IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND WOULD RECUR SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
1999 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Escort years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Ford Escort are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escort years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
1625–50K
2650–75K
1875–100K
18100–150K
3150K+
92 reports with mileage · 233 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
79 crash reports11 fire reports42 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
12 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A MONTH OF HER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 2007. A DAY OR TWO LATER, THE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE RADIO AND CLOCK IN …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A MONTH OF HER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 2007. A DAY OR TWO LATER, THE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE RADIO AND CLOCK IN THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON AND OFF AND MADE A STRANGE NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,964 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150. UPDATED 5/19/08 *CN THE GEAR LIGHT WENT OUT. THE MARKER LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED
THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE BOTH VERY OBSCURED BY DETERIORATED MATERIAL..THIS LOWERS THE LIGHT TRANSMISSION SUBSTANTIALLY CAUSING A VERY UNSAFE NIGHT DRIVING CONDITION.. THERE IS NO MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO THE LENSES ONLY DETERIORATION. *TR
DT: CONTACT STATES THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET WENT OUT ON 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONSUMER TELLING THAT IF SHE DID NOT HAVE THE SOCKET REPLACED IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE. BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY SAYID THAT ELECTRONIC PARTS WERW NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS FAILED. DEALER STATED THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS WERE COMPLETELY CHARRED. *AK
1) HEADLAMPS: ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE BECAUSE RIGHT LIGHT WOULD WORK PERIODICALLY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, MY MECHANIC FOUND THE CONNECTION TO WHICH THE "BULB" WAS PLUGGED HAD MELTED SOME WHAT. HE SUGGESTED THAT I RETURN TO THE DEALER TO ASK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, WHICH I INTE…
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1) HEADLAMPS: ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE BECAUSE RIGHT LIGHT WOULD WORK PERIODICALLY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, MY MECHANIC FOUND THE CONNECTION TO WHICH THE "BULB" WAS PLUGGED HAD MELTED SOME WHAT. HE SUGGESTED THAT I RETURN TO THE DEALER TO ASK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, WHICH I INTEND TO DO TOMORROW. 2) BRAKE PEDAL: RECENTLY I FOUND IT NECESSARY TO HAVE NEW BRAKE PADS INSTALLED. PART OF THE PROBLEM (FOR ME) WAS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TOO SOFT AND TOO LOW (THE BRAKES WERE BAD ALSO). THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BY AN EXTREMELY REPUTABLE MECHANIC. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL TOO SOFT AND TOO LOW. *JB
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS DUE TO A MELTED WIRES. DEALER HAS INSPECTED REPLACED WIRES CONNECTION ON SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY POOR NOT ENOUGH ILLUMINATION. *AK
Official recalls
199V276000 · Power Train:manual Transmission:shift Pattern Indicator
Oct 12, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE S/R OPTION. THE S/R OPTION INCLUDES, AMONG OTHER FEATURES, A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT PATTERN IS NOT DISPLAYED IN THE OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT IN VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION POSITION OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADHESIVE BACKED PLAQUE CONTAINING THE SHIFT PATTERN, ALONG WITH MATERIALS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOCATING AND AFFIXING THE PLAQUE TO THE VEHICLE CENTER CONSOLE, JUST FORWARD OF THE SHIFT LEVER. OWNERS WILL ALSO BE ADVISED THAT THEIR DEALER CAN AFFIX THE PLAQUE IF THEY PREFER.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP01001 · Air Bag NON-DEPLOYMENT
Opened Apr 19, 2001 · Closed Nov 1, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
No summary supplied.