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1999 Ford ZX2 (Escort)

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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

Limited mileage data: 9 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

15 reports
302,980 miles · Nov 28, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

HIT FROUT END AT AIR BAG SENCERS THAY DID NOT DEPLOYED COPPS SAID THAY SOULD OF MY FEAINCA HAS BRUISEING TO CHEST WALL AND PULLED MUSCIALS IN HIS NECK

NHTSA ODI #10928266

140,000 miles · Jan 2, 2016
Power Train

CONTROL MODULE PROCEDURES OK. SO IF THERE IS A PROGRAMMING PROCEDURE IF IT FAILS YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO THEN TELL ME YOUR GOING TO CHARGE ME 50 DOLLARS TO TELL ME THE PROCEDURE LET ME CALM DOWN. YOUR KIDDING RIGHT. THAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING I THINK I'VE EVER READ.YOUR AN AMERICAN COMPANY YOU OWE YOUR EXISTENCE TO THE AMER…

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CONTROL MODULE PROCEDURES OK. SO IF THERE IS A PROGRAMMING PROCEDURE IF IT FAILS YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO THEN TELL ME YOUR GOING TO CHARGE ME 50 DOLLARS TO TELL ME THE PROCEDURE LET ME CALM DOWN. YOUR KIDDING RIGHT. THAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING I THINK I'VE EVER READ.YOUR AN AMERICAN COMPANY YOU OWE YOUR EXISTENCE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC OK SO MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL TELL YOU TO TAKE YOUR [XXX] UP PRODUCT THAT YOU [XXX] AND EXPECT TO CHARGE US FOR YOUR [XXX] AND STUFF IT UP YOUR [XXX] SERIOUSLY WHAT KIND OF CRAP ARE YOU PULLING YA KNOW WHAT IM GOING TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE COMPETITORS AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU TOLD ME ON YOUR WEB SIGHT "WE DIDN'T BUILD OUR PRODUCT PROPERLY BUT WE CAN TELL YOU THE PROCEDURE TO FIX IT BUT HEY UM WERE GONNA CHARGE YA 50 BUCKS CAUSE AH YOU TRUSTED US TO BUILD A QUALITY PRODUCT AND WE DIDN'T SO GIVE US MORE MONEY TO PAY FOR OUR MISTAKE AND WE WILL GIVE YOU THE PROCEDURE OF HOW TO FIX IT CAUSE WE DON'T GIVE A [XXX] ABOUT OUR PRODUCT JUST THE MONEY YOUR FOOLISH ENOUGH TO PAY FOR IT"IM SENDING IT TO DODGE,CHEVY=MAYBE AS CONSUMERS YOU WILL BE FORCED TO FIX YOU PRODUCT BECAUSE YA KNOW YA [XXX] AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD PAY US BACK FOR THE CRAP YOU SOLD US INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10817370

162,768 miles · Aug 17, 2012
Fuel/propulsion System

I WAS OUT DRIVING THE OTHER DAY, AND I HEARD SOMETHING DRAGGING ON THE GROUND, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK, AND UPON INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS HAD RUSTED OUT, ONE OF THEM SO BADLY THAT IT HAD SPLIT IN TWO, AND THE OTHER IS CLOSE TO FAILURE. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH, AND FOUND THAT SOME FORDS (PICKUPS) ON THE…

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I WAS OUT DRIVING THE OTHER DAY, AND I HEARD SOMETHING DRAGGING ON THE GROUND, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK, AND UPON INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS HAD RUSTED OUT, ONE OF THEM SO BADLY THAT IT HAD SPLIT IN TWO, AND THE OTHER IS CLOSE TO FAILURE. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH, AND FOUND THAT SOME FORDS (PICKUPS) ON THE SAME YEAR RANGE HAD A RECALL ON THE SAME ISSUE. FORD HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE ISSUE FOR MAY CAR MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471234

130,788 miles · Aug 7, 2007
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPG THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATED. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS LATER THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME STEADY THEN COMPLETELY FAILED AND WENT TO ZERO. THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN ALSO FAILED. THE CURRENT AND MILEAGES WERE 130,788 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10198786

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

1999 FORD ZX2, ROUGH IDLE AND VIBRATION. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO CHECK WHY IT WAS IDLING SO ROUGH, COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. FOUND TSB 031515, WHICH SAYS THAT THE BUSHINGS ON THE ENGINE MOUNT WERE DEFECTIVE. FORD REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE MOUNT IN CARS MADE AFTER MINE WAS BOUGHT. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $400. FORD REFUSED TO…

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1999 FORD ZX2, ROUGH IDLE AND VIBRATION. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO CHECK WHY IT WAS IDLING SO ROUGH, COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. FOUND TSB 031515, WHICH SAYS THAT THE BUSHINGS ON THE ENGINE MOUNT WERE DEFECTIVE. FORD REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE MOUNT IN CARS MADE AFTER MINE WAS BOUGHT. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $400. FORD REFUSED TO CONSIDER REIMBURSEMENT. TSB 031515 IS SECOND BULLETIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10139121

91,000 miles · Jul 28, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: CALLER STATED PCV VALVE HAD A HOLE IN IT. WHEN SHE WENT TO BUY THE PART SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS DISCONTINUED. CALLER COULD NOT FIND THE PART EVEN IN A A JUNK YARD. MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10130443

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2004
Tires

MY SON'S COOPER TIRE SEPARATED AT THE POINT WHERE THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE TREAD WHILE HE WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING HIM TO SWERVE AND RUN OFF THE ROAD. BOTH HE AND I CHECKED THE TIRE AND SAW NO PUNCTURE. I CALLED COOPER TIRE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE, SINCE IT WAS A CERTAIN DOT NUMBER, WOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE. I…

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MY SON'S COOPER TIRE SEPARATED AT THE POINT WHERE THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE TREAD WHILE HE WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING HIM TO SWERVE AND RUN OFF THE ROAD. BOTH HE AND I CHECKED THE TIRE AND SAW NO PUNCTURE. I CALLED COOPER TIRE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE, SINCE IT WAS A CERTAIN DOT NUMBER, WOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE. I WAS DIRECTED TO A COOPER TIRE DEALER. THE DEALER TOOK THE TIRE IN THE BACK AND RETURNED WITH THE TIRE SHOWING A PUNCTURE MARK IN THE TIRE TREAD. COOPER TIRE NOW CLAIMS THAT THE PUNCTURE WAS THE REASON FOR THE SEPARATION, AND THAT THE TIRE WAS PROBABLY UNDER INFLATED ALSO. BOTH OF THESE CLAIMS WERE ALSO USED BY COOPER IN LAWSUITS, WHICH I SUBSEQUENTLY WAS MADE AWARE OF WHEN SEARCHING THE INTERNET. I DID NOT SEE ANY PUNCTURE PRIOR TO GOING TO THE TIRE DEALER. IF THERE WAS A PUNCTURE IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHEN MY SON SPUN OFF THE ROAD INTO THE DITCH. THERE IS STILL THE ISSUE OF THE SEPARATION OF THE TIRE INTO TWO PARTS WHICH OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093273

80,000 miles · Feb 29, 2004
Air BagsEquipmentCrash

THE DESIGN OF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER BREAKS FRONT WINDSHIELD ON ESCORT ZX2'S. THE COVER FLIPS UP WHEN IT COULD FLIP DOWN WITHOUT DAMAGING THE WINDSHIELD. EVERY ZX2 I'VE SEEN OR HEARD ABOUT WHERE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HAS HAD TO HAVE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. A REAL MONEY MAKER FOR DEALERSHIPS OR GLASS SHOPS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10060052

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringStructure

MY 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2 HAS A VERY BAD VIBRATION PROBLEM. THE VIBRATION IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, THROUGH THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VIBRATION IS SO BAD THAT WHEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND STOPPED AT LIGHTS MY HANDS AND FEET SOMETIMES GO NUMB. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL" FOR ESCOR…

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MY 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2 HAS A VERY BAD VIBRATION PROBLEM. THE VIBRATION IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, THROUGH THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VIBRATION IS SO BAD THAT WHEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND STOPPED AT LIGHTS MY HANDS AND FEET SOMETIMES GO NUMB. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL" FOR ESCORTS. I CONTACTED FORD, WHO STATED THAT THEIR ENGINEERS SAY THIS IS A "NORMAL" CONDITION. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A PERFORMANCE/COMFORT ISSUE BUT A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL OR HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL PROPERLY DUE TO NUMBNESS CASED BY THE VIBRATION, IT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE VIBRATION IS SO BAD THAT YOU CAN NOT SEE PROPERLY WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS, WHICH IS ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN. ACCORDING TO WEB SITES WHERE PEOPLE LOG THEIR COMPLAINTS, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VIBRATIONS AND HAVE RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE FROM FORD. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054301

46,389 miles · Jul 20, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

I HAVE A 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2. THE CAR HAS A ROUGH IDLE IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE CAR SHAKES SO BAD THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS BOUNCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND PCM COMPUTER UDGRADED, AND STILL DOES IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM IN ESCORTS AND MYSTIQUES. I WOU…

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I HAVE A 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2. THE CAR HAS A ROUGH IDLE IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE CAR SHAKES SO BAD THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS BOUNCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND PCM COMPUTER UDGRADED, AND STILL DOES IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM IN ESCORTS AND MYSTIQUES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS HOW COME THE CONSUMER GETS STUCK PAYING THE BILL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10028670

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.