NHTSA Complaint #715392 — 1994 FORD ESCORT

THIS REPORT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC ON THE HEADLIGHT UNIT. I HAD NOTED PROBLEMS WITH ROAD LIGHTING BY MY CAR FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND HAVE USED THE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO ILLUNIATE THE ROADS. (I DO NOT DRIVE MUCH AT NIGHT.) RECENTLY, THE ROAD ILLUMINATION BY THE FORD ESCORT WAGON BECAME SO POOR, I AND MY FAMILY TRIED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS WORKED, BUT ILLUMINATION WAS NOT GETTING PAST THE DETERIORATED PLASTIC WHICH HAS NOT HELD UP TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE SUBTLE AND TAKES A WHILE TO DEVELOP. BECUASE OF THAT, THE CONSUMER IS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WHERE I TAKE MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOLD ME THIS WAS A PROBLEM. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD HEAD LIGHT UNITS WHICH I CONSIDER NO LONGER SAFE FOR DRIVING AND HAD FORD INSTALL NEW UNITS. I HAVE NOTICED A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMINATION. I NOW CONSIDER THESE PLASTIC UNITS TO BE POTENTIALLY UNSAFE FOR THE PUBLIC AS THEY DETERIORATE. I AM SURE OTHERS MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD. I BELIEVE THAT ACCIDENTS WILL BE CAUSED WHEN THE UNIT PLATIC BECOMES SO CLOUDED AS TO BLOCK THE LIGHT AND NO PROVIDE PROPER ROAD ILLUMINATION. ODI IS MORE THAN WALCOME TO EXAMINE MY OLD HEADLIGHT UNITS.