Most common 2001 Ford Escort problems
Share of the 68 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 →
What 2001 Ford Escort owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Escort. The contact stated that the shift anti- lock actuator failed and the vehicle would not shift out of park. The vehicle was repaired October 24, 2003 when the dealer replaced the shifter and the cable assembly. The contact stated that the failure recurred. In addition, the contact stated that the rear passenger seat belt did not work properly and that the shoulder strap would not buckle properly. The failure mileage was 75,000. The ABS light would randomly illuminate. Updated 12/15/11 updated 12/28/11 the right rear seat belt was twisted, which made it inoperable, the brake shift inter-lock malfunctioned and the consumer was unable to shift the from park to drive. Updated 03.12.12
2001 Escort. Bought in fall from hertz. Have had new platnum plugs installed. But car continues to cut off when leaving from a stopped positon such as a stop sign, light, and left turn lane. Cut off 2 days ago when starting from a stop sign. Had plenty of time from on comming cars. Stalled in hwy and a tractor trailer truck had to brake and I almost lost my life. Did same thing several days ago from a left turn lane. Went to young Ford about it running rough and stalling. Ser mgr stated they do that and that is the reason they stopped making them. Have had trouble sinc I bought it. You cant tell much about a car with a short demo ride. Bought 9/25/02
Engine & cooling
In aug. 2003, I purchased a 2001 Ford Escort, only a short time after having it (2 weeks) vehicle engine died while at stop light. This has happened repeatedly, it is now November, and my local dealership has had my car more than I have since purchase in August. Continually tell me "there is nothing wrong with it." they installed a device to monitor the times when it dies, they serve people have driven it and it has died on them, they continue to say they do not know how to fix it. Also, I have been on the interstate with cruise control set and vehicle suddenly accelerates. Have not gotten any satisfaction from my local dealer, they have put approximately 2500 miles on my car, more than I have had a chance to put on it!! I would like either a comparable car or a full refund. This has been very frustrating. I have even been told I exaggerated the severity! …
2001 Escort. Bought in fall from hertz. Have had new platnum plugs installed. But car continues to cut off when leaving from a stopped positon such as a stop sign, light, and left turn lane. Cut off 2 days ago when starting from a stop sign. Had plenty of time from on comming cars. Stalled in hwy and a tractor trailer truck had to brake and I almost lost my life. Did same thing several days ago from a left turn lane. Went to young Ford about it running rough and stalling. Ser mgr stated they do that and that is the reason they stopped making them. Have had trouble sinc I bought it. You cant tell much about a car with a short demo ride. Bought 9/25/02
Speed control & acceleration
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Escort. When the contact depressed the brake pedal, the vehicle dramatically surged forward and crashed into another vehicle. She took her vehicle to the dealer and they repaired the coil spring in the brake pedal, along with other cosmetic repairs. One month later, while attempting to park the vehicle into a parking space, it surged forward again and crashed into a pipe. The air bags deployed and the vehicle sustained moderate damage. An investigator from her insurance company is in the process of inspecting the vehicle. The contact has pictures of the vehicle. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 115,000.
Dt: the contact states while parked with the engine off vehicle caught on fire. The vehicle had been sitting for over two hours. He smelled smoke and checked in the garage where the vehicle was parked. The fire was coming from under the hood in front of the steering compartment. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The vehicle was totaled. There was extensive damage to the garage and the contact's house. The preliminary report indicated the fire started in the engine compartment. Reports were taken by the police, fire department, and insurance company.
2001 Ford Escort engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 32 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 31 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Ford Escort a good car?
Based on 68 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Escort rates better than average: 74% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Escort at the same age. It is one of the best Escort years by this measure. 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 2001 Ford Escort?
The transmission & drivetrain — 13 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (12) and speed control & acceleration (10).
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Escort have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Ford Escort. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2001 Ford Escort problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 41,000 miles; 58% 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.