Ford ZX2 (ESCORT) problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
66 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 66 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 21.2% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 15.2% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 12.1% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Air Bags: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Power Train: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 29 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2000: 3; 2001: 4; 2002: 5; 2003: 14; 2004: 9; 2005: 9; 2006: 5; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10025018 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)
ON 06/12/03 WHILE DRIVING, THE TIMING BELT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. DEALER REPAIRED. ON 06/24/03 WHILE DRIVING, THE TIMING BELT BROKE AGAIN, AND CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE "CRANK" HAD TOO MUCH "PLAY" WHERE IT FITTED INTO THE DRIVETRAIN. THIS CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO BREAK TWICE, WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE. *AK THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT A PART FROM THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION TO THE ENGINE FROM AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 856383 · 2000-02-07 (February 7, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE ROUTE ROAD,GOING UP A HILL IN THIRD GEAR AND SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR, VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED INTO A 360 DEGREE ANGLE AND LANDED IN A DITCH. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT THE UNIBODY WAS CROOKED. CAR HAD BEEN BACK ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER. GOING NORTH ON STATE ROUTE WITH SOME SNOW ON THE ROAD, AND SHIFTING FROM THIRD GEAR TO FOURTH GEAR WHILE TRAVELLING 35 MPH, VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN TURNED INTO 360 DEGREE ANGLE AND LANDED IN A DITCH, FACING SOUTH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 856383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236229 · 2008-07-29 (July 29, 2008)
A STALLED SUBURBAN IN THE #1 LANE AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL BECAME VISIBLE WHEN THE VAN DIRECTLY AHEAD OF ME SWERVED AT THE LAST MOMENT. I HIT THE BRAKES BUT HIT THE SUV AND TOTALED MY ESCORT. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT CAUSED A BROKEN STERNUM, CRACKED RIBS. ALSO HAD RIGHT ARM BROKEN IN 3 PLACES WHILE BRACING FOR IMPACT. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054301 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
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 T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049668 · 2003-12-12 (December 12, 2003)
CLOSE CALL: THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF AND THE CAR LOOSES POWER STEERING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 79,682 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10461150 · 2012-06-10 (June 10, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122256 · 2005-05-26 (May 26, 2005)
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. IT SHAKES AND VIBRATES REALLY BAD. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISIC OF THE MOTOR. WELL, IT WAS GETTING WORSE SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED REPLACED. I HAD ALL OF THOSE REPLACED. IT STILL SHAKES AND VIBRATES A LOT. IT ONLY HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT. IT SHAKES SO MUCH THAT MY HOOD BECOMES LOOSE AND HAS TO BE TIGHTNED UP. IT WOULDN'T GO OUT OF PARK EITHER SO THAT HAD TO BE FIXED. NOW, IT WON'T S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10471234 · 2012-08-17 (August 17, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 162,768 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471234 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0