27 of the
95 complaints filed about the Ford ZX2 (Escort)
are about the engine —
28% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
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.
THE VEHICLE DIES/STALLS WHEN BRAKING TO TURN OFF A HIGHWAY. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING 55-60 MPH THE VEHICLE DIES WHEN BRAKING. YOU LOSE POWER STEERING. CAR WILL TURN BACK ON.
NHTSA complaint #10151548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10139121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10130443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
CAR STALLS WHEN COASTING OR BRAKING AND COMING TO STOP. CAR ALSO STALLS WHEN ON FREEWAY IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN IN 5 SEPARATE TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION. FORD ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR, AND THE EMERGENCY FUEL SENSOR. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD 2400 MILES ON IT AND HAS CONTINUED NOW, WHEN IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 YEARS AND NOW HAS 24000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10100093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2003 FORD ZX2 THAT HAS HAD A SEVERE IDLE VIBRATION FOR NEARLY ONE YEAR THAT FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX. THE DEFECT CAUSES A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, GLOVE BOX, VENTS, AND SEATS OF THE CAR AND OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS IN ANY GEAR OR ANY DRIVING CONDITION. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM DUE TO SERVICE BULLETIN 03-15-15. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIPS THAT THE VEHICLE'S EMISSIONS ARE SO LOW THE VEHICLE IS TRYING TO TURN OFF AT IDLE AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL LIKELY COME ON SOON. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS DEFECT IS MERELY "COSMETIC AND AN ANNOYANCE TO THE CUSTOMER" AND THAT IT CANNOT BE FIXED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO 4 DEALERSHIPS AND 1 LOCAL SHOP AND FORD IS STILL REFUSING TO FIX THE DEFECT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM FIXED, AS WOULD ANYONE IN THIS SITUATION. I FEEL THAT FORD AS A COMPANY IS DOING VERY POOR BUSINESS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10080940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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 TO THE STEERING WHEEL PROPERLY DUE TO NUMBNESS CASED BY THE VIBRATION, IT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE VIBRATION IS SO BAD THAT YOU CAN NOT SEE PROPERLY WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS, WHICH IS ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN. ACCORDING TO WEB SITES WHERE PEOPLE LOG THEIR COMPLAINTS, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VIBRATIONS AND HAVE RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE FROM FORD.
NHTSA complaint #10054301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10028670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10025018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.