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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.

About this comparison →
325Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
205
1996543
1997375
1998325
199998
200068
200133
2002
Compare all Escort years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
66Engine And Engine Cooling
62Suspension
42Electrical System
39Power Train
35
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
24Seat Belts
16Steering
16Equipment
15Tires
14Fuel System, Gasoline
13Exterior Lighting
12Vehicle Speed Control
8Visibility
8Structure
7Seats
6Latches/locks/linkages
3Engine
2Unknown Or Other
2Child Seat
1Service Brakes
1

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
55,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

THE CLEARCOAT ON THE BLACK PAINT OF MY 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2 HAS CRACKED. THERE ARE FINE WHITE CRACKS COVERING THE CAR BODY BUT MAINLY ON THE HOOD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERS AUTO BODY SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER BLACK CARS. SO FAR BOTH THE DEALER, GUS JOHN…

Read full complaint

THE CLEARCOAT ON THE BLACK PAINT OF MY 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2 HAS CRACKED. THERE ARE FINE WHITE CRACKS COVERING THE CAR BODY BUT MAINLY ON THE HOOD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERS AUTO BODY SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER BLACK CARS. SO FAR BOTH THE DEALER, GUS JOHNSON FORD, AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HAVE REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THIS VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10070806

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE STALLED, AND STEERING LOCKED UP. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STEER PROPERLY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #873848

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.