← New search

2001 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 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

Other model years Selected 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

31 reports with mileage · 37 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2001 FORD ESCORT ZX2. IVE HAD IT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW. THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM IS GETTING VERY FRUSTRATING. WHEN I START MY CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS GETTING READY TO DIE. IT JUST STRUGGLES AT VERY LOW RPM. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO ADJUST THE IDLE BUT IS THERE A FIX? *CN

NHTSA ODI #10322750

59,000 miles · Nov 5, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT PURCHASED APRIL 2002. THE REAR COIL SPRINGS, STRUTS, AND EGR VALVE WERE PLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $870.00. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, AND STRUTS FAILED, THEY THEN ADDED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR HER MODEL TYPE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 59,000. UPD…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT PURCHASED APRIL 2002. THE REAR COIL SPRINGS, STRUTS, AND EGR VALVE WERE PLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $870.00. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, AND STRUTS FAILED, THEY THEN ADDED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR HER MODEL TYPE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 59,000. UPDATED 11/23/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/24/09

NHTSA ODI #10291068

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR SHAKES, RATTLES AND ROLLS - THINKS IT'S ELVIS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138611

44,000 miles · Mar 23, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STALLING PROBLEM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT VEHICLE SHIMMIED, AND THEN STALLED. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE SHOOK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10064760

81,044 miles · Feb 23, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE ATTACHMENT PROBLEM. THE TENSION TIGHTNER WHICH HELD THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10059635

13,860 miles · Nov 21, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

IN AUG. 2003, I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD ESCORT, ONLY A SHORT TIME AFTER HAVING IT (2 WEEKS) VEHICLE ENGINE DIED WHILE AT STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY, IT IS NOW NOVEMBER, AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY CAR MORE THAN I HAVE SINCE PURCHASE IN AUGUST. CONTINUALLY TELL ME "THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT." THEY INSTA…

Read full complaint

IN AUG. 2003, I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD ESCORT, ONLY A SHORT TIME AFTER HAVING IT (2 WEEKS) VEHICLE ENGINE DIED WHILE AT STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY, IT IS NOW NOVEMBER, AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY CAR MORE THAN I HAVE SINCE PURCHASE IN AUGUST. CONTINUALLY TELL ME "THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT." THEY INSTALLED A DEVICE TO MONITOR THE TIMES WHEN IT DIES, THEY SERVE PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN IT AND IT HAS DIED ON THEM, THEY CONTINUE TO SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. ALSO, I HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY SATISFACTION FROM MY LOCAL DEALER, THEY HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 2500 MILES ON MY CAR, MORE THAN I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO PUT ON IT!! I WOULD LIKE EITHER A COMPARABLE CAR OR A FULL REFUND. THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING. I HAVE EVEN BEEN TOLD I EXAGGERATED THE SEVERITY! THE ENGINE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION OF A BUSY STREET. THIS VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THE FIRST HINT OF A PROBLEM, THIS HAS DRUG ON FOR 3 MONTHS NOW, WITH STILL NO ANSWERS, AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047337

20,238 miles · Apr 21, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionUnknown Or Other

THERE WAS A FAST IDLE, VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ALONG WITH THE FAST IDLE. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD RUN FINE. AFTER FIVE ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, AND AFTER BEING TOLD REPEATEDLY THE VEHICLE RAN NORMALLY, THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE A FULL REF…

Read full complaint

THERE WAS A FAST IDLE, VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ALONG WITH THE FAST IDLE. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD RUN FINE. AFTER FIVE ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, AND AFTER BEING TOLD REPEATEDLY THE VEHICLE RAN NORMALLY, THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE A FULL REFUND. THE PCV WAS REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE HAD RUN PERFECT UNTIL THE FAST IDLE HAD RETURNED ALONG WITH THE VIBRATIONS WHICH IRRITATED THE CONSUMER WHICH CAUSED HEADACHES AFTER 20 MILES OF DRIVING. THE VALVE ASSEMBLY/CRANKCASE VENTILATION REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AS WELL. MR SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015693

32,000 miles · Feb 21, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING PROBLEMS. *JB *SCC

NHTSA ODI #10009040

31,000 miles · Feb 21, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2001 ESCORT. BOUGHT IN FALL FROM HERTZ. HAVE HAD NEW PLATNUM PLUGS INSTALLED. BUT CAR CONTINUES TO CUT OFF WHEN LEAVING FROM A STOPPED POSITON SUCH AS A STOP SIGN, LIGHT, AND LEFT TURN LANE. CUT OFF 2 DAYS AGO WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP SIGN. HAD PLENTY OF TIME FROM ON COMMING CARS. STALLED IN HWY AND A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK HAD …

Read full complaint

2001 ESCORT. BOUGHT IN FALL FROM HERTZ. HAVE HAD NEW PLATNUM PLUGS INSTALLED. BUT CAR CONTINUES TO CUT OFF WHEN LEAVING FROM A STOPPED POSITON SUCH AS A STOP SIGN, LIGHT, AND LEFT TURN LANE. CUT OFF 2 DAYS AGO WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP SIGN. HAD PLENTY OF TIME FROM ON COMMING CARS. STALLED IN HWY AND A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK HAD TO BRAKE AND I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. DID SAME THING SEVERAL DAYS AGO FROM A LEFT TURN LANE. WENT TO YOUNG FORD ABOUT IT RUNNING ROUGH AND STALLING. SER MGR STATED THEY DO THAT AND THAT IS THE REASON THEY STOPPED MAKING THEM. HAVE HAD TROUBLE SINC I BOUGHT IT. YOU CANT TELL MUCH ABOUT A CAR WITH A SHORT DEMO RIDE. BOUGHT 9/25/02

NHTSA ODI #10007935

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACK IN THE FRAME. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

NHTSA ODI #10006621

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.