1999 Ford ESCORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
261 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
67,856 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 92 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 261 complaints (13.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 29 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 26 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 23 | 8.8% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 7.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 5.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 4.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 35 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 25 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 21 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 15 |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs | 13 |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs | 13 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Tires | 11 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 35; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 25; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 15; Suspension:Rear:Springs: 13; Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs: 13; Air Bags: 12; Tires: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 169 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 | 56 |
| 2001 | 47 |
| 2002 | 29 |
| 2003 | 29 |
| 2004 | 26 |
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 56; 2001: 47; 2002: 29; 2003: 29; 2004: 26; 2005: 22; 2006: 17; 2007: 8; 2008: 8; 2009: 5; 2010: 4; 2012: 3; 2014: 3; 2017: 3; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 29 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 23 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002027 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS DUE TO A MELTED WIRES. DEALER HAS INSPECTED REPLACED WIRES CONNECTION ON SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002893 · 2003-01-18 (January 18, 2003)
WITH NO WARNING OR EARLY SIGNS, TRANSMISSION BURNED UP. DROVE FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE, WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND HAD NOT TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BLACK. HAD TO GET ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REBUILT.
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004983 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED A USED 1999 FORD ESCORT FROM COOPER FORD, CAMDEN N.Y., FIRST 9 MONTHS WITH CAR OKAY BUT AS SOON AS COLD WEATHER SET IN SHE STARTED HAVING FUEL PUMP FAILURES. THIS FAILURE CAUSES SUDDEN SHUT DOWN OF VEHICLE, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE FIRST OCASSION WAS WINTER OF 2001-2002, PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED 12-27-02 AND 1-28-03. DEALER INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FUEL RELATED THAT THESE FUEL PUMPS WERE SENSITIVE TO ADDITIVES IN FUEL. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT IS BEING OVERLOOKED OR TROUBLSHOOTING BY TECHNICIANS IS IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005102 · 2003-02-02 (February 2, 2003)
MEMBRANE SWITCH FOR HORN STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION CAUSING HORN TO BLOW CONSTANTLY. WIRE TO HORN HAD TO BE PULLED TO REMEDY PROBLEM. MEMBRANE SWITCH NOT AVAILABLE FROM DEALER. DEALER STATES ENTIRE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $500. NOT HAVING AN OPERATIONAL HORN OR LOGICAL AND ECONOMICAL WAY TO REPAIR IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN SAFETY EQUIPMENT. DEALER BENEFITING BY HUGE REPLACEMENT COST. PART SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE OR MANDATORY REC…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006211 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE GEAR, IT DOES NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008084 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
AIR BAGS DID NOT RELEASE WHEN IMPACT TO A TREE OCCURRED. ESTIMATED SPEED WAS 45 MILES PER HOUR. DAMAGED DONE TO FRONT BY COLLISION WITH TREE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008247 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
AT APPROX. 30000 MILES THE CAR HAD THE FIRST INCIDENT OF NOT STARTING (AUG. 2001). TOOK IT TO AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS MIGHT BE A ONE-TIME INCIDENT. ABOUT 1/2 YEAR LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. HAD IT TOWED TO AUTO SHOP, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO CALL THEM IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN LATE 2002 AND I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER AUTO SHOP. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE REASON EITHER - EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE AND AFTER A WHILE IT STARTED AGAIN AND WAS RUNNING NORMALLY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LATE JANUARY 2003 AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009517 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009517 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
99V276000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission:Shift Pattern Indicator
Reported: 1999-10-12 (October 12, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE S/R OPTION. THE S/R OPTION INCLUDES, AMONG OTHER FEATURES, A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT PATTERN IS NOT DISPLAYED IN THE OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT IN VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT."
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION POSITION OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADHESIVE BACKED PLAQUE CONTAINING THE SHIFT PATTERN, ALONG WITH MATERIALS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOCATING AND AFFIXING THE PLAQUE TO THE VEHICLE CENTER CONSOLE, JUST FORWARD OF THE SHIFT LEVER. OWNERS WILL ALSO BE ADVISED THAT THEIR DEALER CAN AFFIX THE PLAQUE IF THEY PREFER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗