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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
68Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2001 Ford Escort

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 68 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Power Train: 13 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 12 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 10 reports
  • Air Bags: 9 reports
  • Suspension: 9 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    375
    1998    325
    1999    98
    2000    68
    2001    33
    2002    10
    2003
    Compare all Escort years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Power Train
    13    Engine And Engine Cooling
    12    Vehicle Speed Control
    10    Air Bags
    9    Suspension
    9
    All reported categories
    Electrical System
    5    Steering
    5    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    4    Seat Belts
    2    Seats
    2    Structure
    2    Tires
    2    Visibility
    2    Exterior Lighting
    1    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Fuel System, Other
    1    Parking Brake
    1    Unknown Or Other
    1

    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

    Steering complaints

    5 reports
    Clear category filter
    60,000 miles · Jan 14, 2010
    Steering

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 2006 THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 02/02/10 *BF UPDATED 02/05/10.*JB

    NHTSA ODI #10299709

    27,000 miles · Jun 26, 2003
    SteeringSuspension

    WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BOLT BECAME LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *NLM WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT OR AT IDLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE BADLY AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN THE WINDOWS WERE HALF WAY DOWN, THEY WOUL…

    Read full complaint

    WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BOLT BECAME LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *NLM WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT OR AT IDLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE BADLY AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN THE WINDOWS WERE HALF WAY DOWN, THEY WOULD RATTLE TERRIBLY. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THEY MAY SHATTER. THE HEADLIGHTS BOUNCED AROUND AT NIGHT, ON THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER AND HAD BEEN CONFRONTED ABOUT THE DISTRACTION. FORD SAID IT WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN FOR THE VIBRATION SINCE PURCHASE. THE MOTOR MOUNTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE CHANGED FOR A SECOND TIME. *SCC *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10019712

    Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2003
    Steering

    WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10014707

    Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2002
    Electrical SystemSteeringSuspension

    NO DESCRIPTION.*JB

    NHTSA ODI #764736

    Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2001
    SteeringCrashInjury

    WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH STEERING FAILED, VEHICLE HIT GUARDRAIL. *AK CONSUMER IS AWAITING FOR FORD INSPECTOR TO INSPECT VEHICLE, HOWEVER NO RESPONSE FROM HOME OFFICE AS OF YET, CONSUMER STATES POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH RACK AND PINION, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *TT

    NHTSA ODI #8001209

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.