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 2000 Ford Escort owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
I would like to reference odi cases # 8016196, 1451010 and particularly 881231 in reference to my Ford Escort. While driving at low speed, my power steering, ac and alternator went out when the serpentine belt broke. The belt was wrapped around the water pump tensioner, which literally snapped away from the water pump housing and broke the water pump housing in 3 pieces. My mechanic also said he had never seen anything like this - but he found it very interesting that Ford had the water pump housing in stock in their parts department. The water pump, the housing, the tensioner and the serpentine belt were all replaced at the consumer's cost.
1 week after driving the vehicle it ran rough when the heater or air wass on. The steering wheel shakes and the tachometer continually moves up and down from less then 1rmp to 2 rmp. Runs really rough doesn't want to drive. Feels like a very old car. The clutch is funny. The car is a lemon!!!! I took the vehicle to the dealer approx. 4 times. Last time they told me that the arrow setting on the heater takes more of a draw on the engine how stupid was this answer. The other scenario they gave me was the gas I was using. What year are we in?
My car has had 4 transmissions before 40,000 miles and now at 102,000 miles I'm having to put a new motor in. This car has had excellent care and maintence and no reason for this. I was driving the car down the highway and loud noice started so I stopped and had it towed Ford said it was the motor was no good know. This car had no problems with the motor till then.
My 2000 Ford zx2 idler pulley broke causing damage to the belt tensioner and water pump housing. The mechanic says that this is very unusual, he has never heard of such problems with any vehicle. I don't know if this is a fluke or a design flaw. Could you check into it.
While the vehicle is sitting idling, there is a severe vibration in the steering wheel. The dealer examined the vehicle and replaced the throw out and main bearing on the crank shaft. The dealer did not have more options to correct the problem.
I'm not sure that my car problem would be classified as a failure, but I bought my vehicle with seven miles on it. At approximately 400 miles I began experiencing a rough idol. My entire car would vibrate. I notified my dealership at approximately 3000 miles and shortly after my entire engine was replaced. The first few hundred miles after the replacedment were fine, however the problem is back and worse than before. I again contacted my dealership was informed that there was nothing more they could do for me. This vibration happens when I am in park, drive and reverse. My entire car is shaking and people in the back seat can feel it in the floorboards. My streering wheel shakes and it only gets worse when I turn my air or defrost on . I don't feel that this is normal for a car with barely over 4000 miles.
Car starts driving rough and shaking. First time at 350 miles and they replaced fuel pump and something else to do with gas. Second time at 1215 they replaced the spark plugs. Third time at 1600 miles they couldn't determine what was happening or causing but quessed something to do with 3rd cyclinder. They drove it till it happened again around 1900 with a black box and it showed everything it was doing. They have decided to replace the whole motor. We want a different car but they so far won't do that. This started at 350 miles and seems to happen about everytime we refuel and drive a far distance. During the week it only goes short trips in town. How lemony does it have to be???
I've had my Ford Escort zx2 for a year now. I bought it used from a dealership. Recently I've noticed a major decline in performance. It idles low, the horsepower is gone, and when sitting for periods of time it has problems starting. Last weekend I had a Ford certified mechanic perform a computer and mechanical diagnostic on it to pinpoint the problem. He could not find anything. So, he checked service bulletins for it and found that there was a bulletin on its variable cam timing DTC. He felt that this was what was wrong with my vehicle.
I am experiencing stalling problems when I stop at lights or the vehicle is idling. It looses compression. I had it into the dealership while still under warranty around 35,000 miles..now at 47,000 miles I'm experiencing the same problem. Originally they replaced wiring harness and air intake valve so far problem has yet to be determined as to why it's stalling again.
Engine complaints in other Escort years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2000 Ford Escort?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2000 Ford Escort, 22% of the model year's 98 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Escort engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2000 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 2000 Ford Escort engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 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.