1999 Ford Escort Transmission Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10277102

Incident

May 15, 2009

Mileage

95,000 mi

WHEN PRESSING GAS ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAR DOES NOT MOVE. CAR HESITATES WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. OCCASIONALLY (ABOUT 1 OF 2 TIMES) THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND OTHER SERVICE LIGHTS APPEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY ON 11/29/00. TRANSMISSION FURTHER COMPLAINED ABOUT ON 1/15/01 AND 8/9/01 - TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED BY AAA TWICE IN PAST TWO WEEKS. 5 MECHANICS CANNOT DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN CAR IS IDLING, IN GEAR, THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10166813

Incident

Aug 23, 2006

Mileage

99,000 mi

DT: 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE GEAR SHIFTER MALFUNCTIONED. IT DID NOT GO INTO 2 OR 1 GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED LAST YEAR ON AUGUST 3, 2004. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY STATED THESE GEARS SHOULD NOT BE USED. THE ENTIRE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WILL NEED TO REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO, IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD. THIS CAUSED SOMETHING IN THE MECHANISM TO BEND. THE REMEDY DID NOT LAST A YEAR. THIS PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING ALL OF THE TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10136325

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

NOTICED THAT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING UP ON AND OFF, CHANGED SPARK PLUGS,WIRES, LIGHT WOULD GO OFF FOR A PERIOD AND THAN COME BACK ON. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY BETWEEN 65-70 MILES/HOUR WHEN I HURED A LOUD BANG , PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, I HAD THE CAR TAKING TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT THE VALVE SEAT IN THE HEAD HAD SEPERATED AND FELL INTO THE MOTOR. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE 1.9 MOTOR HAD A FLAW IN THE HEAD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS. THAN HE SHOWED ME ANOTHER ESCORT THAT6 HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST CAR HE SEENED WITH THIS PROBLEM. SECOND PROBLEM: I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 TRANSMITIONS WITH IN A YEAR, WHICH WAS COVERED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND POSSIBLY A 4TH. I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THE MOTOR WENT. THIRD PROBLEM: WHILE AT A STOP SIGN A WAS REAR ENDED AN ABOUT 30-35 MILES/HOUR, MY SEAT BELLT DID NOT HOLD ME AND MY SEAT COLLEPSED ON TOP OF MY CHILD WHO WAS IN A CAR SEAT BEHIND ME. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOPE ABOUT THE WEEK BEFORE THE MOTOR WENT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE TRANSMITION BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR NEW THAT THE VALVE WAS PREPERING TO FAIL. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD REDESIGNED THE HEAD, SO THIS PROBLEM COULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10127536

Incident

Mar 4, 2003

Mileage

8,300 mi

1999 FORD ESCORT, 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STATION WAGON: OIL LEAKED THROUGH THE CAMSHAFT BOLTS INTO THE MANUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, CAUSING IT TO GUM UP AND EVENTUALLY FAIL TO DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED THE CAR LURCHING FORWARD WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED, AND A THUMPING SOUND WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE BY KAYSER FORD IN MADISON WI; UNCLEAR WHAT WAS DONE WITH THE OLD PARTS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10104329

Incident

Dec 15, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION FOR 1999 FORD ESCORT PURCHASED NEW. I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY THEN 72 YEAR OLD MOTHER WHO PUT 29,000 MILES ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10096170

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

29,000 mi

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO SHIFT THE GEARS AND A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10096897

Incident

Oct 14, 2004

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE IT WENT BAD WITHIN AT 47,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE LIKE IT WAS STRAINING TO GO INTO GEAR. IT FELT LIKE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN SECOND GEAR INSTEAD OF DRIVE. DEALERSHIP ONLY REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091662

Incident

Apr 20, 2000

Mileage

22,000 mi

OUR ZX2 HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE! ON 9-10-02 (29,183 MILES) $342.30 WORTH OF WORK WAS DONE ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM: FRICTION RELINE, DISC PADS, BRAKE SHOES, ROTORS, DRUMS, DISC HARDWARE (WHICH WAS BROKEN), SHIM KIT, RETURN SPRINGS (WEAK), BLEED & ADJUST, AND BEARING PACK. ON 6-19-03 (37,829 MILES) WE HAD TO HAVE THE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE COST FOR THIS WAS $1560.07, BUT SINCE OUR WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED OUR LOCAL MECHANIC HAD FIREND AT A FORD DEALER WHO GAVE US THE 'GOOD FAITH' POLICY AND WE ONLY PAID HALF. GEE...WHAT A BARGAIN FOR A 4 YEAR OLD CAR. 2 MONTHS LATER, OUR A/C WENT OUT. W DELAYED REPAIR DUE TO $. ON 2-10-04 (44,000 MILES) THE HOUSING AND WATER PUMP BROKE. THIS IS A HUGE METAL PIECE WHICH THE MECHANIC SAID HE'D HAD NEVER SEEN BREAK. IT SNAPPED LIKE PLASTIC. THE COST OF THIS WAS $509.47. ON 2-24-04 (44,428 MILES) WE HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY AND CABELS REPLACED WHICH COST $117.58. ON 3-22-04 WE REPAIRED THE A/C (45,524 MILES). THE TECHNICIAN FOUND CONSTANT CONTROL RELAY MODULE FAULTY. THIS COST $375.76. ON 4-25-04 (@ 45,700 MILES) ANOTHER HUGE METAL PIECE BROKE! IT WAS THE SERP. TENSION HOUSING AND BELT. THE MECHANIC AGAIN SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN THAT PROBLEM, SPECIAL ORDERED THE PART FROM A FORD DEALER WHO WAS ALSO SHOCKED. THIS COST US $195.96. SO FAR, WE HAVE SUNK $2321.11 INTO THIS CAR. THE WORST PART IS THAT WE STILL OWE ON IT. MAY OF '04 WE WENT TO LOU GRUBB FORD AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE OUR OIL CHANGES WERE NOT DONE AT A FORD DEALER! FORD FIELD ENGINEER DENIED SEEING US. THE FORD C.S. WOMAN SAID, "WELL, I GUESS IT'S TIME TO TRADE IN THE CAR. PEOPLE TRADE IN BAD CARS ALL THE TIME". I HAVE ISSUES KNOWING THAT SOME POOR SOUL WILL OWN THIS MONEY TRAP. WE HAVE WRITTEN 3 LETTERS TO THE FORD HEADQUARTERS IN DEARBORN, MI, BUT HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE. IT SHAKES & IDLES LIKE IT COULD DIE AT ANY TIME! I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A CLASS ACTION SUIT. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN IF THIS IS THEIR IDEA OF 'BUILT FORD TOUGH'. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080805

Incident

Jul 11, 2004

I HAD TO PUT AN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR LAST YEAR. NOW MY AC DOESN'T WORK AND I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AND PUT A NEW ALTERNATOR IN IT TOO. I HAVE HAD ISSUE AFTER ISSUE WITH MY ZX2. *JB

NHTSA ID

10074726

Incident

May 30, 2004

1999 ESCORT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED AT 30,906 MILES (6/8/2001). 35,386 MILES LATER (3/30/2004), THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY BLEW UP AND DESTROYED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. FORD'S CUSTOMER SUPPORT CNTR ON 4/6/04 SAID I WOULD BE RESPONDED TO WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS. I TRIED E-MAILING THEM AGAIN, AND I STILL HAVE NO RESPONSE. A TOTAL OF 66,292 MILES AND TWO NEW TRANSMISSIONS BROKEN. TODAY IS SIX BUSINESS DAYS LATER. I FEEL I AM NOW BEING IGNORED BY FORD. THEY KNOW I HAVE BOUGHT 8 FORD CARS/TRUCKS SINCE 1977. I HAVE DMV RECORDS FOR 6 OF THEM.

NHTSA ID

10066116

Incident

Mar 30, 2004

Mileage

66,292 mi

TRANSMISSION VERY ERRATIC WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME. ALSO MAKES A WHINNING NOISE ON OCCASION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058184

Incident

Sep 12, 2003

Mileage

39,000 mi

WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE GEAR, IT DOES NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10006211

Incident

Jan 27, 2003

Mileage

3,300 mi

WITH NO WARNING OR EARLY SIGNS, TRANSMISSION BURNED UP. DROVE FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE, WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND HAD NOT TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BLACK. HAD TO GET ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REBUILT.

NHTSA ID

10002893

Incident

Dec 26, 2002

Mileage

81,000 mi

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

764612

TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DETERMINED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON APRIL 26, 2002 TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER STATED BOTH TIMES TRANSMISSION WAS DRAGGING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012813

Incident

Jan 26, 2001

GEARS ARE NOT CHANGING PROPERLY. TRANSMISSION IS STICKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011645

Incident

Oct 12, 2001

VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IN NEUTRAL, CAUSING A FRONT END COLLISION WITH GARAGE WALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT OIL PAN WAS DENTED. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8000720

Incident

Dec 13, 2001

NOT ONLY WAS MY REBATE CHECK STOLEN BY SOMEONE WORKING AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT I HAVE COMPLAINED SO MANY TIMES SINCE PURCHASING MY CAR. I BELIEVE THAT I 'VE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND BECAUSE I'VE JUST PAST QUALIFYING FOR CALIFORNIA'S LEMON LAW. MY CAR IS UNSAFE IT ROLLS BACK ON HILLS AND NOW IT WON'T GO INTO PARK. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE BUYING THE CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID

754333

Incident

Jan 8, 2000

VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN A YEAR WHEN A METALIC KNOCKING NOISE STARTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE LIFTERS & OTHER PARTS HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE BEGINING OF THE YEAR 2000. CAR STILL HAS THE NOISE AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THE FORD INTERNATIONAL STILL DOES NOT WANT TO CLAIM THE VEHICLE A DEFECT. THE SECOND BAND OF THE TRANSMISION BROKE INTO MANY PARTS AND THE TECHNITION OF BAYAMON FORD SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD SEEN THIS ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. HE HAS SEEN THIS IN EXPLORER & EXPEDITIONS, BUT NOT ON FORD ESCORTS. BAYAMON FORD NOR AUTO VEGA HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS THIS PROBLEM IN MORE THAN A YEAR. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT ANOTHER RECURRING PROBLEM IN THIS CAR IS THAT THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET KEEPS MELTING. THIS IS A FIRE HAZZARD AND IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AFTER REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT FIXTURE. I NOTICED THAT THE NEGATIVE WIRE IS THINNER THAN BOTH OF THE POSITIVE WIRES, THUS CAUSING THE OVER HEATING & CAUSING IT TO MELT. ANOTHER RECURRING PROBLEM IS THAT ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS BECAUSE THEY ARE SHOT. I WOULD LIKE TO GET A TECHNITION TO PROPERLY DO ITS JOB AND NOT TO PUT MYSELF OR OTHER PEOPLE IN DANGER BECAUSE HE/SHE DOES NOT WANT TO BLOW THE WHISTLE ON A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

748425

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

CATASTHROPIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE GOING 75 MPH ON FREEWAY. ENGINE RUNS FINE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS OR SIGN(S) OF IMPENDING FAILURE. WOULD LIKE MANUFACTURER TO DO MATERIAL FAILURE ANALYSIS. *AK

NHTSA ID

745108

Incident

May 9, 2001

WHILE SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND RUNNING ROUGH. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. TECHNICIAN STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

883489

10/09/99 NELSON FORD SUPPOSEDLY FIXED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION MAKING TERRIBLE NOISE. 11/27/00 TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT 75MPH ON I40 IN NC. ALL AMERICAN FORD REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE NEW. 12/26/00 TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF THIRD GEAR NEARLY RESULTING IN ACCIDENT AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. 01/09/01 WADE FORD SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS UNRESOLVED SITUATION AND I AM CONVICED THAT I WILL DIE IN THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXPLAINED SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

740706

Incident

Nov 27, 2000

WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE CAR WOULD STALL TRYING TO PUT IN REVERSE WOULDN'T GO TRYING TO PUT IT IN DRIVE WOULDNT GO TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND IT IS DOING THE SAME TING AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

726736

Incident

Apr 28, 2000

THE TAPE DECK EATS TAPES AND RADIO GETS VERY WARM AND MAKES CLIKING NOISE.*ET

NHTSA ID

784109