Problems · by component

1999 Ford Escort ZX2 power train problems

41 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Escort ZX2 cite power train, 11% of all 365 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
41
11% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NO OCCUPANT INSIDE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2019Power trainCrash reportedODI 11210426
“CONTROL MODULE PROCEDURES OK. SO IF THERE IS A PROGRAMMING PROCEDURE IF IT FAILS YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO THEN TELL ME YOUR GOING TO CHARGE ME 50 DOLLARS TO TELL ME THE PROCEDURE LET ME CALM DOWN. YOUR KIDDING RIGHT. THAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING I THINK I'VE EVER READ.YOUR AN AMERICAN COMPANY YOU OWE YOUR EXISTENCE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC OK SO MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL TELL YOU TO TAKE YOUR [XXX] UP PRODUCT THAT YOU [XXX] AND EXPECT TO CHARGE US FOR YOUR [XXX] AND STUFF IT UP YOUR [XXX] SERIOUSLY WHAT KIND OF CRAP ARE YOU PULLING YA KNOW WHAT IM GOING TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE COMPETITORS AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU TOLD ME ON YOUR WEB SIGHT "WE DIDN'T BUILD OUR PRODUCT PROPERLY BUT WE CAN TELL YOU THE PROCEDURE TO FIX IT BUT HEY UM WERE GONNA CHARGE YA 50 BUCKS CAUSE AH YOU TRUSTED US TO BUILD A QUALITY PRODUCT AND WE DIDN'T SO GIVE US MORE MONEY TO PAY FOR OUR MISTAKE AND WE WILL GIVE YOU THE PROCEDURE OF HOW TO FIX IT CAUSE WE DON'T GIVE A [XXX] ABOUT OUR PRODUCT JUST THE MONEY YOUR FOOLISH ENOUGH TO PAY FOR IT"IM SENDING IT TO DODGE,CHEVY=MAYBE AS CONSUMERS YOU WILL BE FORCED TO FIX YOU PRODUCT BECAUSE YA KNOW YA [XXX] AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD PAY US BACK FOR THE CRAP YOU SOLD US *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2016Power trainODI 10817370
“COMPANY STATES THEY DO A COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION, SELL HIGH QUALITY USED VEHICLES, MEET CUSTOMERS PERSONAL NEEDS, AND BACK THEIR PRODUCT. NO INSPECTION WAS DONE, ONLY COSMETIC REPAIRS TO SELL THE CAR. NO INSPECTION REPORT CAN BE PRODUCED EXCEPT THE REPAIRS BEFORE CAR WAS PUT ON LOT. THIS VEHICLE IS FAR FROM THE HIGH QUALITY. WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE BACK IN THE SHOP 14 TIMES IN 14 MONTHS. IT DID NOT MEET THE 4 PERSONAL NEEDS WE REQUESTED. EVERYTHING WITH THOSE NEEDS HAS GONE COMPLETELY WRONG! WE DID NOT WANT A FORD; WE GOT A FORD, IT IS NOT RELIABLE. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE AC AT THE SHOP 7 TIMES, NOW RENDERING THE CAR DISABLED. IT IS NOT RELIABLE, KEEPS BREAKING DOWN. IT DOES NOT GET GOOD MILEAGE; CAR GETS 21 MPG WHEN IT SHOULD GET ABOUT 35-38 ACCORDING TO MFG. WARRANTY WAS BURNED BY MILES GOING BACK AND FORTH TO SHOP FOR CONSTANT REPAIRS. 700 MILES FOR THE SAME ISSUE- THE AC. SERVICE ISSUES ARE THAT THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE ROUTE OF THE PROBLEM AND WE KEEP HAVING TO GO BACK TO GET THE SAME THING FIXED. OWNER IS UNCOOPERATIVE, WONT LISTEN, ALWAYS COMES BACK WITH RESPONSES AND REPLIES THAT GO IN CIRCLES. HE WILL NOT LISTEN. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2009Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10284836
“OK, SO I JUST BOUGHT MY 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2 ON DECEMBER 1, 2008 AT 82,000 MILES. 2 MONTHS LATER I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ALTERNATOR IN FEBRUARY 2009. IN MAY 2009 MY ENGINE BLEW, APPARENTLY THE #1 ROD SEPARATED AND WENT THROUGH THE OIL PAN. I REPLACED THE ENGINE SINCE I STILL HAVE A LOAN ON THE CAR. IT IS NOW JULY 2009 AND MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I ONLY HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 8 MONTHS AND REPAIR COSTS ARE MORE THAN WHAT I PAID FOR THIS. UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T GET RID OF IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR A BETTER CAR AND NOW I AM IN THIS ENDLESS CYCLE OF REPAIRS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10277102
“I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD WINSTAR IN 2005 AND MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR 1500.00 WHILE SEARCHING YOUR SITE I DISCOVERED MANY DEFECTS AND RECALLS TO MY VAN WHICH I PLAN TO TAKE TO A FORD DEALER. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2007Power trainODI 10212163
“I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR SEL 3 YEARS AGO AND HAVE HAD HELL WITH IT EVER SINCE. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN OWNED BY ONE OTHER PERSON AND HE HAD TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN IT RIGHT OVER 50,000 MILES. @ 130,000 MILES I TOO HAD TO PUT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN IT. NOW THE VAN HAS 160000 AND I AM AGAIN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I THINK THAT FORD HAS DONE A TERRIBLE JOB OF TAKING CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THEY ARE LOOSING ME AS A CUSTOMER. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2007Power trainODI 10208946

Showing 6 of 41 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.