1999 Ford Escort engine and engine cooling problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE MOTOR FAILED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,083.”

“COMPANY STATES THEY DO A COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION, SELL HIGH QUALITY USED VEHICLES, MEET CUSTOMERS PERSONAL NEEDS, AND BACK THEIR PRODUCT. NO INSPECTION WAS DONE, ONLY COSMETIC REPAIRS TO SELL THE CAR. NO INSPECTION REPORT CAN BE PRODUCED EXCEPT THE REPAIRS BEFORE CAR WAS PUT ON LOT. THIS VEHICLE IS FAR FROM THE HIGH QUALITY. WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE BACK IN THE SHOP 14 TIMES IN 14 MONTHS. IT DID NOT MEET THE 4 PERSONAL NEEDS WE REQUESTED. EVERYTHING WITH THOSE NEEDS HAS GONE COMPLETELY WRONG! WE DID NOT WANT A FORD; WE GOT A FORD, IT IS NOT RELIABLE. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE AC AT THE SHOP 7 TIMES, NOW RENDERING THE CAR DISABLED. IT IS NOT RELIABLE, KEEPS BREAKING DOWN. IT DOES NOT GET GOOD MILEAGE; CAR GETS 21 MPG WHEN IT SHOULD GET ABOUT 35-38 ACCORDING TO MFG. WARRANTY WAS BURNED BY MILES GOING BACK AND FORTH TO SHOP FOR CONSTANT REPAIRS. 700 MILES FOR THE SAME ISSUE- THE AC. SERVICE ISSUES ARE THAT THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE ROUTE OF THE PROBLEM AND WE KEEP HAVING TO GO BACK TO GET THE SAME THING FIXED. OWNER IS UNCOOPERATIVE, WONT LISTEN, ALWAYS COMES BACK WITH RESPONSES AND REPLIES THAT GO IN CIRCLES. HE WILL NOT LISTEN. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A…”

“OK, SO I JUST BOUGHT MY 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2 ON DECEMBER 1, 2008 AT 82,000 MILES. 2 MONTHS LATER I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ALTERNATOR IN FEBRUARY 2009. IN MAY 2009 MY ENGINE BLEW, APPARENTLY THE #1 ROD SEPARATED AND WENT THROUGH THE OIL PAN. I REPLACED THE ENGINE SINCE I STILL HAVE A LOAN ON THE CAR. IT IS NOW JULY 2009 AND MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I ONLY HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 8 MONTHS AND REPAIR COSTS ARE MORE THAN WHAT I PAID FOR THIS. UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T GET RID OF IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR A BETTER CAR AND NOW I AM IN THIS ENDLESS CYCLE OF REPAIRS. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE DROPPED TWO VALVE SEATS. AS A RESULT, TWO CYLINDER HEADS FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS IF IT WERE NOT RECEIVING ANY POWER AND THEN SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL DROVE POORLY. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A DISTURBING, CHOPPING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. SHE PURCHASED A REBUILT ENGINE AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION SENSORS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW ENGINE, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER A LIFETIME WARRANTY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A MONTH OF HER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 2007. A DAY OR TWO LATER, THE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE RADIO AND CLOCK IN THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON AND OFF AND MADE A STRANGE NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,964 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150. UPDATED 5/19/08 *CN THE GEAR LIGHT WENT OUT. THE MARKER LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED”

“I PURCHASED MY SE IN NOVEMBER OF 2006 WITH LESS THAN 83K MILES ON IT. THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT, ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS CRACKED. I HAD THE HEAD REPAIRED, AND LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT THE HEAD CRACKED AGAIN. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED. I HAVE NOW HAD NEW HEADS, NEW ENGINE, NEW FUEL PUMP AND A NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLED AND NOW AM HAVING A NEW PROBLEM. WHEN I PULLED OUT FROM A STOP, THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE ENGINE IS NOW EMITTING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN STOPPED, AND I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS ALL IN ADDITION TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING, FAULTY FRONT HEADLIGHT, TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS FLUSHED AND LOUD ENGINE NOISE. I HAVE SPENT MORE ON REPAIRS THAN I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE, AND NOW HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY IN TO IT, AND IT STILL HAS LESS THAN 94K MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY FIRST FORD, AND WILL BE MY LAST. *TR”