NHTSA Complaint #729247 — 1995 FORD ESCORT

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN !995, AND FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. DURING THE PERIOD OF 6/3/97 THRU 6/17/97 ALONE, THE PROBLEM OCCURED 5 TIMES. BERGE FORD HAS REPAIRED THIS PROBLEM EACH AND EVERY YEAR THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. I AM NOT COMPLETELY SURE WHAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM BUT THE SAME COMPONENTS ARE INVOLVED EACH TIME. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE RELAYS TO BURN OUT INITIALLY, OR THE WIREING HARNESS TO SUFFER DAMAGE AND THESE FAILURES CAUSE THE COOLING FAN TO EITHER BECOME INOPERATIVE OR BURN OUT AS WELL. I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS (SO FAR) FOR 15 SUCH REPAIRS SINCE 1995. THEY CONTINUE TO THIS DAY. THIS YEAR I HAVE ONCE AGAIN HAD TWO FAILURES, AND THE ONE THAT CAUSES ME TO CONTACT YOU HAPPENED ON 8/17/2000. THIS ONE WAS NOT A COMPLETE FAILURE BUT WAS AN INTERMITENT COOLING PROBLEM AND I WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE DEALER SO I DROVE IN. THEY ACCEPTED THE VEHICLE AS USUAL, AND MY ADVISOR AGREED TO COVER THE REPAIR AT NO CHARGE AND PROVIDE ME A RENTAL CAR AS THEY HAVE DONE COUNTLESS TIMES IN THE PAST.. ONLY THIS TIME MY SERVICE ADVISOR MENTIONED THAT FORD HAD A "NEW" BOSCH RELAY AND WIRE SYSTEM WHICH HE CLAIMED WOULD SOLVE MY PROBLEM. OF COURSE I WAS INTERESTED, ALL I EVER WANTED WAS FOR THEM TO KEEP THEIR ORIGINAL PROMISE OF "REPAIRING IT RIGHT THIS TIME". THE DIFFERENCE ON THIS OCCASION WAS THAT NOW THAT THEY HAD THE "RIGHT" PARTS TO REPAIR THE CAR ONCE AND FOR ALL, AND THESE PARTS WOULD COST ME OVER $400.00 I TRULY FEEL THAT THIS IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR AS THE COST OF REPAIR HAS BEEN COVERED FOR THE MOST PART FOR OVER SIX YEARS WITH PARTS WHICH CONTINUE TO FAIL OVER AND OVER. AND NOW THAT THEY HAVE THE CORRECT PARTS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COVER THEM. I HOPE THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST ME AND OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IF NOT, CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY ADVISE AS TO WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.