1998 Ford Escort power train problems

“I HAVE HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS RELATING TO CAR FUEL PUMP OR TRANSMISSION SHOPS COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS BUT THE DRIVABLITY OF MY 98 ESCORT ZX2 COST ME MORE MONEY IN PROBLEM SOLVING, 1,500 PLUS IN RECENT REPAIRS INCLUDING EMERGENCY AND REPEAT REPAIRS AND FAULTY REPAIRS. MY FUEL ECONOMY IS 160 MILES PER TANK TO ALMOST 200 MILES. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM(S). LARGE THUNKING IN REAR TRUNK (SCARY)WHEN IM TAKING OFF AND REACHING A STEADY SPEED. TAKE THE CAR TO MAJOR FORD DEALERSHIPS, TO NO AVAIL. CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS "GO" FROM A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC,THIS HAS CAUSED QUITE A SCARE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR HELPING AND MAKING NOTE OF MY ACCOUNT. DEBBIE”

“THE FAILURE INVOLVES THE INTERLOCK THAT KEEPS YOU FROM SHIFTING OUT OF PARK WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. MY LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL BULB HAD BURNED OUT. I STOPPED THE CAR, PUT IT IN PARK, AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, TO GET OUT AND CHECK THE OTHER TURN SIGNALS. FIRST I TURNED ON THE LEFT SIDE AND VERIFIED THAT THE LEFT REAR BULB WASN'T WORKING. THEN I ASKED THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR TO SWITCH ON THE RIGHT SIGNALS. SHE LEANED ON THE SHIFT LEVER TO TRY TO REACH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, AND WHEN SHE DID, THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE. IT MOVED BACK SLOWLY SINCE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON, SO I JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY AND GOT IN AND STOPPED IT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THIS: THAT IF THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL BULB IS BAD, THE SHIFT INTERLOCK IS RELEASED WHEN YOU TURN ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, ALLOWING THE SHIFT LEVER TO BE MOVED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE BRAKE FIRST. WHEN I PUT IN THE NEW BULB, THE BEHAVIOR DID NOT HAPPEN ANYMORE. I PUT THE BAD BULB BACK IN, AND IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. IF I HAD NOT SET THE PARKING BRAKE, I COULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS DEFECT MAY EXIST IN SEVERAL MODEL YEARS ON THIS VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY OTHER FORD…”

“DT: CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN A FIRE STARTED IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, AND HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 HOURS. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS FROM THE POWER CONTROL MODULE.*AK”

“VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 5 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION, STILL LURCHES IN FIRST, HAS HEAVY SIDEWAYS VIBRATION UNTIL VEHICLE HITS HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR REPAIR WHILE UNDER WARRANTY FROM FIRST REPAIR, FORD MOTOR COMPANY DID NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. DT”

“THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT WOULD ONLY MOVE IN REVERSE AND WOULD SLIP IN ALL GEARS. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS DUE TO MODIFICATION CONSUMER MADE TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION WHEN IN TOW. WARRANTY REPAIR IS DENIED BY THE DEALER. *JG”

“VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION REPAIRED IN AUGUST OF 2001. SOON THEREAFTER, IT STARTED TO HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH SHIFTS. NOW, THE VEHICLE GRINDS GOING INTO 5TH GEAR / REFUSE TO GO INTO 5TH AND WILL ACTUALLY FORCE ITSELF OUT OF 5TH GEAR WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO / DRIVE ON DC HIGHWAYS. TOOK IT TO A DEALER ON MAY 30TH, WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO SAME DEALER ON JULY 5TH, RODE WITH SHOP MANAGER WHO RECREATED THE PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS FOR REPAIR. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO HAD IT ALL WEEK, REPAIRED SOME COMPONENT, BUT PROBLEM RESURFACED ON TRIP HOME FROM DEALERSHIP. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED THAT I COULD DRIVE A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION ON THE HIGHWAY FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, THEN BRING IT IN. I AM TEACHING IN ANOTHER STATE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, SO I AM IN AN URGENT NEED OF A FUNCTIONAL VEHICLE.*AK”