2000 Ford ESCORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
98 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
57,811 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 98 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 12.2% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 11.2% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.0% |
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 | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Air Bags: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 64 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 | 15 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 15; 2001: 13; 2002: 21; 2003: 14; 2004: 20; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 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 10004028 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAR END THE VEHICLE AHEAD. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020516 · 2003-05-23 (May 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020516 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023105 · 2003-06-15 (June 15, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2000 FORD ESCORT ZX2 NEEDED TO REBUILT AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES AND THREE MONTHS BEYOND THE NORMAL WARRANTY. I SPOKE WITH FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THERE IS NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, I FEEL SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD THIS MAJOR TYPE OF PROBLEM SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED FORD SHOULD CONSIDER THIS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. FORD'S UNWILLINGNESS TO ASSIST ME LEAVES A VERY SOUR TASTE FOR ME. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023753 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
ON JUNE 21, 2003, I WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT APPROX. 30 MPH. I ATTEMPTED TO SPEED UP AND FOUND THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE I WAS FORCED TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE A TOW TRUCK PICKED IT UP AND TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. APPROX. 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS TIME I BEGAN NOTICING A "SPASMODIC HESITATING MOTION" IN THE CAR WHENEVER I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM AN IDLE POSITION. I ASSUMED THAT A TUNE-UP WAS NEEDED AND TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. I W…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,126 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033582 · 2003-08-11 (August 11, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT WARRANTY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036655 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 FORD ESCORT ZX2 HAS GONE BAD. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND THAT IT CAN OCCUR FROM 15,000 MILES+. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE 2 BANDS THAT CONTROL THE 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH GEARS HAVE BROKE. AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME AT LEAST $1,000 TO FIX IT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037591 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
ALUMINUM CASTING CRACKED ON AIR CONDITIONER BRACKET CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60,480 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039390 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UNDER DASHBOARD BURNT UP
Owner-reported narrative. 56,495 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039390 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.
00V228001 · Seat Belts
Reported: 2000-08-18 (August 18, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗