Ford Escort Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 307 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Escort across 9 model years. The 1997 model year has the most (66). The words owners use most often: “timing belt” (5% of reports).
- 307engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing belt: mentioned in 16 of 307 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 60 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 307 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 3 an injury.
Ford Escort engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Escort | 2 | 20% | 54,300 |
| 2002 Escort | 11 | 33% | 41,000 |
| 2001 Escort | 12 | 18% | 32,000 |
| 2000 Escort | 21 | 21% | 35,900 |
| 1999 Escort | 62 | 19% | 66,723 |
| 1998 Escort | 49 | 13% | 81,000 |
| 1997 Escort | 66 | 12% | 70,000 |
| 1996 Escort | 30 | 15% | — |
| 1995 Escort | 54 | 9% | 81,939 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the Ford Escort. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford escort. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle began to shake vigorously and stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic. The mechanic stated that the engine would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford escort. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. A local mechanic diagnosed that the timing belt was defective. In addition, the motor failed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escort. The contact stated the oil dip stick fractured when attempting to check the oil level. An authorized dealer stated the defect was a common problem with that model year vehicle. The dip stick was not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…
2002 ford escort. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle stopping and dying while driving *tgw the consumer stated the battery and alternator were replace three times, as well as other components. However, the stalling continued. No one has been able to determine the reason for the stalling. *jb
I have a 2001 ford escort zx2. Ive had it a little over a year now. This reoccurring problem is getting very frustrating. When i start my car it sounds like its getting ready to die. It just struggles at very low rpm. I don't know if there is a way to adjust the idle but is there a fix? *cn
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Escorts have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 307 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Ford Escort. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Escort engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Escort?
The most frequent phrase is “timing belt”, in 16 of 307 complaints.
Other Ford Escort problems
- Air Bags problems (408)
- Seat Belts problems (287)
- Electrical System problems (270)
- Suspension problems (231)
- Power Train problems (199)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (185)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (146)
See all Ford Escort problems.