Problems · by component

1999 Ford Escort power train problems

38 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Escort cite power train, 11% of all 350 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
38
11% of all complaints
Crashes
3
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
“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
“WHEN PRESSING GAS ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAR DOES NOT MOVE. CAR HESITATES WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. OCCASIONALLY (ABOUT 1 OF 2 TIMES) THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND OTHER SERVICE LIGHTS APPEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY ON 11/29/00. TRANSMISSION FURTHER COMPLAINED ABOUT ON 1/15/01 AND 8/9/01 - TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED BY AAA TWICE IN PAST TWO WEEKS. 5 MECHANICS CANNOT DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN CAR IS IDLING, IN GEAR, THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2006Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10166813

Showing 6 of 38 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: shift pattern indicator

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE S/R OPTION. THE S/R OPTION INCLUDES, AMONG OTHER FEATURES, A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT PATTERN IS NOT DISPLAYED IN THE OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT IN VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT."

Power trainReported Oct 12, 1999NHTSA 99V276000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 29, 2026

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