Most common 1999 Ford Escort problems
Share of the 325 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Escort complaints by model year
Best Escort years: 2003, 2002, 2001. Years to avoid: 1997, 1995, 1998, 1999. Compare all years →
1999 Ford Escort recalls (1)
Power train › Manual transmission › Shift pattern indicator
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.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an adhesive backed plaque containing the shift pattern, along with materials and instructions for locating and affixing the plaque to the vehicle center console, just forward of the shift…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Ford Escort:
Air bag non-deployment
What 1999 Ford Escort owners say
Air bags all 66 →
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 20mph, the steering wheel locked, the vehicle crashed and the air bags deployed but did not inflate. The vehicle proceeded to crash into 2 parked cars. Injuries were sustained to the driver and passenger's hands, back and feet. Both occupants were wearing seat belts. The police responded and provided a written report. The insurance company inspected and deemed the vehicle totaled. There was additional property damage to the parked vehicles.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Ford Escort. While driving between 30-35 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a crash on the front passenger side. The frontal seat belt webbings did not lock (NHTSA campaign id number 04e048000) and the front air bags failed to deploy. The contact suffered severe strain, sprain, and bruises to her chest and neck. The vehicle was destroyed and a police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 104,308. Updated 09/12/07
Engine & cooling all 64 →
Noticed that engine warning light was coming up on and off, changed spark plugs,wires, light would go off for a period and than come back on. I was driving down the freeway between 65-70 miles/hour when I hured a loud bang , pulled off the freeway, I had the car taking to a local Ford dealership, service writer told me that the valve seat in the head had seperated and fell into the motor. He also told me that the 1.9 motor had a flaw in the head and Ford motor company new about this problem for many years. Than he showed me another Escort that6 had the same exact problem and that this was not the first car he seened with this problem. Second problem: I have had to replace 3 transmitions with in a year, which was covered by Ford motor company and possibly a 4th. I don't know because the motor went. …
While driving , the car lost power and the steering wheel was hard to turn, after coming to a stop, we tried to start the car up again it bsounded like it wanted to turn over but didn't after a few tries it stopped making any noise. A mechanic said the engine blew and that it was a on going problem for this year and make of car. The engine was put in the car when we bought it, it was advertised as new so the previous owner must have had thishappen to them and knowingly sold us their problem. Please we need help.
Suspension all 42 →
Rear coil spring failure. 2 separate rear coil spring failures within 2 months. 1 of which punctured the tire at highway speeds. The car lost control and went into the median. Luckily nobody was injured and there were no other vehicles involved. Repair shop noted this is a common problem with escorts.
When I took my car (1999 Ford Escort stationwagon VIN.#[redacted]) in for its oil change & inspection. It failed inspection because a rear coil spring was completely cracked in half. The car is 5 years old, but only had 8,953 miles on it. I am a senior citizen and only drive the car on a limited basis, usually for shopping or to a doctor's office. I was told the the spring was not covered under any warranty and was charged a total of $412.99 (plus tax) for this repair. I was told to contact Ford directly to see if anything could be done to compensate me. My son called Ford's customer relations # and was told to see the service manager at the dealer, who would then submit the claim for me. After 2 seperate visits to the dealer, my son was told: 1) the manager had gone home early that day & that only the manager could deal with the problem. …
1999 Ford Escort engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 34 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Ford Escort a good car?
Based on 325 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Escort rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Escort at the same age. It is one of the Escort years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Ford Escort?
The air bags — 66 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the engine & cooling (64) and suspension (42).
How many recalls does the 1999 Ford Escort have?
There is 1 recall for the 1999 Ford Escort, the most recent from October 12, 1999 (shift pattern indicator). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Escort?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2002 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1995, 1998 and 1999. See the full Ford Escort years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Escort problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 29% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.