IllustrationTHE VEHICLE WILL NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE IT ACCELERATES SUDDENLY . DEALER HAS INSPECED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. *AK
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
Power Train complaints
35 reportsWHILE IN REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH DOWNSHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR AND WAS MAKING A RIGHT, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKES/NO POWERSTEERING, AND VEHICLE WENT ACROSS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD ABOUT 137 FEET AND END UP ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
WHENEVER THE CAR IS SHIFTED INTO GEAR IT JUMPS FORWARD, AND THEN BACK OUT OF GEAR AGAIN. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK
BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK WILL NOT DISENGAGE. CANNOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER STARTING CAR. REQUIRED TO USE MANUAL OVERRIDE PROCEDURE OF STICKING A SCREWDRIVE DOWN A SMALL HOLE NEAR THE GEARSHIFT. (THIS PROCEDURE IS LISTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL). DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A NEW CAR. FUSES CHECKED W/O PROBLE…
Read full complaint
BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK WILL NOT DISENGAGE. CANNOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER STARTING CAR. REQUIRED TO USE MANUAL OVERRIDE PROCEDURE OF STICKING A SCREWDRIVE DOWN A SMALL HOLE NEAR THE GEARSHIFT. (THIS PROCEDURE IS LISTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL). DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A NEW CAR. FUSES CHECKED W/O PROBLEM.
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.