAGON VIN: [XXX]. WE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE LAP SHOULDER SAFETY BELTS IN THE REAR SEAT ON BOTH SIDES. BOTH OF THE REAR LAP SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISMS HAVE FAILED WITHIN A SHORT TIME OF EACH OTHER. THIS MEANS THE SEAT BELTS WILL NO LONGER RETRACT OR PULL TIGHT WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO USE THE REAR SEAT BELTS. THE REASON WE FEEL COMPELLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS FAILURE IS THAT UNTIL AROUND 9 MONTHS AGO, WE RARELY (A HANDFUL OF TIMES AT THE MOST) USED THE REAR LAP SHOULDER SEAT BELTS. IN AUGUST 2004 WE SWITCHED OUR SON'S CAR SEAT OVER TO A BOOSTER SEAT, MOVED THE SEAT FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND STARTED USING THE LAP SHOULDER SAFETY BELT. IN EARLY NOVEMBER WE WERE FORCED TO MOVE OUR SON'S BOOSTER SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND WAS UNUSABLE. TODAY WE WERE DRIVING HOME IN OUR CAR WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD METALLIC NOISE...

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 86,000 MILES. SYSTEM FAILURE CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD IN EVENT OF CRASH. *JB

THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT FULLY, AND THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AT ALL. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTRAINT THE OCCUPANTS OR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK *NM