My last car was a Ford Escort 1999 I drove it for nine years and put 200,000 miles on it. The worst thing that ever happened was I needed a new power steering pump once.
I sold the car cheaply to a friend ($300) who drove it for a year and a half, put another 30,000+ miles on it then he sold it to a friend of his cheap who still drives it now about half a year later.

I guess it depends on which car you get. My family has always had Fords and so far not very many problems.

As far as the auto industry failing it is partially due to the Unions. But I think mostly it's a case of idiots mismanaging everything from budgets to how to efficiently make things.

I love my Ford Escape and when this one dies I will get another one.

I am sorry this happened to OP and I hope that this doesn't happen to anyone else.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.