1999 Ford Zx2 (Escort): Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 24 complaints
24
Total Complaints
82,500mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Top Issue
4
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

48,366 25th Percentile
82,500 Median Mileage
130,788 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
AIR BAGS
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
1
STEERING
1

Severity Assessment

4
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE ROUTE ROAD,GOING UP A HILL IN THIRD GEAR AND SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR, VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED INTO A 360 DEGREE ANGLE AND LANDED IN A DITCH. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT THE UNIBODY WAS CROOKED. CAR HAD BEEN BACK ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER. GOING NORTH ON STATE R..."
"ABS BRAKES FAILED RESULTING VEHICLE COLLISION. *MJS"
"ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. AS PER OWNER'S MANUAL COULD BE EMISSION PROBLEM. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28