Most common 2001 Ford ZX2 (escort) problems
Share of the 18 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford ZX2 (escort) complaints by model year
Best ZX2 (escort) years: 2000, 1998, 2003. Years to avoid: 2001, 1999, 2002. Compare all years →
What 2001 Ford ZX2 (escort) owners say
Engine & cooling
The previous owner, who was also the original owner, had the same problem I do, it was my dad's car so I have been able to talk to him about it. While driving, mostly when coasting or slowing down, the oil light, then the battery light come on and the car shuts off. The car can be started up immediately with no problem. I have had the charging system checked-everything was operative. My dad has had numerous oil changes and the dealership-which is where he always got serviced, never found any problem with the engine while performing oil changes. It's driving me nuts because it shuts off on me like this 2 or more times a week, my dad has had the same problem since he bought the car within the year the 2001 models were released.
I have had several problems with my car. It shakes and vibrates really bad. The first time it was taken to the Ford dealership, I was told that it was a normal characterisic of the motor. Well, it was getting worse so I took it to another Ford dealership and was told that the motor mounts needed replaced. I had all of those replaced. It still shakes and vibrates a lot. It only has 32,000 miles on it. It shakes so much that my hood becomes loose and has to be tightned up. It wouldn't go out of park either so that had to be fixed. Now, it won't start. It's at the Ford dealership yet a third time because it will only start if it's jump started. If you try to use the air conditioner, everything electrical in the car goes haywire. They think it's an electrical problem now. Please look into this car as it only had 15 miles on it when I bought and it ran smoothly. …
Transmission & drivetrain
I have a 2001 Ford ZX2. I had the transmission replaced on it in March 1, 2002 and now it is gone again it is now 4/12/2004. My car will not go in reverse. Before that it constantly shakes until the car turned off when I was stopped for too long.
My car vibrates when I am at a complete stop with my foot on the break. It vibrates so bad that I have taken it to several places an no one can tell me why it vibrates so much. This problem does not happen when I am in drive or "n".
Brakes
Ford escort ZX2 - brake problems. Premature wearing of rotaries and drum. Locking up of components involving the emergency brakes. Incident first happened in January 2004, then with back drum in June 2004.
I been driving a Ford escort ZX2 (2001) that has less than 25,000 miles and ABS. Braking hard and/or on slippary conditions causes the brakes to grind hard and loud noises. Sometimes while it snowing the brakes/ABS fail.ed one time while it was snowing the brakes grid but did not stop the car. This caused the car to slid right though the red light. Luckly, I was able to skid to the side avoiding all traffic. I would really appreciate if this problem was looked into. I do not want an accidents to occur because of fault brake system(s). If you need any more information please contact me. Thank you, james beckwith.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Ford ZX2 (escort) a good car?
Based on 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 ZX2 (escort) rates use caution: 2.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the ZX2 (escort) at the same age. It is one of the ZX2 (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 2001 Ford ZX2 (escort)?
The engine & cooling — 10 complaints, 56% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (4) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford ZX2 (escort) have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Ford ZX2 (escort). You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford ZX2 (escort)?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000, 1998 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 1999 and 2002. See the full Ford ZX2 (escort) years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford ZX2 (escort) problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 14% 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.