2000 Ford Escort ZX2 engine and engine cooling problems

“VEHICLE DIED DURING TRAVEL WITH NO WARNING, FORD ISSUED RECALL. HOWEVER DUE TO THE LIMITED NUMBER OF CONSUMERS WITH THIS YEAR AND SPECIFIC MODEL COMPLAINTS WERE OVERLOOKED. DEALER SHOULD OFFER RECOURSE. *AK”

“(1) NOTHING REMARKABLE HAPPENED LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE TRUCK WAS IDLING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. (2) THE FAILURE WAS THE #3 SPARK PLUG BLOWING OUT OF THE HEAD WHICH ALSO DAMAGED THE COIL IN MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4L ENGINE, WHICH HAD 82000 MILES. (3) THE HEAD WAS REPAIRED WITH AN AFTERMARKET KIT THAT ALLOWED A NEW SPARK PLUG TO BE INSTALLED. OLD SPARK PLUG HAS BEEN DISCARDED. *JB”

“MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THE SUV HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 5+ HOURS. OUR NEIGHBOR GOT UP TO USE THE RESTROOM AROUND 11:45 AND NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING FROM OUR SUV. THE FIRE COMPLETLY DESTROYED OUR TRUCK. THE FIRE GOT SO HOT IT MELTED THE HOOD,FRONT TIRES AND THE FRONT CAB. OUR TRUCK WAS IN GOOD CONDITION NO MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. HOW DOES A TRUCK BURSTT INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY?*AK”

“THIS IS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. LAST YEAR THERE WAS A FIRE STRARTED BY A RELAY FAILURE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS REPAIR WAS $2300.00, $435.00 WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED. IN THE PAST MONTH I HAVE NOTICED PAINT FAILURE LEADING TO RUST ON THE ROOF, AND LAST FRIDAY THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. FORD SAYS WE NEED A NEW ENGINE WHICH WILL COST $5,500.00. THE ENGINE HAS 71,000 MILES ON IT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 65,000. WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED, IT EFFECT THE BREAKING AND POWER STEERING. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES.*AK”

“I WOULD LIKE TO REFERENCE ODI CASES # 8016196, 1451010 AND PARTICULARLY 881231 IN REFERENCE TO MY FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, MY POWER STEERING, AC AND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE. THE BELT WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE WATER PUMP TENSIONER, WHICH LITERALLY SNAPPED AWAY FROM THE WATER PUMP HOUSING AND BROKE THE WATER PUMP HOUSING IN 3 PIECES. MY MECHANIC ALSO SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS - BUT HE FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT FORD HAD THE WATER PUMP HOUSING IN STOCK IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT. THE WATER PUMP, THE HOUSING, THE TENSIONER AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WERE ALL REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER'S COST.”

“I'VE HAD MY FORD ESCORT ZX2 FOR A YEAR NOW. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALERSHIP. RECENTLY I'VE NOTICED A MAJOR DECLINE IN PERFORMANCE. IT IDLES LOW, THE HORSEPOWER IS GONE, AND WHEN SITTING FOR PERIODS OF TIME IT HAS PROBLEMS STARTING. LAST WEEKEND I HAD A FORD CERTIFIED MECHANIC PERFORM A COMPUTER AND MECHANICAL DIAGNOSTIC ON IT TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. SO, HE CHECKED SERVICE BULLETINS FOR IT AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON ITS VARIABLE CAM TIMING DTC. HE FELT THAT THIS WAS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. *AK”