1997 FORD ESCORT Electrical System Problems

FLASHING AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT IN A "51" PATTERN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES AND FUSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

I TURNED RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT AND SLOWLY TURNED RIGHT AGAIN INTO A PARKING SPACE. WHILE I WAS BRAKING, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT A BUILDING. *TR

AIR BAG CONTROL DIAGNOSTIC MODULE SHORTED OUT DUE TO RUPTURED HEATER CORE. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT A LOCAL JUNK YARD. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. *TR

DT: THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND BURNED UP ALL OF THE WIRING. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON IT STALLED . TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND IT BLEW UP, BURNING COMPLETELY TO THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS. *AK

REQUEST FOR RESTITUTION OF LOSSES RESULTING FROM A VEHICLE FIRE. *MR THE PASSENGER AREA TRANS EQUIPMENT/ELECTRICAL WIRE) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED RESTITUTION. *SCC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE MANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB

THE PLASTIC LIGHT BULB SOCKET FOR MY CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP (CHMSL) HAS REPEATEDLY MELTED CAUSING THE CHMSL TO NOT WORK. I HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO (2) SOCKETS AND THEY HAVE BOTH FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. *JB

BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE WIRING RECALL AND I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS SPARK KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WHEN IT FIRST STARTS AND UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. WHEN I DRIVE INTO MY PARENTS DRIVE WAY MY PARENTS TELL ME THAT THEY KNOW I AM THERE BECAUSE OF THE RADIO INTERFERENCE ON THE TV SCREEN. I KNOW A LOT ABOUT ELECTRICITY AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY NOISE AND OR SHORTS, BAD CONNECTIONS WHAT HAVE YOU. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE CAR HAS RESISTOR PLUGS. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE COMPUTER ONCE AND NOW THIS RECALL THING! WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS. WHEN ITS REALLY COLD OUT AND GO TO START THE CAR THE STARTER DOES NOT DISENGAGE AND GRINDS ON THE FLY WHEEL. IT TAKES FOREVER FOR IT TO WARM UP AND IT DOES NOT RARELY EVER...

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD, CLAIM 53-C675-364. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND WHEN CONSUMER CAME TO HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED IT WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE AND THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, CLAIM 30-V210-873. *SLC

CONSUMER CAME BACK TO VEHICLE AFTER A DAY OF WORK AND THE INTERIOR WAS SMOKEY, DASHBOARD AND INTERIOR WERE BURNED, ADJUSTER STATED ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CLAIM 05-4953-366. *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE SHOP ASKED THE CONSUMER TO RETURN THE VEHICLE IN 2-3 DAYS, DURING THIS TIME A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE CENTER MODULE LOCATED IN THE CONSOLE, LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE DEALERSHIP, SOMEONE NOTICED THE MODULE WAS AGAIN SMOLDERING, CLAIM 28-3088-664. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD, CLAIM 53-C675-364. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT WHEN CONSUMER CAME OUT AND SAW THAT IT WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, CLAIM 30-V210-873. *SLC

DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH AND THERE WAS AN ODOR THAT SMELLED LIKE A FIRECRACKER, VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE NEXT DAY WHEN CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE FLOORBOARDS, CLAIM 35-W686-849. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THERE IS DAMAGE UNDER THE DASH, CLAIM 53-C737-570. *SLC

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND SOME SPARKS COME FROM UNDERNEATH PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, THE AREA WHERE SPARKS AND SMOKE CAME FROM IS THE EXACT SAME AREA WHERE AVR HAD WORKED, FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE CENTERED UNDER THE SEAT, CLAIM 03-3209-456. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED IN IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER FEELS THE FIRE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO A PRIOR COLLISION, HEATER CORE LEAKING INTO THE ECS MODULE, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CLAIM 40-2188-822. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DAMAGED THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 55-S207-197. *SLC

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE AT DASH PANEL, CLAIM 18-0486-942. *SLC

VEHICLE BURNED FROM THE OUTSIDE, FIRE STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD BY THE FLOORBOARDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE, CLAIM 04-1295-042. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES PRIOR TO FIRE, LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON THE DASH, THERE WAS ALSO AN ODOR THAT SMELLED LIKE FIRECRACKERS, THE NEXT DAY WAS WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, FIRE WAS IN THE FLOORBOARDS WHICH SPREAD WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED, CLAIM 35-W686-849. *SLC

THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING, THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE, DAMAGES ARE UNDER THE DASH, CLAIM 53-C737-570. *SLC

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND SPARKS UNDERNEATH PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE QUICKLY AFTER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE AREA SHE SAW THE SPARKS AND SMOKE IS EXACTLY WHERE AVR HAD WORKED, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CENTERED UNDER THE SEAT, CLAIM 03-3209-456. *SLC

CONSUMER HAD LEFT VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE CHECKED AND TO FIND OUT WHY A LIGHT IN THE DASH HAD ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEATER CORE HAD A HOLE IN IT, WHEN DEMANDING HER VEHICLE BACK, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH AND THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS BURNED, NOBODY CONTACTED HER TO LET HER KNOW ABOUT THE FIRE, CLAIM 24-5124-338. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DAMAGED THE VEHCILE, CLAIM 55-S207-197. *SLC

CONSUMER CAME BACK TO VEHICLE AFTER A DAY OF WORK AND THE INTERIOR WAS SMOKEY, DASHBOARD AND INTERIOR WERE BURNED, ADJUSTER STATED ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CLAIM 05-4953-366. *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE SHOP ASKED THE CONSUMER TO RETURN THE VEHICLE IN 2-3 DAYS, DURING THIS TIME A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE CENTER MODULE LOCATED IN THE CONSOLE, LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE DEALERSHIP, SOMEONE NOTICED THE MODULE WAS AGAIN SMOLDERING, CLAIM 28-3088-664. *SLC

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE AT DASH PANEL, CLAIM 18-0486-942. *SLC

VEHICLE BURNED FROM THE OUTSIDE, FIRE STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD BY THE FLOORBOARDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE, CLAIM 04-1295-042. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES PRIOR TO FIRE, LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON THE DASH, THERE WAS ALSO AN ODOR THAT SMELLED LIKE FIRECRACKERS, THE NEXT DAY WAS WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, FIRE WAS IN THE FLOORBOARDS WHICH SPREAD WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED, CLAIM 35-W686-849. *SLC

THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING, THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE, DAMAGES ARE UNDER THE DASH, CLAIM 53-C737-570. *SLC

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND SPARKS UNDERNEATH PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE QUICKLY AFTER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE AREA SHE SAW THE SPARKS AND SMOKE IS EXACTLY WHERE AVR HAD WORKED, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CENTERED UNDER THE SEAT, CLAIM 03-3209-456. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD, CLAIM 53-C675-364. *SLC

CONSUMER HAD LEFT VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE CHECKED AND TO FIND OUT WHY A LIGHT IN THE DASH HAD ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEATER CORE HAD A HOLE IN IT, WHEN DEMANDING HER VEHICLE BACK, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH AND THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS BURNED, NOBODY CONTACTED HER TO LET HER KNOW ABOUT THE FIRE, CLAIM 24-5124-338. *SLC

CONSUMER HAD LEFT VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE CHECKED AND TO FIND OUT WHY A LIGHT IN THE DASH HAD ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEATER CORE HAD A HOLE IN IT, WHEN DEMANDING HER VEHICLE BACK, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH AND THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS BURNED, NOBODY CONTACTED HER TO LET HER KNOW ABOUT THE FIRE, CLAIM 24-5124-338. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DAMAGED THE VEHCILE, CLAIM 55-S207-197. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT WHEN CONSUMER CAME OUT AND SAW THAT IT WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, CLAIM 30-V210-873. *SLC

DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH AND THERE WAS AN ODOR THAT SMELLED LIKE A FIRECRACKER, VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE NEXT DAY WHEN CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE FLOORBOARDS, CLAIM 35-W686-849. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THERE IS DAMAGE UNDER THE DASH, CLAIM 53-C737-570. *SLC

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND SOME SPARKS COME FROM UNDERNEATH PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, THE AREA WHERE SPARKS AND SMOKE CAME FROM IS THE EXACT SAME AREA WHERE AVR HAD WORKED, FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE CENTERED UNDER THE SEAT, CLAIM 03-3209-456. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED IN IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER FEELS THE FIRE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO A PRIOR COLLISION, HEATER CORE LEAKING INTO THE ECS MODULE, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CLAIM 40-2188-822. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD, CLAIM 53-C675-364. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DAMAGED THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 55-S207-197. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND WHEN CONSUMER CAME TO HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED IT WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE AND THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, CLAIM 30-V210-873. *SLC

POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE WIRES BEHIND THE FUSE PANEL TO SHORT CIRCUIT AND MELT WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY IF A FIRE OCCURED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED INTERIOR LIGHT PROBLEMS WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *YC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL FIRE. *YC

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SPEED CONTROL WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT.