1999 Ford ZX2 (ESCORT): complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
91,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 15 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 13.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 6.7% |
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 | 4 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Equipment: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 6 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 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2012: 1; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10007539 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
I HAD LEFT MY FAN AND HEAT ON FROM PREVIOUS DAY. THAT MORNING THE FAN WOULD NOT BLOW. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 54,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007539 at NHTSA ↗
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 10028670 · 2003-07-20 (July 20, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 46,389 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028670 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 10060052 · 2004-02-29 (February 29, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093273 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
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 SEPARATI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130443 · 2005-07-28 (July 28, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139121 · 2005-10-09 (October 9, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139121 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.