IllustrationCONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 60 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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
What owners actually said
325 reportsWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING WINDSHIELD WIPERSHEAD LIGHTS, AND BRAKES TO GO OUT DURING A THUNDERSTORM. DEALER SAID ENGINE NEEDED REPLACING. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE HESITATING/STALLING WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-70 MPH. VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED / REPAIRED ON SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE FOUND. SEEKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. DEALER SINCE FOUND PROBLEM WITH THE REVELATOR BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. *AK
ON 06/30/99 AT 02:10 HOURS THE CRYSTAL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE BACK LOT OF ELK COUNTY FORD. THE DEPARTMENT FOUND A NEW, 1999 FORD ESCORT SE (VIN #[XXX]) BURNING IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND WHEEL WELL AREA. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SHORT IN THE WIRING IN THE VICINITY OF A …
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ON 06/30/99 AT 02:10 HOURS THE CRYSTAL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE BACK LOT OF ELK COUNTY FORD. THE DEPARTMENT FOUND A NEW, 1999 FORD ESCORT SE (VIN #[XXX]) BURNING IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND WHEEL WELL AREA. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SHORT IN THE WIRING IN THE VICINITY OF A "BLOCK" OF RELAYS AND FUSES IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS CAUSED THE WIRING TO BURN AND IGNITED NEARBY PLASTIC ITEMS AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST MANUFACTURED (JUNE 1999) AND HAD ONLY BEEN SITTING ON THE LOT FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OPERATED RECENTLY (2:00 AM IN A SMALL COMMUNITY CAR DEALERSHIP). ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE DID NOT BELONG TO ANY CONSUMER, THIS REPORT IS BEING FILED IN ORDER TO DOCUMENT A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. [XXX] , FIRE CHIEF, CRYSTAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILURE, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG WAS LOOSE AT THE REAR PART OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AIRBAG TO EXPERIENCE NO DEPLOYMENT DURING THE ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN MULTIPLE INJURIES. *YC
BRAKE DRUM FAILED, CAUSING NOISE. *YC
AIR CONDITIONING IS WORKING ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNDER SHADE OR IF IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, CAUSING A HEALTH HAZARD.CONSUMER MUST SHUT ALL VENTS EXCEPT ONE TO GET SOME AIR TO BLOW, BUT VEHICLE IS STILL HOT. *AK
BRAKES NOISY DUE TO GROVE (HOLE) IN DRUMS. *YC
VEHICLE INTERMITENTLY EMITS CHEMICAL ODOR SIMILAR TO THE ODOR OF INSECT. FIRST TRIP TO DEALER BLAMED ON RUBBER FLOOR MATS NEXT TRIP BLAMED ON STICKERS AND UNDERCOAT ON PIPES BURNING CLAIMED WOULD BE GONE BY 1,500 MILES ODORGITATION AM GOING TO HAVE TO PARK VEHICLE TO REGAIN HE ALTH IF NO EXPLAINATION FOUND TO STOP CHEMICAL DISC…
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VEHICLE INTERMITENTLY EMITS CHEMICAL ODOR SIMILAR TO THE ODOR OF INSECT. FIRST TRIP TO DEALER BLAMED ON RUBBER FLOOR MATS NEXT TRIP BLAMED ON STICKERS AND UNDERCOAT ON PIPES BURNING CLAIMED WOULD BE GONE BY 1,500 MILES ODORGITATION AM GOING TO HAVE TO PARK VEHICLE TO REGAIN HE ALTH IF NO EXPLAINATION FOUND TO STOP CHEMICAL DISCHARGE
LEASED. VEHICLE STALLS WHEN BRAKING AND STARTING AGAIN, IT STALLS AND DIES OUT. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED TWO TIMES. DEALER CONTACTED CONTACTED AND STATED COMPUTER CHIP DEFECTIVE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *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.