2001 Ford ZX2 (escort) Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford ZX2 (escort), grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1037.0%
- Transmission414.8%
- Brakes311.1%
- Driver assistance13.7%
- Electrical13.7%
- Interior & seats13.7%
- Other / unspecified13.7%
- Seat belts13.7%
- Suspension13.7%
- Airbags13.7%
- Visibility13.7%
- Body & structure13.7%
- Heating & air conditioning13.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PREVIOUS OWNER, WHO WAS ALSO THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I DO, IT WAS MY DAD'S CAR SO I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT. WHILE DRIVING, MOSTLY WHEN COASTING OR SLOWING DOWN, THE OIL LIGHT, THEN THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF. THE CAR CAN BE STARTED UP IMMEDIATELY WITH NO PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE CHARGING SYSTEM CHECKED-EVERYTHING WAS OPERATIVE. MY DAD HAS HAD NUMEROUS OIL CHANGES AND THE DEALERSHIP-WHICH IS WHERE HE ALWAYS GOT SERVICED, NEVER FOUND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE WHILE PERFORMING OIL CHANGES. IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS BECAUSE IT SHUTS OFF ON ME LIKE THIS 2 OR MORE TIMES A WEEK, MY DAD HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE HE BOUGHT THE CAR WITHIN THE YEAR THE 2001 MODELS WERE RELEASED. *TR
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. IT SHAKES AND VIBRATES REALLY BAD. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISIC OF THE MOTOR. WELL, IT WAS GETTING WORSE SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED REPLACED. I HAD ALL OF THOSE REPLACED. IT STILL SHAKES AND VIBRATES A LOT. IT ONLY HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT. IT SHAKES SO MUCH THAT MY HOOD BECOMES LOOSE AND HAS TO BE TIGHTNED UP. IT WOULDN'T GO OUT OF PARK EITHER SO THAT HAD TO BE FIXED. NOW, IT WON'T START. IT'S AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP YET A THIRD TIME BECAUSE IT WILL ONLY START IF IT'S JUMP STARTED. IF YOU TRY TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER, EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR GOES HAYWIRE. THEY THINK IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM NOW. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS CAR AS IT ONLY HAD 15 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT AND IT RAN SMOOTHLY. NOW IT ONLY HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT BUT IT SHAKES AND VIBRATES LIKE IT HAS OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY CAR VIBRATES WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK. IT VIBRATES SO BAD THAT I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL PLACES AN NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHY IT VIBRATES SO MUCH. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN I AM IN DRIVE OR "N". *AK
I HAVE A 2001 FORD ZX2. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON IT IN MARCH 1, 2002 AND NOW IT IS GONE AGAIN IT IS NOW 4/12/2004. MY CAR WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. BEFORE THAT IT CONSTANTLY SHAKES UNTIL THE CAR TURNED OFF WHEN I WAS STOPPED FOR TOO LONG.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
FORD ESCORT ZX2 - BRAKE PROBLEMS. PREMATURE WEARING OF ROTARIES AND DRUM. LOCKING UP OF COMPONENTS INVOLVING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. INCIDENT FIRST HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2004, THEN WITH BACK DRUM IN JUNE 2004.*AK
I BEEN DRIVING A FORD ESCORT ZX2 (2001) THAT HAS LESS THAN 25,000 MILES AND ABS. BRAKING HARD AND/OR ON SLIPPARY CONDITIONS CAUSES THE BRAKES TO GRIND HARD AND LOUD NOISES. SOMETIMES WHILE IT SNOWING THE BRAKES/ABS FAIL.ED ONE TIME WHILE IT WAS SNOWING THE BRAKES GRID BUT DID NOT STOP THE CAR. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO SLID RIGHT THOUGH THE RED LIGHT. LUCKLY, I WAS ABLE TO SKID TO THE SIDE AVOIDING ALL TRAFFIC. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF THIS PROBLEM WAS LOOKED INTO. I DO NOT WANT AN ACCIDENTS TO OCCUR BECAUSE OF FAULT BRAKE SYSTEM(S). IF YOU NEED ANY MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU, JAMES BECKWITH. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER VEHICLE WAS IDLE FOR AWHILE, CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION, AND MAKING IT HARD FOR VEHICLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR CONDITION IS INOPERATIVE.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
BLOWER MOTOR IN CAR QUIT WORKING. THE BLOWER MOTOR WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH HAD SHORT CIRCUITED CAUSING THE WIRE TO MELT AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2001 FORD ZX2. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON IT IN MARCH 1, 2002 AND NOW IT IS GONE AGAIN IT IS NOW 4/12/2004. MY CAR WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. BEFORE THAT IT CONSTANTLY SHAKES UNTIL THE CAR TURNED OFF WHEN I WAS STOPPED FOR TOO LONG.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
2001 FORD ESCORT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY CAME OUT OF THE FRAME OF THE CAR. DRIVER TRIED TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT AND THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY CAME PULLED AWAY FROM FRAME. DRIVER CANNOT BE SAFELY BUCKLED IN NOW. DAMAGED PART CANNOT BE REPAIRED AS METAL WOULD HAVE TO BE WELDED AND WE ARE UNSURE IF WELD WILL PROVIDE PROPER PROTECTION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEVERE VIBRATION ON VEHICLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER REFUSES TO WORK ON PROBLEM STATING THAT THE VIBRATION IS NORMAL ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AT A STOP LIGHT. MY AIRBAG (DRIVERS) DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AND I SUFFERED SEVERE WHIPLASH AND CHEST BONE PAIN. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR CONDITION IS INOPERATIVE.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR CONDITION IS INOPERATIVE.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR CONDITION IS INOPERATIVE.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .