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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

Suspension complaints

42 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2002
Suspension

I DRIVE CAREFULLY AND I MAINTAIN MY CAR WELL. MY FORD ESCORT WAGON IS A 1999 MODEL. AS SUCH, I STILL CONSIDER IT QUITE NEW. WITH ONLY 44,000 MILES ON IT, I CONSIDERED IT TO HAVE LOW MILEAGE. LAST WEEK MY CAR FAILED ITS ANNUAL AUTO INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC (HAMILTON'S GARAGE OF PORTLAND, ME) TOLD ME THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRIN…

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I DRIVE CAREFULLY AND I MAINTAIN MY CAR WELL. MY FORD ESCORT WAGON IS A 1999 MODEL. AS SUCH, I STILL CONSIDER IT QUITE NEW. WITH ONLY 44,000 MILES ON IT, I CONSIDERED IT TO HAVE LOW MILEAGE. LAST WEEK MY CAR FAILED ITS ANNUAL AUTO INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC (HAMILTON'S GARAGE OF PORTLAND, ME) TOLD ME THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRING ASSEMBLIES ON MY CAR WERE BROKEN. HE SAID THAT THIS HAS BECOME A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS COMMON PROBLEM ON LATE MODEL FORD ESCORTS. HE SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY RARE ON OTHER CARS. HE TOLD ME TO GO TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF FORD HAS INITIATED A RECALL OF THE ESCORT'S DEFECTIVE REAR COIL SPRING ASSEMBLIES. THE FORD DEALER (ROWE FORD OF WESTBROOK, ME) INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF A RECALL FOR THAT SPECIFIC PART. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS MYSELF AS THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE HAD EXPIRED. THE REPAIR JOB ON MY CAR AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP COST ME $400. MY WIFE CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HEADQUARTERS AND REPORTED THE DEFECT PROBLEM WITH BOTH BROKEN REAR COIL SPRING ASSEMBLIES ON OUR CAR. THE FORD HEADQUARTERS ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OF LATE MODEL FORD ESCORT DEFECTIVE REAR COIL SPRING ASSEMBLIES. THEY "CLAIMED" TO BE UNAWARE OF SUCH A DEFECT PROBLEM WITH THE LATE MODEL FORD ESCORTS. I DO NOT BELIEVE FORD. I REMEMBER FORD'S LIES CONCERNING THE SCANDAL WITH THE FORD PINTO'S EXPLOSIVE GAS TANK. THIS DEFECT PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCORT'S REAR COIL SPRING ASSEMBLIES CAN POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO GET KILLED DUE TO THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT BEFORE FORD WILL ADMIT THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE PAID THE $400 REPAIR BILL REQUIRED TO REPLACE THEIR DEFECTIVE BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS ON MY CAR. THE FACT THAT THEY REFUSED ILLUSTRATES THE POOR MORAL CHARACTER OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #760226

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

NHTSA ODI #8000856

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

THERE IS A KNOCKING IN ENGINE, WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN, LOUDER THE KNOCKING GETS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WAS UNDERNEATH HOOD WHERE THE BEARINGS WERE. ALSO, DEAL HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR A REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE BLOCK/ HEAD AND CYCLINDER, BUT THAT STILL HAS NOT REMEDIED TH…

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THERE IS A KNOCKING IN ENGINE, WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN, LOUDER THE KNOCKING GETS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WAS UNDERNEATH HOOD WHERE THE BEARINGS WERE. ALSO, DEAL HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR A REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE BLOCK/ HEAD AND CYCLINDER, BUT THAT STILL HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899697

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2001
Suspension

REAR COIL SPRING BROKE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #559395

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2000
Electrical SystemSuspension

PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT; WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF. ALSO, NOTICED SHIMMYING COMING FROM FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #875002

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2000
EquipmentExterior LightingPower Train

THE TAPE DECK EATS TAPES AND RADIO GETS VERY WARM AND MAKES CLIKING NOISE.*ET

NHTSA ODI #784109

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2000
Suspension

WHEN DRIVING DOWN ROAD, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND MAKING A STOP, VEHICLE VIBRATES REAL BADLY. IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO STALL OUT. CONTACTED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE THIRD TIME. THEY SAID THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855324

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1999
Suspension

WHEN PULLING OFF THERE IS A KNOCKING AND RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851806

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1999
Suspension

THE VEHICLE STALLS AND VIBRATES FROM THE FRONT END. DEALER SAID PROBLEM IS COMMON.

NHTSA ODI #851505

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 1999
Suspension

AFTER PROCEEDING FROM A STOP SIGN VEHICLE SEVERELY PULLS TO THE RIGHT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846999

Official recalls

1

99V276000 · 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

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.