RoadVitals

1999 Ford Escort Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Nov 8, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 325 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalVisibility
Filed Nov 8, 2010
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HEATER BLOWER FAILED AND SPARKS WERE SHOOTING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE HARNESS BEFORE A FIRE IGNITED. THE CONTACT LOCATED A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE WIRING OF THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM, IN WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON HIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID
10364409
Incident
Nov 6, 2010
Mileage
105,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 26, 2001
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY HEATER FAN RUNNING AND BEGAN TO GET A BURNING SMELL. THE FAN THEN QUIT RUNNING. WHEN I INVESTIGATED TO FIND OUT WHY THE FAN NO LONGER WOULD WORK, I FOUND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR THE FAN MOTOR HAD MELTED AND LOOKED BURNT AS THOUGH IT MAY HAVE SMOLDERED. I HAVE THAT PIECE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED.*AK

NHTSA ID
752612
Incident
Sep 26, 2001
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Sep 10, 2001

TAPE GETS STUCK IN TAPE DECK AND WON'T PLAY OR EJECT. IT JUST MAKES A WHINING NOISE. HEATER/DEFROST DOESN'T WANT TO WORK IN EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID
751985
Incident
Feb 21, 2000
Body & structureFuel systemVisibility
Filed Dec 21, 2000

UNDER CARRIAGE IS SEPARATING. SPOT WELDS ARE BREAKING. FUEL TANK STRAPS ARE NOT SECURED FOR TANK, WHICH CAUSES IT TO MOVE AROUND. STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED BECAUSE OF SPOT WELDS. WINDSHIELD TILTS TOWARDS DRIVER. PASSENGER'S DOOR IN REAR OF THE STATION WAGON WOULD PIVOT AND WAS GETTING WORSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
876920
Incident
Oct 13, 2000
Visibility
Filed Oct 13, 2000

WHEN DEFROSTING MY WINDSHIELD, THE SECTION DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME NEVER FULLY DEFROSTS. WHEN THE SUN HITS IT IT GLARES SO MUCH THAT I CANNOT SEE ANYTHING. DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IT ONLY DEFROSTS FROM THE INSIDE IF I WIPE IT OFF, BUT OTHERWISE IT STAYS FOGGED UP.*AK

NHTSA ID
734268
Heating & air conditioningVisibility
Filed Jun 30, 2000

WATER IS BLOWING OUT OF A/C AND AIR VENTS AND DROPPING ON FLOORBOARD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR HOW TO CORRECT IT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
864584
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Visibility
Filed May 15, 2000

HEATER CORE LEAKING, CAUSING WINDOWS TO FOG -DEALER HAS REPLACED IT ONCE STILL FOGS WINDOWS. *AK

NHTSA ID
722680
Visibility
Filed Apr 4, 2000

PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR DOES NOT GIVE A TRUE LOCATION OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID
551727

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Airbags66Engine64Electrical42Suspension42Transmission32Brakes25Seat belts17Steering16Tires & wheels14Fuel system13Exterior lighting12Interior & seats10Driver assistance8Heating & air conditioning8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .