Model year record

2000 Ford Escort recalls & problems

The 2000 Ford Escort has 2 safety recalls and 98 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (23 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints98filed by owners

Crashes · fires22 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths21 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsJul 12, 2004

Front

Recall 04E048000388 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT A NO-LOCK CONDITION WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.

Seat beltsAug 18, 2000

Seat belts

Recall 00V228001144,435 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2000 Ford Escort 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2000 Ford Escort ZX2 2-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Escort

27mpg combined

City / highway	24 / 32 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel

Escort

26mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

Escort ZX2

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Escort ZX2

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	23	0	0	0	35,900 mi
Air bagsFrontal	19	19	1	24	82,192 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines	18	0	0	0	59,126 mi
Seat beltsFront › Buckle assembly; Front › Anchorage	12	7	0	16	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Master cylinder	11	3	0	1	44,000 mi
SuspensionFront; Rear	8	0	0	0	—
VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly; Windshield	7	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemIgnition; Ignition › Module	5	0	1	0	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	5	0	0	0	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist system; Steering wheel/handle bar	4	0	0	0	—
TiresTread/belt	4	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine
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.
Jun 9, 2012 · 100,000 miles
Unknown or other
THE FIRST DEFECT IS ABOUT THE SHIFTING GEARS LIGHT. I CAN NOT SEE THE SHIFTING GEARS AT NIGHT UNLESS I TURN THE CAR'S LIGHT ON OR SOMETIMES I USE A LIGHT APP TO SEE THEM. THIS IS BECAUSE THE SHIFTING GEARS DON'T SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN AND ALSO THERE'S NO LED LIGHTS FOR THE SHIFTING GEARS THE OTHER PROBLEM I WANT TO REPORT IS THAT THESE CARS HAVE ALWAYS HAD LOUD NOISES AND I AM SUSPECTING THERE'S TRANSMISSION/ENGINE DEFECTS. NOW I AM LEFT WITH A DISABLED VEHICLE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JUST DECIDED TO BREAK ON ME, I DROVE IT PERFECTLY FINE THE DAY BEFORE IT BROKE DOWN. THE NEXT DAY, AS I WAS USING THE CAR, I TURNED IT ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME REALLY HARD AND THE CAR WAS MOVING SUPER…
Oct 7, 2015 · 152,000 miles
Air bagsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND CRASHED INTO A VAN. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH SUCH AN EXTREME FORCE THAT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, CHEST, AND RIGHT ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Nov 16, 2014 · 179,000 miles
Tires
MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL WHERE OUR DAUGHTER RECEIVED OUTPATIENT CHEMO THERAPY . AT THE FIRST LIGHT LEAVING THE HOSPITAL THE CAR STARTED SHAKING. MY DAUGHTER THOUGHT HER DOOR WAS OPEN , SO SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND CLOSED IT TO VERIFY THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THEY ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND WENT ABOUT 1/4 MILE AND THE CAR MADE A RUMBLING NOISE AND 1 OR 2 MINUTES LATER THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS DRAGING SOMETHING. MY WIFE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND CALLED ME. I WENT DOWN TO ASSIST HER IN CHANGING THE FLAT TIRE.THE TIRE SIDE WALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE SEPERATED IN SEVERAL PLACES . THERE ARE 11 PLACES WHERE THE BELTS SEPERATED CAUSING INSTANTIOUS…
Jun 19, 2012 · 113,303 miles
Visibility
FORD ESCORT 2000 COUPE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON; I.E., MY WIFE GOT IN THE CAR AND BEFORE SHE EVEN STARTED THE ENGINE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE REAR WINDOW WITH DEFROSTER SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. *TR
Nov 8, 2010 · 43,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
BURN OUT MOTOR. *TR
Apr 13, 2009
Vehicle speed control
VEHICLE DROPS IN RPM WHILE STOPPING...UPON RESEARCH OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM...THIS IS ON THE FORD ESCORT ZX2...ALL MODELS FROM 1999-TO NOW... *TR
Feb 9, 2009
Suspension › Rear › Springs
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCORT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON A LIFT, THE TIRE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS REGARDING THE SPRINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,009 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
Jan 5, 2008 · 33,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.