Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Ford Escort owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Since the purchase of my car at 12,000 miles, it has shaken and vibrated violently. When I run my defrost or A/C the problem gets worse and my car stalls out. I have replaced the transmission at 30,000 miles and replaced everything the dealership instructed. On July, 18, 2003 I made my final attempt to correct the problem. I took the car to the Ford dealer and again specified the problem and showed them exactly what I was experiencing. I picked it up later that afternoon they had replaced the valve again that I had just replaced in January 2003. I turned on my car and ran the A/C and I saw no improvement. So I asked to speak with a manager who told me that this is a common problem that my car shouldn't stall anymore but they have done everything they can do to correct this problem. Basically, we purchased a $13,000 dollar car that never ran right and can not be remedied. …
In 1999 we purchased a Ford Escort. Within the first 6 months, the check engine light came on. We took it in and they said there was nothing wrong with the car, that sometimes a new car would do that just by going over a bump. Within the next two years the car developed some really weird problems. Diagnostics were done, parts changed and money paid. No change. The car will stall after being driven for a while, especially in the summer. Now it stalls constantly. We have taken it to five different mechanics plus the Ford dealership again, and no one can tell us what the problem is. Diagnostics are constantly being done. Parts changed "just to see" and more and more money has been spent and nothing has changed except it is getting worse. My daughter is now expecting her first child and the car is hers. We are afraid to let her drive it anymore because of its instability. …
I own a 1999 Ford Escort se. It has less than 32,000 original miles. I was driving the car when it started making a loud vibrating noise from under the hood. As I had previously had to have the motor mounts replaced, when the car was still under warranty, I thought that was the problem. I took the car to my mechanic, not the dealership. On investigation, he discovered that my 4th piston is cracked. When he called jasper engines for the price on a replacement engine, they told him that they had received service bulletins that this was a problem in the 1999 Escort engines. I have contacted Ford about helping in the cost of replacing the engine and have been told that because the car is more than 5 yrs old they will not help. If they knew there was a problem, the should have to repair it. I don't know what other steps to take and wish to keep the car.
I purchased my se in November of 2006 with less than 83K miles on it. Three months after purchasing it, one of the head gaskets cracked. I had the head repaired, and less than two months after that the head cracked again. I had the engine replaced. I have now had new heads, new engine, new fuel pump and a new alternator installed and now am having a new problem. When I pulled out from a stop, the brake light would come on until the brakes were applied. The engine is now emitting a grinding noise when stopped, and I feel it is unsafe to drive. This is all in addition to the violent shaking, faulty front headlight, transmission that needs flushed and loud engine noise. I have spent more on repairs than I paid for the vehicle, and now have to put more money in to it, and it still has less than 94K miles on it. This is my first Ford, and will be my last.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Ford Escort. The contact stated that the engine dropped two valve seats. As a result, two cylinder heads failed. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle performed as if it were not receiving any power and then shut off. There was no compression, but the vehicle still drove poorly. The contact also heard a disturbing, chopping noise under the hood. She purchased a rebuilt engine and had the transmission sensors replaced; however, the engine failed again six months later. The contact purchased a new engine, which was supposed to be under a lifetime warranty, but the failure recurred and the engine needed to be replaced again. Both the dealer and manufacturer offered no assistance. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage was approximately 142,000 and failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
On 12-11-04 while returning home from work, I heard a loud noise coming from the engine and the car stalled. At first I though it was the timing belt. I took the car to a local shop who said that the timing belt had been stretched and had actually skipped gears. They replaced the timing belt and upon starting the vehicle, they heard a loud noise from the engine. They removed the spark plugs to find that the #4 plug had been broken due to an impact from the engine. After contacting the spark plug manufactuer, they said that this was a known problem with Ford 2.0 engines manufacturered between 1991 and 2000. Ford used a powdered metal valve seal instead of a stainless steel one which over time breaks apart and falls into the engine damaging the engine. As a result, the engine must be replaced.
I purchased a 1999 Ford Escort from carmax in May of 2001. About 2-3 wks later I constantly had problems with the headlight going out. I got ticketed by the police several times because I was unaware of the problems. Then one day driving from work my engine died. Without any warning at all. I took it to carmax and they then took it to another repair shop. Whenever I put the ac on there is a rumbling coming from the front end of the vehicle. Frankly the car is a lemon and I had no idea because there was no reports on the car and I remembered asking the sales rep. If there was anything about the car that I needed to know and I was told no. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do because I am spending money on this car for manufacturer problems. Thank you.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Ford Escort. The contact stated that the entire air conditioning unit had to be replaced within a month of her purchasing the vehicle. She also stated that the timing chain needed to be replaced in August of 2007. A day or two later, the valves needed to be replaced as well. The radio and clock in the vehicle would intermittently turn on and off and made a strange noise. The dealer stated that the contact was responsible for the cost of the diagnostic. The current mileage was 136,964 and failure mileage was approximately 150. Updated 5/19/08 the gear light went out. The marker light was inoperative. Updated
Engine complaints in other Escort years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1999 Ford Escort?
NHTSA has 64 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1999 Ford Escort, 20% of the model year's 325 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (30 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Escort engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1999 Ford Escort, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Escort engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.