Date:    3/6/2002
Subject: Ford Escort

My 1999 Ford Escort ZX2 is progressively getting worse.
Vibrations/shudders/lulls started after seven months of use.  Now 2 1/2
years/8 repair attempts later - the escort exhibits a dangerous sporadic
idle surge in conjunction with idle vibrations during load.  Ford claims
everything is normal.  I have evoked the lemon law and am prepared to go to
trial when negotiations fail.  The Escort ZX2 is dangerous and unreliable.
Thank you for your site.  I wish more people would go after Ford and make
them accountable for their Escort lemons.

Editor's note:I wrote back and expressed the sentiment that she was doing the right thing by using the legal system to settle the matter. She wrote back shortly after that with the following message.

Date:    3/7/2002
Subject: Re: Ford Escort

Thank you for your support and site.  The Ford engineer drove my car
yesterday and found 'no abnormalities' and the 'car is operating normally by
Ford standards'.  I was supposed to have a full verbal and written report,
but instead received only the standard invoice with the Service Mgr. MIA.
Ford promised to drive the car a good distance (since the
vibrations/shudders & surges get progressively worse the longer you drive)
but my mileage had changed only 10 miles.  I called Ford customer service
and told them I was tired of being patronized - especially this blatantly -
and would put everything in writing, again, and  from now on all
communication between Ford and myself will be handled thru an attorney.  I
declined last night to speak with a Ford arbiter; Ford obviously could care
less about my safety or my wallet.  I am going to send my info. and tell my
story to anyone who will listen.  I've already received phone calls from JD
Power & Assoc. pertaining to this issue (still waiting to hear from NHTSA -
I won't be holding my breath).  My next step will be to write/call everyone
I can, including various news outlets and consumer groups.  Your site, with
those fabulous links, is extremely informative and has been a great starting
point for me, THANK YOU.  Oh, and if another idiot writes you saying they
love Escorts, please tell them to drive mine and then to please take it!
Take care and thanks again for the site.


UPDATE!! Editor's note:Justice is served! Alysia's story is proof that, if you keep your cool, document everything, and get an attorney, companies like Ford can be made to do the "right thing"!

Date:    9/19/2002
Subject: Lemon case settled

Just wanted to update you:  Unbelievably enough, Ford settled the Lemon
lawsuit.  Ford took their Lemon back and I'm now driving a Toyota.  Thank
you again for your site/links; it put me on the right path to finding
relief.  Thank you so much!


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