IllustrationTOOK CAR IN TO HAVE THE MUFFLER FIX AND THEY SAID THE FRAME WAS BUSTED AND COMING UP THROUGH THE FLOOR BOARDS SEPARATING FROM THE CAR. ALSO THE FRAME UNDER DOORS ARE ERODING. THEY SAID IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IF I HIT ONE BIG POTHOLE I WOULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE. *TR
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
Structure complaints
7 reportsFAILURRE OF ALL FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS IN MY 1999 FORD ESCORT. *NM
CAR WAS NOT SEALED BEFORE IT WAS PAINTED,SO THE PAINT IS CHIPPING AWAY,AND RUST IS BEGINNING TO SHOW,ON THE HOOD,TOP,AND TRUNK OF CAR.*AK
I HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN MY 1999 FORD ESCORT, WHICH I AM SECOND OWNER OF. I CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER FROM WHERE PURCHASED AS USED CAR, YORK MOTORS, WHOM TOLD ME TO CONTACT LOCAL FORD DEALER, GALPIN FORD. TONY PACINI, AT GALPIN, CONTACTED SCOTTSDALE FORD ENGINEER, WITH PICS I PROVIDED OF DEFECT. AFTER A FEW WEEKS ENGINEER W…
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I HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN MY 1999 FORD ESCORT, WHICH I AM SECOND OWNER OF. I CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER FROM WHERE PURCHASED AS USED CAR, YORK MOTORS, WHOM TOLD ME TO CONTACT LOCAL FORD DEALER, GALPIN FORD. TONY PACINI, AT GALPIN, CONTACTED SCOTTSDALE FORD ENGINEER, WITH PICS I PROVIDED OF DEFECT. AFTER A FEW WEEKS ENGINEER WAS ABLE TO COME TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND SEE IT UP CLOSE. ENGINEER CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR QUARTER PANEL FOR THE CAR HAD BEEN "PRESSED TO THIN" IN THE MANUFACTURING PHASE. I GOT THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR, AS THEY REQUESTED, FOR APPROX. $1500.00. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THIS FITS UNDER THEIR "GOOD WILL" POLICY AND I WOULD BE LUCKY IF FORD WILL PAY FOR 50% OF THE REPAIRS. THE DAMAGE IS AN OPEN GASH OF 17" IN THE REAR DOOR CASING. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, WHOM RIDE IN THE BACK AND CAN CUT THEMSELVES SEVERLY WITH THIS FAULT. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP, WHERE I GOT ESTIMATE AND WHOM TOLD ME TO DO THIS COMPLAINT, THE REPAIR PROCEDURE THAT FORD INITIALLY REQUESTED WOULD HINDER THE PROPER CRASH COMPRESSION OF THE CAR AND THEREFORE INCREASE DANGER IN AN ACCIDENT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAD ORIGINALLY ASKED THE FORD ENGINEER AND MR. PACINI THAT IF FORD WAS NOT WILLING TO CONSUME THE COST OF REPAIRS, THAT I WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE THEM THE CAR AND TAKE MY CHOICE OFF THEIR USED CAR LOT, WITH NO DIFFERENCE IN MY CAR PAYMENTS OR COST. JUST A FLAT OUT TRADE. IF YOU NEED THE CORRESPONDENCES I HAVE ENCURRED WITH FORD I WOULD BE GLAD TO FORWARD THEM TO YOU WITH PICTURES OF THE FAULT.
UNDER CARRIAGE IS SEPARATING. SPOT WELDS ARE BREAKING. FUEL TANK STRAPS ARE NOT SECURED FOR TANK, WHICH CAUSES IT TO MOVE AROUND. STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED BECAUSE OF SPOT WELDS. WINDSHIELD TILTS TOWARDS DRIVER. PASSENGER'S DOOR IN REAR OF THE STATION WAGON WOULD PIVOT AND WAS GETTING WORSE. *AK
THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS UNSOUND. THERE ARE BROKEN WELDS, DISTORTED SHEET METAL SUBFRAME COMPONANTS, AND SHIFTING OR FLEXING OF THE BODY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. IT HAS SEVERE OVERSTEER AT SPEED WHEN CORNERING OVER ROADS WITH VARYING SURFACES. THE UNDERCARRAIGE WILL TWIST ALLOWING THE GAS TANK T…
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THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS UNSOUND. THERE ARE BROKEN WELDS, DISTORTED SHEET METAL SUBFRAME COMPONANTS, AND SHIFTING OR FLEXING OF THE BODY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. IT HAS SEVERE OVERSTEER AT SPEED WHEN CORNERING OVER ROADS WITH VARYING SURFACES. THE UNDERCARRAIGE WILL TWIST ALLOWING THE GAS TANK TO STRAIN AND LOOSEN AT ITS RETAINING STRAPS AND THE BRACKETS THEY ATTACH TO ARE PULLING LOOSE AT THEIR WELDS. THE WINDSHIED ANGLE CHANGES, THE ROOF BULGES AND BUCKLES, THE REAR DOORS DROP AND LIFT AS WELL AS THE REAR HATCH AREA AS THE CAR IS ACCELLERATED OR THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT THE BODY TWISTS. THERE IS A NOTICABLE PULL UNDER ACCELLERATION. ALSO THE INTERIOR SEATS SHIFT AND SWAY SEPERATE FROM THE EXTERIOR. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *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.