FaultScore report
Owners have filed 32 complaints about the 2001 Ford ZX2 (Escort) with NHTSA between 2001 and 2010. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 worst.
FaultScore 48/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford ZX2 (Escort).
How this is worked out32
Complaints
1
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
64,500 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
13%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 64,500 miles
Median failure at 64,000 miles
Median failure at 59,900 miles
Median failure at 92,900 miles
Median failure at 34,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 169,000 mi
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AT A STOP LIGHT. MY AIRBAG (DRIVERS) DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AND I SUFFERED SEVERE WHIPLASH AND CHEST BONE PAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10283932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
SEAT BELTS
2001 FORD ESCORT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY CAME OUT OF THE FRAME OF THE CAR. DRIVER TRIED TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT AND THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY CAME PULLED AWAY FROM FRAME. DRIVER CANNOT BE SAFELY BUCKLED IN NOW. DAMAGED PART CANNOT BE REPAIRED AS METAL WOULD HAVE TO BE WELDED AND WE ARE UNSURE IF WELD WILL PROVIDE PROPER PROTECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10351247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AT A STOP LIGHT. MY AIRBAG (DRIVERS) DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AND I SUFFERED SEVERE WHIPLASH AND CHEST BONE PAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10283932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE PREVIOUS OWNER, WHO WAS ALSO THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I DO, IT WAS MY DAD'S CAR SO I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT. WHILE DRIVING, MOSTLY WHEN COASTING OR SLOWING DOWN, THE OIL LIGHT, THEN THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF. THE CAR CAN BE STARTED UP IMMEDIATELY WITH NO PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE CHARGING SYSTEM CHECKED-EVERYTHING WAS OPERATIVE. MY DAD HAS HAD NUMEROUS OIL CHANGES AND THE DEALERSHIP-WHICH IS WHERE HE ALWAYS GOT SERVICED, NEVER FOUND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE WHILE PERFORMING OIL CHANGES. IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS BECAUSE IT SHUTS OFF ON ME LIKE THIS 2 OR MORE TIMES A WEEK, MY DAD HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE HE BOUGHT THE CAR WITHIN THE YEAR THE 2001 MODELS WERE RELEASED.
NHTSA complaint #10234279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
BLOWER MOTOR IN CAR QUIT WORKING. THE BLOWER MOTOR WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH HAD SHORT CIRCUITED CAUSING THE WIRE TO MELT AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10168255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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 START. IT'S AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP YET A THIRD TIME BECAUSE IT WILL ONLY START IF IT'S JUMP STARTED. IF YOU TRY TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER, EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR GOES HAYWIRE. THEY THINK IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM NOW. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS CAR AS IT ONLY HAD 15 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT AND IT RAN SMOOTHLY. NOW IT ONLY HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT BUT IT SHAKES AND VIBRATES LIKE IT HAS OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10122256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE SLOWLY DEVELOPED A LOW, ROUGH IDLE AND WILL NOW SOMETIMES STALL WHILE AT IDLE. THIS PRODUCED A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT HAS STALLED WHILE SLOWING DOWN IN MOVING TRAFFIC, MAKING TURNS, ETC. APPARANTLY THERE IS A TSB (03-15-15) ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10116747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY CAR VIBRATES WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK. IT VIBRATES SO BAD THAT I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL PLACES AN NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHY IT VIBRATES SO MUCH. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN I AM IN DRIVE OR "N".
NHTSA complaint #10113853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
FORD ESCORT ZX2 - BRAKE PROBLEMS. PREMATURE WEARING OF ROTARIES AND DRUM. LOCKING UP OF COMPONENTS INVOLVING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. INCIDENT FIRST HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2004, THEN WITH BACK DRUM IN JUNE 2004.
NHTSA complaint #10079064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2001 FORD ZX2. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON IT IN MARCH 1, 2002 AND NOW IT IS GONE AGAIN IT IS NOW 4/12/2004. MY CAR WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. BEFORE THAT IT CONSTANTLY SHAKES UNTIL THE CAR TURNED OFF WHEN I WAS STOPPED FOR TOO LONG.
NHTSA complaint #10066018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
I HAVE A 2001 FORD ZX2. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON IT IN MARCH 1, 2002 AND NOW IT IS GONE AGAIN IT IS NOW 4/12/2004. MY CAR WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. BEFORE THAT IT CONSTANTLY SHAKES UNTIL THE CAR TURNED OFF WHEN I WAS STOPPED FOR TOO LONG.
NHTSA complaint #10066018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SINCE DAY ONE WHEN I BROUGHT THIS CAR, BRAND NEW, IT HAS A VERY ROUGH IDLE. TOOK IT TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND NO LUCK, I HAVE GIVEN UP. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHEN I'M AT A STOP TO KEEP IT FROM VIBRATING SO BAD. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS MESS....I'M SORRY I BROUGHT THIS CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10060869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I BEEN DRIVING A FORD ESCORT ZX2 (2001) THAT HAS LESS THAN 25,000 MILES AND ABS. BRAKING HARD AND/OR ON SLIPPARY CONDITIONS CAUSES THE BRAKES TO GRIND HARD AND LOUD NOISES. SOMETIMES WHILE IT SNOWING THE BRAKES/ABS FAIL.ED ONE TIME WHILE IT WAS SNOWING THE BRAKES GRID BUT DID NOT STOP THE CAR. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO SLID RIGHT THOUGH THE RED LIGHT. LUCKLY, I WAS ABLE TO SKID TO THE SIDE AVOIDING ALL TRAFFIC. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF THIS PROBLEM WAS LOOKED INTO. I DO NOT WANT AN ACCIDENTS TO OCCUR BECAUSE OF FAULT BRAKE SYSTEM(S). IF YOU NEED ANY MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU, JAMES BECKWITH.
NHTSA complaint #10049464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER VEHICLE WAS IDLE FOR AWHILE, CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION, AND MAKING IT HARD FOR VEHICLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION.
NHTSA complaint #10044448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE IDLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER OVER TEN TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS.
NHTSA complaint #10022976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SEVERE VIBRATION ON VEHICLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER REFUSES TO WORK ON PROBLEM STATING THAT THE VIBRATION IS NORMAL ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10014350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
SEVERE VIBRATION ON VEHICLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER REFUSES TO WORK ON PROBLEM STATING THAT THE VIBRATION IS NORMAL ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10014350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TURBULENT SHAKING WHILE AT IDLE; SURGING IDLE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10014222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE HAD ONGOING SEVERE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND GLOVE BOX TO THE POINT IT SHAKES BOLTS LOOSE IN MUD FLAPS, SEVERE CLUNKING IN REVERSE DO TO ENGINE NOT BEING SECURED IN VEHICLE DUE TO FAILED MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AFTER REPLACMENT STILL SHAKES BUT NOT AS SEVERE STILL LOOK IN SIDE MIRRORS AND VISION OBSTRUCTED TO DO SHAKING MIRROR.
NHTSA complaint #765361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE HAD ONGOING SEVERE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND GLOVE BOX TO THE POINT IT SHAKES BOLTS LOOSE IN MUD FLAPS, SEVERE CLUNKING IN REVERSE DO TO ENGINE NOT BEING SECURED IN VEHICLE DUE TO FAILED MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AFTER REPLACMENT STILL SHAKES BUT NOT AS SEVERE STILL LOOK IN SIDE MIRRORS AND VISION OBSTRUCTED TO DO SHAKING MIRROR.
NHTSA complaint #765361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN STOPPING OR AT A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WILL STALL.
NHTSA complaint #8013013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER STATES KEY GETS HOT IN THE IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #563103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES ENGINE IS MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #563103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
VEHICLE RATTLES WHEN DRIVING, DEALER READJUSTED THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #563103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR CONDITION IS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #563103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE PASSENGER SIDE WEATHER STRIP IS LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #563103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.