Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Ford Escort problems
Owners filed 150 complaints about the 2000 Ford Escort with NHTSA between Nov 1999 and Jan 2016. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (27).
Complaints
150
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
26
Reported by owners
Fires
11
Reported by owners
Injuries
25
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling27
- Air bags21
- Power train19
- Electrical system17
- Visibility12
- Vehicle speed control12
- Seat belts12
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Tires9
- Suspension9
- Exterior lighting5
- Equipment4
- Steering4
- Structure3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
18
19
21
20
27
22
3
10
2
2
1
0
1
0
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 27 |
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
27 reports1 crash2 fires
“VEHICLE DIED DURING TRAVEL WITH NO WARNING, FORD ISSUED RECALL. HOWEVER DUE TO THE LIMITED NUMBER OF CONSUMERS WITH THIS YEAR AND SPECIFIC MODEL COMPLAINTS WERE OVERLOOKED. DEALER SHOULD OFFER RECOURSE. *AK”
Air bags
21 reports21 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND CRASHED INTO A VAN. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH SUCH AN EXTREME FORCE THAT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, CHEST, AND RIGHT ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Power train
19 reports
“TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. TENSIONER ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING SHREDDING THE BELT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED.”
Electrical system
17 reports5 fires
“HAVE EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FOR YEARS. A BLOWER CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, CAUSING THE RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. *TR”
Visibility
12 reports
“FORD ESCORT 2000 COUPE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON; I.E., MY WIFE GOT IN THE CAR AND BEFORE SHE EVEN STARTED THE ENGINE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE REAR WINDOW WITH DEFROSTER SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
12 reports1 crash2 fires
“AFTER CAR WAS DRIVEN TO WORK APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES. MY EMPLOYERS SECURITY DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME THAT MY CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHILE PARKED ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AFTER ARRIVING TO WORK. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND PUT OUT FIRE, AND IT RELEASED A REPORT STATING FIRE DEFINATELY STARTED IN UNDER THE THE HOOD IN ENGINE AREA.*AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.