NHTSA Complaint #10102472 — 2002 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT)

CAR INTERMITTENTLY STALLS ON ACCELERATION (APPROX 17 TIMES) HAS STALLED ON HIGHWAY AT 60MPH,WILL NOT RESTART FOR APPROX 15-60 MINUTES AFTER STALL. CAR IS COVERED UNDER FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASED AT TIME OF SALE. CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO ORIG DEALER MULLINAX FORD EAST TWICE, BOTH TIMES ADVISED WAS REPAIRED BUT CAR STALLED W/I DAYS/HOURS OF REPAIR. CAR WAS TOWED TO JOHN LANCE FORD 11-15-04WHO CANT FIND ANY PROBLEMS THOUGH IT HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO SERVICE GARAGE.WE ADVISED SERVICE MANAGER CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND DANGER TO OURSELVES & OTHERS AND REQUESTD THEY CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR PROBLEM, THEY ADVISED US THEY WILL CALL POLICE IF WE DO NOT RETURN THEIR (WARRENTY COVERED) LOANER CAR AND PICK UP THE UNREPAIRED CAR IMMEDIATELY. LOANER CAR WAS RETURNED IMMEDIATELY & NOW RENTING A CAR AT MY EXPENSE BECAUSE XZ2 IS UNSAFE UNRELIABLE. SPOKE WITH ATTORNEY WHO ADVISED HE RECEIVES MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2002 FORD ESCORT ZX2 & STALLING PROBLEMS BUT UNTILL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR DIES NOTHING WILL BE DONE BY FORD. MY NUMEROUS CONTACTS W/FORD SERVICE MGR'S IN ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE ISSUE HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS I HAVE RECIEVED NO SATISFACTION FROM ORIGIONAL DEALER OR THE SECOND FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPT WHO FORCED US TO PICK UP AN UNREPAIRED CAR WHICH IS UNEXCUSABLE IF NOT CRIMINAL. IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF, IF CAR STALLS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, BUT WHEN. WE RECD NO PROOF OF WORK ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE PROBLEM PROVIDED IT APPEARS SUPERFICIAL WORK WAS DONE.*AK