1989 FORD ESCORT HATCHBACK - A PASSENGER EXITING THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR SEAT STEPPED ON AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE CARPET WHICH CAUSED THE +12V AND GROUND WIRES TO SHORT TOGETHER. THIS CONNECTOR IS PART OF THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP HARNESS. THE CONNECTOR MELTED, THE WIRE HARNESS BURNED AND THE CARPET SINGED. TH…
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1989 FORD ESCORT HATCHBACK - A PASSENGER EXITING THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR SEAT STEPPED ON AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE CARPET WHICH CAUSED THE +12V AND GROUND WIRES TO SHORT TOGETHER. THIS CONNECTOR IS PART OF THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP HARNESS. THE CONNECTOR MELTED, THE WIRE HARNESS BURNED AND THE CARPET SINGED. THERE WAS SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10086882
120,000 miles · Feb 4, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED ALTERNATOR. ALSO, THE SECOND ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE GAS PUMP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE BLAZE. CONSUMER CLAIMED IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE INSTALLATION THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10057546
25 miles · Oct 13, 2003
Electrical System
BATTERY CHARGING LIGHT GOING ON & OFF AT TIMES. ALSO ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED FUEL GAUGE WILL REGISTER ABOVE FULL & AT SAME TIME TEMPERATURE. GAUGE GOES UP TO MAXIMUM. NEITHER BEING CLOSE TO BE CORRECTED. DURING THIS TIME I NOTICED KEYS & IGNITION BECOME VERY HOT. IF TURNED ON & OFF COUPLE TIMES IT IS …
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BATTERY CHARGING LIGHT GOING ON & OFF AT TIMES. ALSO ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED FUEL GAUGE WILL REGISTER ABOVE FULL & AT SAME TIME TEMPERATURE. GAUGE GOES UP TO MAXIMUM. NEITHER BEING CLOSE TO BE CORRECTED. DURING THIS TIME I NOTICED KEYS & IGNITION BECOME VERY HOT. IF TURNED ON & OFF COUPLE TIMES IT IS OK AGAIN . EXCEPT OCCASIONAL CHARGING LIGHT ON & OFF WITH NO LOSS OF POWER. CAN'T FIND CAUSE! *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041688
89,000 miles · May 12, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1989 FORD ESCORT SHE TURNED L TO PULL INTO A DRIVE WAY AND SHE SMELLED SMOKE. SHE ONLY GOT A FEW YARDS AND THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. I DID CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT INSURED FOR FIRE. THEY RECOMMENDED I CONTACT FORD. WHEN ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY DEFECTS THAT WOULD …
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WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1989 FORD ESCORT SHE TURNED L TO PULL INTO A DRIVE WAY AND SHE SMELLED SMOKE. SHE ONLY GOT A FEW YARDS AND THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. I DID CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT INSURED FOR FIRE. THEY RECOMMENDED I CONTACT FORD. WHEN ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY DEFECTS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO BURST INTO FLAMES. I WAS TOLD NO THERE WAS NOT. SO THERE WAS IT WAS NOT INVESTIGATED. WHILE LOOKING OVER THIS WEB SITE I HAVE FOUND MANY FIRES. AND I WAS WONDER IF ANY ACTION COULD BE TAKEN. I DO NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S DAUGHTER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND POSSIBLY BURNING TO DEATH. AND I FEEL FORD SHOULD HAVE BEEN HONEST WITH ME. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10018561
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2002
Electrical System
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN HE PLACED THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001060
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2002
Electrical System
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS STALLING DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF AN ELECTRONIC MODULE ON THE DISTRIBUTOR, WHEN THE ENGINE GOT HOT, IT CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE MODULE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION DUE TO THE RULING IN ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #565681
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000
Electrical SystemPower Train
VEHICLE STALLS ALOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS. OWNER HAS TO BLOW DRY DISTRIBUTOR CAP BEFORE VEHICLE WILL START AGAIN. ALSO, WHEN DEPRESSING CLUTCH PEDAL, VEHICLE STALLS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #873477
Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES CONSUMER STARTED SMELLING SMOKE, AND 5 MINUTES LATER, SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AFTER SHE SMELLED THE SMOKE. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #863391
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2000
Electrical System
CAONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 96V07100/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S28/ IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THIS RECALL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #858229
Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2000
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
ENGINE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON,THE CAR STALLS AND JERKS.I WAS WITH MY CAR IN TWO SERVICES. THE FIRST:PYRAMID SHELL SERVICE CHARGED ME WITH 400$ FOR SOME IGNITIONS MODULES WHO WERE REPLACED.AFTER I PICKED UP MY CAR IN ONE HOUR I MET THE SAME PROBLEMS.I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AND THEY CHECKED AGAIN AND SAID THAT WILL COST ME ANOTHE…
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ENGINE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON,THE CAR STALLS AND JERKS.I WAS WITH MY CAR IN TWO SERVICES. THE FIRST:PYRAMID SHELL SERVICE CHARGED ME WITH 400$ FOR SOME IGNITIONS MODULES WHO WERE REPLACED.AFTER I PICKED UP MY CAR IN ONE HOUR I MET THE SAME PROBLEMS.I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AND THEY CHECKED AGAIN AND SAID THAT WILL COST ME ANOTHER 400$ BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE COMPUTER.ISAID NO,BECAUSE I HAD NO TRUST IN THEM AND I WENT TO JOHN WEST FORD .O.K.THEY CHANGED AGAIN ALMOST THE SAME PARTS AND CHARGED ME WITH 620$.I PAID EVERYTHING.I JUST THOUGHT THAT WILL BE GOOD. NO WAY.AFTER A FEW HOURS,WHEN I DROVE MY CAR HOME ON THE HYWAY IT START TO SHOW THE SAME NICE PROBLEM.STALLS ,JERKS.BUT NO DIFFERENCIES.IT WAS THE SAME LIKE ON THE FIRST TIME.WHAT CAN I DO?MY CAR IS STILL BAD.MY MONEY ARE GONE.WHO WILL BE RESPONSABLE FOR THAT?ME?I GAVE MY MONEY WISHING TO SEE MY CAR FIXED,REPAIRD.THOSE GUYS TOOK MY MONEY AND DIDN'T DO THE RIGHT THING.I AM THE GREAT LOOSER AND THEY WILL BE ALWAYS THE WINNERS.HOW CAN I TAKE MY MONEY BACK OR SEE MY CAR REPAIRD?SORRY FOR MY WRONG ENGLISH.THANK YOU AND PLEASE HELP ME. *AK
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
DP91003 · Engine Stalling
Opened Nov 29, 1990 · Closed Jan 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE STALLING
EA90008 · Failed Passive Restraint
Opened Dec 27, 1989 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT
1989 Ford Escort Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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