IllustrationBURN OUT MOTOR. *TR
2000 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 Ford Escort do not stand out strongly from 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
40–25K
1125–50K
1050–75K
475–100K
3100–150K
2150K+
34 reports with mileage · 64 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
22 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
21 reportsTHE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY BROKE FROM THE ARM. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE PART BROKE. *AK *SC
I WOULD LIKE TO REFERENCE ODI CASES # 8016196, 1451010 AND PARTICULARLY 881231 IN REFERENCE TO MY FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, MY POWER STEERING, AC AND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE. THE BELT WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE WATER PUMP TENSIONER, WHICH LITERALLY SNAPPED AWAY FROM THE WATER PUMP HOUSING …
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I WOULD LIKE TO REFERENCE ODI CASES # 8016196, 1451010 AND PARTICULARLY 881231 IN REFERENCE TO MY FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, MY POWER STEERING, AC AND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE. THE BELT WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE WATER PUMP TENSIONER, WHICH LITERALLY SNAPPED AWAY FROM THE WATER PUMP HOUSING AND BROKE THE WATER PUMP HOUSING IN 3 PIECES. MY MECHANIC ALSO SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS - BUT HE FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT FORD HAD THE WATER PUMP HOUSING IN STOCK IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT. THE WATER PUMP, THE HOUSING, THE TENSIONER AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WERE ALL REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER'S COST.
I'VE HAD MY FORD ESCORT ZX2 FOR A YEAR NOW. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALERSHIP. RECENTLY I'VE NOTICED A MAJOR DECLINE IN PERFORMANCE. IT IDLES LOW, THE HORSEPOWER IS GONE, AND WHEN SITTING FOR PERIODS OF TIME IT HAS PROBLEMS STARTING. LAST WEEKEND I HAD A FORD CERTIFIED MECHANIC PERFORM A COMPUTER AND MECHANICAL DIAGNOSTIC O…
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I'VE HAD MY FORD ESCORT ZX2 FOR A YEAR NOW. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALERSHIP. RECENTLY I'VE NOTICED A MAJOR DECLINE IN PERFORMANCE. IT IDLES LOW, THE HORSEPOWER IS GONE, AND WHEN SITTING FOR PERIODS OF TIME IT HAS PROBLEMS STARTING. LAST WEEKEND I HAD A FORD CERTIFIED MECHANIC PERFORM A COMPUTER AND MECHANICAL DIAGNOSTIC ON IT TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. SO, HE CHECKED SERVICE BULLETINS FOR IT AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON ITS VARIABLE CAM TIMING DTC. HE FELT THAT THIS WAS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE ENGINE STALLED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT ENGINE BLEW OUT. *AK
MY CAR HAS HAD 4 TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE 40,000 MILES AND NOW AT 102,000 MILES I'M HAVING TO PUT A NEW MOTOR IN. THIS CAR HAS HAD EXCELLENT CARE AND MAINTENCE AND NO REASON FOR THIS. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND LOUD NOICE STARTED SO I STOPPED AND HAD IT TOWED FORD SAID IT WAS THE MOTOR WAS NO GOOD KNOW. THIS CAR HAD …
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MY CAR HAS HAD 4 TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE 40,000 MILES AND NOW AT 102,000 MILES I'M HAVING TO PUT A NEW MOTOR IN. THIS CAR HAS HAD EXCELLENT CARE AND MAINTENCE AND NO REASON FOR THIS. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND LOUD NOICE STARTED SO I STOPPED AND HAD IT TOWED FORD SAID IT WAS THE MOTOR WAS NO GOOD KNOW. THIS CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTOR TILL THEN.
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IDLING, THERE IS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE THROW OUT AND MAIN BEARING ON THE CRANK SHAFT. *NM THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE MORE OPTIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
I AM EXPERIENCING STALLING PROBLEMS WHEN I STOP AT LIGHTS OR THE VEHICLE IS IDLING. IT LOOSES COMPRESSION. I HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AROUND 35,000 MILES..NOW AT 47,000 MILES I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. ORIGINALLY THEY REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AND AIR INTAKE VALVE SO FAR PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE D…
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I AM EXPERIENCING STALLING PROBLEMS WHEN I STOP AT LIGHTS OR THE VEHICLE IS IDLING. IT LOOSES COMPRESSION. I HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AROUND 35,000 MILES..NOW AT 47,000 MILES I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. ORIGINALLY THEY REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AND AIR INTAKE VALVE SO FAR PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED AS TO WHY IT'S STALLING AGAIN.
1 WEEK AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT RAN ROUGH WHEN THE HEATER OR AIR WASS ON. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THE TACHOMETER CONTINUALLY MOVES UP AND DOWN FROM LESS THEN 1RMP TO 2 RMP. RUNS REALLY ROUGH DOESN'T WANT TO DRIVE. FEELS LIKE A VERY OLD CAR. THE CLUTCH IS FUNNY. THE CAR IS A LEMON!!!! I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALE…
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1 WEEK AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT RAN ROUGH WHEN THE HEATER OR AIR WASS ON. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THE TACHOMETER CONTINUALLY MOVES UP AND DOWN FROM LESS THEN 1RMP TO 2 RMP. RUNS REALLY ROUGH DOESN'T WANT TO DRIVE. FEELS LIKE A VERY OLD CAR. THE CLUTCH IS FUNNY. THE CAR IS A LEMON!!!! I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER APPROX. 4 TIMES. LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ARROW SETTING ON THE HEATER TAKES MORE OF A DRAW ON THE ENGINE HOW STUPID WAS THIS ANSWER. THE OTHER SCENARIO THEY GAVE ME WAS THE GAS I WAS USING. WHAT YEAR ARE WE IN? *NLM
MY 2000 FORD ZX2 IDLER PULLEY BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BELT TENSIONER AND WATER PUMP HOUSING. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL, HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH PROBLEMS WITH ANY VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A FLUKE OR A DESIGN FLAW. COULD YOU CHECK INTO IT. *NLM
Official recalls
100V228001 · Seat Belts
Aug 18, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.