2001 FORD ESCORT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I PURCHASED ALL FOUR MICHELINS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. SINCE THEN I HAD TWO BLOWOUTS ON THE REAR DRIVE-SIDE TIRE AND ONE ON THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE TIRE. ALL THREE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDEWALLS, TWO OF WHICH WERE ON THE INNER SIDE SIDEWALL AND ONE ON THE OUTER SIDE SIDEWALL. THERE WERE NO NAILS, GLASS, OR OTHER DEBRIS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE BLOWOUTS. THE FIRST ONE NOT ONLY LEFT A GAPPING HOLE ON THE INNER SIDE SIDEWALL, BUT IT GOT SO HOT IT ALSO BLEW OUT THE TIRE STEM AND WAS SMOKING FOR A GOOD HOUR AFTERWARDS. THEY REPLACED THAT TIRE WITH A BRAND NEW MICHELIN OF THE SAME TYPE. THEN THE SECOND BLEW OUT HAPPENED ON THAT NEW TIRE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER ALSO LEAVING A GAPPING HOLE ON THE INNER SIDE SIDEWALL AND IT WAS SO HOT THE GUYS COULDN'T EVEN TOUCH IT TO FIX IT UNTIL THEY DOUSED IT WITH WATER. THEY REPLACED IT WITH A BRAND NEW MICHELIN AS WELL. THEN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER (TODAY) THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW SIMILARLY. I DID NOT CRASH AND THERE WAS NO FIRE, HOWEVER THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE AND THESE INSTANCES COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A LOT WORSE SINCE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY EACH TIME, BUT I'M LUCKY THEY WERE NOT. I DEFINITELY FEEL WE ARE DEALING WITH SOME DEFECTIVE TIRES HERE. *TR

I WAS AT THE STORE WITH MY SON (12 YEARS OLD) AND MY GRANDSON (3 YEARS OLD), WHEN WE WENT TO LEAVE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. IT WAS VERY COLD OUTSIDE, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR I GOT AHOLD OF SOMEONE TO COME PICK US UP. WHEN I GOT HOME I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND NO RECALL? NO CAR, CAN'T PICK MY DAUGHTER UP AT HER FRIEND'S HOUSE (SHE IS STRANDED), CAN'T TAKE MY GRANDSON HOME AND HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WORK TOMORROW. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED WITHOUT WARNING. ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE HEALTH ISSUES OR CHILDREN INVOLVED. MY DAD IS 73 AND LOVES FORD, HE WAS SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THIS ALSO. WHAT IS FORD THINKING?.. GREED AND MONEY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER ENGINE STARTUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE SHIFTER AND SHIFT CONSOLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED AND CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO NOT LOCK PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT ANTI- LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OCTOBER 24, 2003 WHEN THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFTER AND THE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND THAT THE SHOULDER STRAP WOULD NOT BUCKLE PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE ABS LIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE. UPDATED 12/15/11 UPDATED 12/28/11*LJ THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED, WHICH MADE IT INOPERABLE, THE BRAKE SHIFT INTER-LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE FROM PARK TO DRIVE. UPDATED 03.12.12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER ENGINE STARTUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE SHIFTER AND SHIFT CONSOLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED AND CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO NOT LOCK PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.