2001 Ford Escort ZX2Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

“I HAVE A 2001 FOCUS ZX3 - 5SP THAT TENDS TO STALL WHEN THE AC IS ON. BUT IT MAY NOT STALL DURING THE "INITIAL" USE PERIOD. WITHOUT WARNING, IT WILL STALL AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. MY SERVICE SHOP CHECKED THE COMPUTER CODES FOR A PROBLEM AND NOTHING CAME UP. YESTERDAY, IT WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 30MINS WITH THE AC ON (OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AROUND 80+ DEGREES). THE VEHICLE RAN FINE WITH THE RPMS NORMAL WHEN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 90 MINS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART IT WOULD STALL. TO GET STARTED I NEEDED TO KEEP FOOT ON GAS PEDAL (TO MAINTAIN A HIGH ENOUGH RPM TO PREVENT THE STALL). IF I DID NOT KEEP THE RPMS UP, VEHICLE WOULD STALL. WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING, I NEEDED TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAINTAIN THE RPMS. (THIS CAN BE CHALLENGING WITH A 5-SPD.) THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR OVER FOUR HOURS. IT THEN STARTED WITHOUT PROBLEM AND RAN NORMALLY. DURING THIS PERIOD I DID NOT HAVE THE AC ON. I SEE THAT THIS MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. HOWEVER, NEITHER FORD MOTOR'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE NOR THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP (ECHELON FORD)…”

“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 A 2001 FORD ESCORT. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE COIL SPRING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, ALONG WITH OTHER COSMETIC REPAIRS. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE, IT SURGED FORWARD AGAIN AND CRASHED INTO A PIPE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE. AN INVESTIGATOR FROM HER INSURANCE COMPANY IS IN THE PROCESS OF INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.”