I WAS GOING ABOUT 60 ON THE FWY WHEN TRAFFIC SLOWED. UPON SLOWING DOWN THE CAR STALLED IN THE FAST LANE, STILL GOING ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR. I LOST POWER STEERING AND ALL ELECTRICAL CONTROLS. THE CAR NOW HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO GEAR AND CAN NOT BE MOVED. *TR
2000 Ford ZX2 (Escort)
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all ZX2 (escort) years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 5 of 7 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.
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
4 reportsTHE CENTER COUNCIL SHIFTER WILL ALLOW IT TO BE SHIFTED INTO ANY GEAR FROM PARK WHEN THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION, AND WHEN THE BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN DEPRESSED. IT OCCURS CONSTANTLY AND WAS FOUND OUT WHEN A CHILD WAS PLAYING WITH IT WHILE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND AN ADULT WAS IN THE DRIVER SEAT, IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR ANOTH…
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THE CENTER COUNCIL SHIFTER WILL ALLOW IT TO BE SHIFTED INTO ANY GEAR FROM PARK WHEN THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION, AND WHEN THE BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN DEPRESSED. IT OCCURS CONSTANTLY AND WAS FOUND OUT WHEN A CHILD WAS PLAYING WITH IT WHILE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND AN ADULT WAS IN THE DRIVER SEAT, IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR ANOTHER TO RETURN FROM A STORE. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2000 ZX2 BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. I BABY MY CAR AND HAVE KEPT IT WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED. I HAVE LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PRETTY HAPPY WITH MY CAR. HAPPY UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT WENT ON AND I STARTED TO NOTICE A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR (I HAVE AN AUTOMAT…
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I BOUGHT MY 2000 ZX2 BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. I BABY MY CAR AND HAVE KEPT IT WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED. I HAVE LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PRETTY HAPPY WITH MY CAR. HAPPY UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT WENT ON AND I STARTED TO NOTICE A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR (I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC). TURNS OUT I NEED MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT (TOOK IT TO AAMCO). A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET TELLS ME I AM NOT ALONE. THERE IS EVEN A GROUP TRYING TO BRING A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD. SEEMS LIKE THE ESCORT, ZX2 AND FOCUS ALL HAVE FAULTY TRANSAXLES. AAMCO STATED IT LOOKS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE METAL (FORD USED CHEAP METAL THAT EVENTUALLY FAILS FAR BEFORE IT SHOULD). I NEED MY CAR SO I'LL PAY THE $2,500 BILL FOR A CAR WORTH ONLY $4000. THE ONE THING I LEARNED FROM THIS: NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN. CAR WAS REPAIRED IN FEB. OF 2009. FOLLOW UP: JULY 2009, MY CAR IS ONCE AGAIN GOING INTO THE SHOP WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! *TR
MY 2000 FORD ESCORT ZX2 HAD A DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH DESTROYED THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION.*AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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