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
What owners actually said
325 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2002
Equipment
I WASN'T ABLE TO GET AN INSPECTION STICKER DUE TO THE BROKEN SPIRAL CODES. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM GENERALLY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN FOR THE CAR WHICH IS QUITE NEW AND HAS LOW MIRAGE LIKE MINE. HE MENTIONED THAT THE SPIRAL CODES MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTED BECAUSE HE FOUND SO MANY OF NEWER FORD CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE…
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I WASN'T ABLE TO GET AN INSPECTION STICKER DUE TO THE BROKEN SPIRAL CODES. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM GENERALLY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN FOR THE CAR WHICH IS QUITE NEW AND HAS LOW MIRAGE LIKE MINE. HE MENTIONED THAT THE SPIRAL CODES MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTED BECAUSE HE FOUND SO MANY OF NEWER FORD CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED ME TO ASK FORD COMPANY FOR ANY RE-CALL INFORMATION. I CALLED FORD AND EXPLAINED IT BUT THERE WAS NO RE-CALL OR NO FINANCIAL AIDES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO COVER THE COST, ABOUT $400, BY MYSELF. I STILL BELIEVE THAT THE SPIRAL CODES WERE DEFECTED FROM THE BEGINNING. I FIRMLY REQUEST FOR A STRICT INVESTIGATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #760179
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
SEVERE VIBRATION WHEN IDLING, DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8005591
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE VIBRATES VIOLENTLY BECAUSE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COUNLD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8005385
Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CAUSING THE DRIVER AND ANOTHER CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. *YH
NHTSA ODI #564567
Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2002
Seats
WELDING UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED, AND SEAT ROCKS. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *YD
NHTSA ODI #8004482
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2002
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HIT PILE OF SAND AND LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN IT A TREE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *TT
NHTSA ODI #8002867
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR BECOMES IDLE THEN SHUDDERS/VIBRATES (REPEATS) WHEN STOPPING. CAR NOW STALLING OCCASIONALLY WHEN STOPPED AND HAS STALLED WHILE DOING 35 MPH. PROBLEMS STARTED LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. CAR IN THE SHOP ON 6-7 OCCASIONS TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS - CAR STILL NOT FIXED. SINCE THE CAR HAS STALLED DURING MOTION, CONSUMER FEEL…
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CAR BECOMES IDLE THEN SHUDDERS/VIBRATES (REPEATS) WHEN STOPPING. CAR NOW STALLING OCCASIONALLY WHEN STOPPED AND HAS STALLED WHILE DOING 35 MPH. PROBLEMS STARTED LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. CAR IN THE SHOP ON 6-7 OCCASIONS TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS - CAR STILL NOT FIXED. SINCE THE CAR HAS STALLED DURING MOTION, CONSUMER FEELS VERY UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAYS. THE PROBLEMS ARE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I AM UNSATISFIED WITH NOT ONLY THE CAR QUALITY, BUT THE MECHANICAL AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.*AK. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL COMPONETS WERE REPLACED THAT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THEN THE PROBLEM RESURFACED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING AND THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING NOISES AND WOULD THEN STALL, THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE LOOSE THAT WAS CAUSING THE VIBRATIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED ALONG WITH THE STALLING.*JB
NHTSA ODI #756888
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2002
Electrical System
CONSUMER GOT A RECALL TO UPGRADE COMPUTER ON VEHICLE, BUT FORD REFUSED TO DO RECALL BECAUSE VEHICLE'S TITLE WAS BRANDED. *JG *AK
NHTSA ODI #8001334
Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Exterior Lighting
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #756076
Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2001
Suspension
WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE CAN BE HEARD WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AS BEING DRIVEN THE MORE PRONONCED THE NOISE BECOMES. AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS COMPLETED IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT BEARINGS WERE BAD. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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
1
DP01001 · Air Bag NON-DEPLOYMENT
Opened Apr 19, 2001 · Closed Nov 1, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
No summary supplied.
1999 Ford Escort Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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