RoadVitals

1999 Ford ZX2 (escort) Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
15
Latest Nov 28, 2016
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 7, 2000

What this page shows

Our database holds 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Ford ZX2 (escort). Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–15 of 15

Airbags
Filed Nov 28, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

HIT FROUT END AT AIR BAG SENCERS THAY DID NOT DEPLOYED COPPS SAID THAY SOULD OF MY FEAINCA HAS BRUISEING TO CHEST WALL AND PULLED MUSCIALS IN HIS NECK

NHTSA ID
10928266
Incident
Nov 24, 2016
Mileage
302,980 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 2, 2016

CONTROL MODULE PROCEDURES OK. SO IF THERE IS A PROGRAMMING PROCEDURE IF IT FAILS YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO THEN TELL ME YOUR GOING TO CHARGE ME 50 DOLLARS TO TELL ME THE PROCEDURE LET ME CALM DOWN. YOUR KIDDING RIGHT. THAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING I THINK I'VE EVER READ.YOUR AN AMERICAN COMPANY YOU OWE YOUR EXISTENCE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC OK SO MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL TELL YOU TO TAKE YOUR [XXX] UP PRODUCT THAT YOU [XXX] AND EXPECT TO CHARGE US FOR YOUR [XXX] AND STUFF IT UP YOUR [XXX] SERIOUSLY WHAT KIND OF CRAP ARE YOU PULLING YA KNOW WHAT IM GOING TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE COMPETITORS AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU TOLD ME ON YOUR WEB SIGHT "WE DIDN'T BUILD OUR PRODUCT PROPERLY BUT WE CAN TELL YOU THE PROCEDURE TO FIX IT BUT HEY UM WERE GONNA CHARGE YA 50 BUCKS CAUSE AH YOU TRUSTED US TO BUILD A QUALITY PRODUCT AND WE DIDN'T SO GIVE US MORE MONEY TO PAY FOR OUR MISTAKE AND WE WILL GIVE YOU THE PROCEDURE OF HOW TO FIX IT CAUSE WE DON'T GIVE A [XXX] ABOUT OUR PRODUCT JUST THE MONEY YOUR FOOLISH ENOUGH TO PAY FOR IT"IM SENDING IT TO DODGE,CHEVY=MAYBE AS CONSUMERS YOU WILL BE FORCED TO FIX YOU PRODUCT BECAUSE YA KNOW YA [XXX] AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD PAY US BACK FOR THE CRAP YOU SOLD US INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10817370
Incident
Aug 25, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 17, 2012

I WAS OUT DRIVING THE OTHER DAY, AND I HEARD SOMETHING DRAGGING ON THE GROUND, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK, AND UPON INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS HAD RUSTED OUT, ONE OF THEM SO BADLY THAT IT HAD SPLIT IN TWO, AND THE OTHER IS CLOSE TO FAILURE. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH, AND FOUND THAT SOME FORDS (PICKUPS) ON THE SAME YEAR RANGE HAD A RECALL ON THE SAME ISSUE. FORD HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE ISSUE FOR MAY CAR MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471234
Incident
Aug 17, 2012
Mileage
162,768 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Aug 7, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPG THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATED. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS LATER THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME STEADY THEN COMPLETELY FAILED AND WENT TO ZERO. THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN ALSO FAILED. THE CURRENT AND MILEAGES WERE 130,788 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10198786
Incident
Jul 24, 2007
Mileage
130,788 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 9, 2005

1999 FORD ZX2, ROUGH IDLE AND VIBRATION. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO CHECK WHY IT WAS IDLING SO ROUGH, COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. FOUND TSB 031515, WHICH SAYS THAT THE BUSHINGS ON THE ENGINE MOUNT WERE DEFECTIVE. FORD REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE MOUNT IN CARS MADE AFTER MINE WAS BOUGHT. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $400. FORD REFUSED TO CONSIDER REIMBURSEMENT. TSB 031515 IS SECOND BULLETIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10139121
Incident
Dec 3, 2004
Engine
Filed Jul 28, 2005

DT: CALLER STATED PCV VALVE HAD A HOLE IN IT. WHEN SHE WENT TO BUY THE PART SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS DISCONTINUED. CALLER COULD NOT FIND THE PART EVEN IN A A JUNK YARD. MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

NHTSA ID
10130443
Incident
Jul 26, 2005
Mileage
91,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 28, 2004

MY SON'S COOPER TIRE SEPARATED AT THE POINT WHERE THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE TREAD WHILE HE WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING HIM TO SWERVE AND RUN OFF THE ROAD. BOTH HE AND I CHECKED THE TIRE AND SAW NO PUNCTURE. I CALLED COOPER TIRE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE, SINCE IT WAS A CERTAIN DOT NUMBER, WOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE. I WAS DIRECTED TO A COOPER TIRE DEALER. THE DEALER TOOK THE TIRE IN THE BACK AND RETURNED WITH THE TIRE SHOWING A PUNCTURE MARK IN THE TIRE TREAD. COOPER TIRE NOW CLAIMS THAT THE PUNCTURE WAS THE REASON FOR THE SEPARATION, AND THAT THE TIRE WAS PROBABLY UNDER INFLATED ALSO. BOTH OF THESE CLAIMS WERE ALSO USED BY COOPER IN LAWSUITS, WHICH I SUBSEQUENTLY WAS MADE AWARE OF WHEN SEARCHING THE INTERNET. I DID NOT SEE ANY PUNCTURE PRIOR TO GOING TO THE TIRE DEALER. IF THERE WAS A PUNCTURE IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHEN MY SON SPUN OFF THE ROAD INTO THE DITCH. THERE IS STILL THE ISSUE OF THE SEPARATION OF THE TIRE INTO TWO PARTS WHICH OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ID
10093273
Incident
Sep 12, 2004
AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 29, 2004
Crash reported

THE DESIGN OF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER BREAKS FRONT WINDSHIELD ON ESCORT ZX2'S. THE COVER FLIPS UP WHEN IT COULD FLIP DOWN WITHOUT DAMAGING THE WINDSHIELD. EVERY ZX2 I'VE SEEN OR HEARD ABOUT WHERE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HAS HAD TO HAVE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. A REAL MONEY MAKER FOR DEALERSHIPS OR GLASS SHOPS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10060052
Incident
Jan 28, 2003
Mileage
80,000 mi
Body & structureEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Jan 16, 2004

MY 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2 HAS A VERY BAD VIBRATION PROBLEM. THE VIBRATION IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, THROUGH THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VIBRATION IS SO BAD THAT WHEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND STOPPED AT LIGHTS MY HANDS AND FEET SOMETIMES GO NUMB. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL" FOR ESCORTS. I CONTACTED FORD, WHO STATED THAT THEIR ENGINEERS SAY THIS IS A "NORMAL" CONDITION. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A PERFORMANCE/COMFORT ISSUE BUT A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL OR HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL PROPERLY DUE TO NUMBNESS CASED BY THE VIBRATION, IT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE VIBRATION IS SO BAD THAT YOU CAN NOT SEE PROPERLY WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS, WHICH IS ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN. ACCORDING TO WEB SITES WHERE PEOPLE LOG THEIR COMPLAINTS, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VIBRATIONS AND HAVE RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE FROM FORD. *CB

NHTSA ID
10054301
Incident
Jan 16, 2004
EngineExterior lightingTransmission
Filed Jul 20, 2003

I HAVE A 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2. THE CAR HAS A ROUGH IDLE IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE CAR SHAKES SO BAD THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS BOUNCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND PCM COMPUTER UDGRADED, AND STILL DOES IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM IN ESCORTS AND MYSTIQUES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS HOW COME THE CONSUMER GETS STUCK PAYING THE BILL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10028670
Incident
Jun 11, 2003
Mileage
46,389 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2003

ON 06/12/03 WHILE DRIVING, THE TIMING BELT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. DEALER REPAIRED. ON 06/24/03 WHILE DRIVING, THE TIMING BELT BROKE AGAIN, AND CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE "CRANK" HAD TOO MUCH "PLAY" WHERE IT FITTED INTO THE DRIVETRAIN. THIS CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO BREAK TWICE, WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE. *AK THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT A PART FROM THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION TO THE ENGINE FROM AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10025018
Incident
Jun 24, 2003
Mileage
85,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 15, 2003

I HAD LEFT MY FAN AND HEAT ON FROM PREVIOUS DAY. THAT MORNING THE FAN WOULD NOT BLOW. PH

NHTSA ID
10007539
Incident
Feb 12, 2003
Mileage
54,300 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 11, 2001

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. AS PER OWNER'S MANUAL COULD BE EMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
885650
Incident
Apr 8, 2001
Brakes
Filed May 22, 2000

ABS BRAKES FAILED RESULTING VEHICLE COLLISION. *MJS

NHTSA ID
552334
Incident
Jan 5, 2000
Transmission
Filed Feb 7, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE ROUTE ROAD,GOING UP A HILL IN THIRD GEAR AND SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR, VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED INTO A 360 DEGREE ANGLE AND LANDED IN A DITCH. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT THE UNIBODY WAS CROOKED. CAR HAD BEEN BACK ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER. GOING NORTH ON STATE ROUTE WITH SOME SNOW ON THE ROAD, AND SHIFTING FROM THIRD GEAR TO FOURTH GEAR WHILE TRAVELLING 35 MPH, VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN TURNED INTO 360 DEGREE ANGLE AND LANDED IN A DITCH, FACING SOUTH. *AK

NHTSA ID
856383
Incident
Feb 5, 2000

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .