Any common problems with Escorts?

I am thinking about getting a '99 Escort, and i was wondering if there are any common problems i should know about? Is the car worth getting? It has like 70k miles on it i think.

I have heard said that they have problems with the motorized seat belt tracks.

Car is reliable. Peolple in dealerships buy them bak from owners when they are old so thay can drive them around in the cars later years and upper mileage.

I have a problem with the rear springs breaking (97 Escort wagon) near their ends due to bumpy parking lots at work and number of people carried and its design but the problem remains stable if ignored. I replaced one but it broke in 30K miles. I will replace them when I get new struts. Maintaining good springs be a problem so if the spring is broken at the end, ignore it for a while.

This might have the idle vibration. My wifes zx2 has it and it will get on you nerves so bad. I am thinking about preforming the tsb, part are $120. Here is part of the tsb on it.

Engine Crossmember/Mount - Idle Vibration
Article No.
00-5-9

03/06/00

IDLE - VIBRATION-2.0L SPI AND ZETEC ENGINES- SERVICE TIP

FORD:
1997-1999 ESCORT
1998-1999 ESCORT ZX2

MERCURY:
1997-1999 TRACER

This TSB article is being republished in its entirety to include installation of engine support crossmember bushings and provide additional idle vibration diagnostic tips.

ISSUE
This TSB article is being published to assist in diagnosing idle vibration.

ACTION
Diagnose and repair idle vibration concerns by referring to the following Idle Vibration Service Tips.

NOTE THE ENGINE MOUNT REPLACEMENT DIRECTIVE APPLIES ONLY TO VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 1/29/1999. VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THIS DATE ALREADY HAVE THE UPDATED/IMPROVED ENGINE MOUNTS INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY. ON VEHICLES BUILT AFTER 1/29/1999. REPLACE ONLY THE ENGINE SUPPORT CROSSMEMBER BUSHINGS AND PERFORM THE MOUNT NEUTRALIZATION PROCEDURE.

NOTE IF INCORRECTLY POSITIONED, THE ENGINE MOUNTS CAN TRANSMIT EXCESSIVE ENGINE VIBRATION TO THE BODY, RESULTING IN UNACCEPTABLE IDLE PERFORMANCE. THE SEQUENCE OF THE INDICATED STEPS IS CRITICAL, SO PERFORM THE FOLLOWING STEPS IN THE ORDER INDICATED.

NOTE THE PROCEDURE CONTAINED IN THIS TSB ARTICLE MAY NOT COMPLETELY ELIMINATE ALL VIBRATION FROM THE VEHICLE. SOME VIBRATION IS INHERENT IN I-4 ENGINE DESIGNS, SUCH AS THE SPI AND ZETEC 2.OL. THIS PROCEDURE IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF VIBRATION EXPERIENCED BY THE CUSTOMER.

I have a 94 with 200 thousand miles the motorized seat belt track is the only serious problem.

I've got a 95. The only problems were at 145k the althernator went and the auto seat belts are kind of shitty sometimes. The car now has one fifty K.

My 94' Escort is sitting on 193K +, the only problems I have had, clutch replaced at 130k, I had the heads machined at 150K, and the seat belt track. We just took the fuse out when they were in the ride position and we click up when we ride. And the front axle is wobbly, but some new struts, shocks, repack bearings, 4- wheel thrust alignment and new tires should take care of that. But, the car is great... oh yeah the air is gone.

I had the tie rod ends wear out in both my '91 escort and the '98 I have now. The guy who sold me the parts says the same thing happened to his girlfriend's car and that is a common wear and tear item on escorts.

I had a rear spring break in my '91, like one of the earlier posts. I also had the alternator just go at 145K in my '98 escort. I don't know if that is a common problem or not.

But I can say my Escorts have been very reliable and the reason I got my first one was I knew a lot of people who had Escorts and abused them and the cars took it and still ran. I take care of mine, so I expect this one to go 200K miles. The clutch didn't wear out in either car. The '91 had 129K when I traded it in and this one has 146K.

Its a good little car, only get rid of it at about 150,000 miles
The one we have had the 1.9 litre engine, the timing belt broke at about 60,000k no big deal to fix, the alternator went at about 145,000k again no big deal.
And then it got to 159,000k and one sunny day on the expressway a valve insert cracked and fell out of the aluminium head, and pounded the top of the piston and the head all to crap, yep, that was a big deal.
But $850. later, and one weekends work, for a low mileage (53k) wrecking yard engine and we're back on the road again !!
This is by and large a pretty good little car, although I would avoid the 1.8 litre as when it breaks a timing belt the pistons hit the valves, results, caput engine every time.

I have had 1991, 1994 Escorts and they are a reliable car. But they have certain problems like all cars on the road today. My 1994 went 226000 before I sold it, but I replaced seatbelt, tie rods, brakes, alternator, timing belt, head and head gasket, rear coil springs and struts. The 1991 only has 126000 on it and I have replaced the driver side seatbelt track, alternator, battery, tie rods, rear coil springs, struts and automatic transmission. The automatics are costly - make sure the electroic one has clean fluid on the dipstick and does not slip.

Common problemos..?

How about:

* speeding fines...?

* 'G' force motion sickness...?

* being early for everything..?

* frequent disturbances in the 'Space/Time' continium...?

be careful.


And dont give in to your anger.

Cheers,

Andy.

i have a 1997 ford escort. i recently got it from my grandparents who had it sitting for at least 3 years when we got it, it ran fine after about a week it started overheating, finally reaching the point where it warped the head. once that was fixed it was having problems starting again my brother figured out that it was due to something fuel pump related we replaced the fuel pump and it did absolutely nothing so we tried replacing the ccrm and i believe it was the wrong one because after that the fuel pump wouldnt even come on so my brother tried hard wiring the fuel pump to the battery so it would just come on when the car was running. that seemed to fix the issue but now when its running it black smokes and will act like its getting way too much fuel now instead of not enough also after we replaced the ccrm the windshield wipers stopped working so those were wired straight to the battery and there was also an issue with the rpm gauge not working, which it still doesnt, and i remember some slight issue with the lights. im not sure if any one can tell me anything that could help but im sure at least half of the issue is due to trying to rig everything instead of taking it somewhere. any help is very much appreciated though.

I received a 1995 1.9L Ford Escort wagon in late 2017 and started commuting 70mi round trip in January 2018. I put on roughly 20000 miles on it as of January 2019.

Not owning the car very long this is all I know:

Radio broke.
Both front seat belt tracks broke, left in driving position, driver belt works fine, passenger belt wont retract tight.
The airconditioner doesn't work and wont charge.
Replaced fan resistor after the high speed quit.
The ignition key cylinder broke and was a pain to replace because its held on by blind roll pins only found on the 1995.
The Electronic Ignition Switch on the back of the key cylinder broke.
The CV boots are all falling apart and leaking.
The timing belt has been replaced.
Replaced spark plug wires and plugs after the wires are on the engine.
Most all wire harness ties have broken off.
Low powered and poor mileage.
Radiator bushings are worn out.
Strut bushings worn out.
Struts are going.
Rear wiper quit.
Brake fluid which also supplies the hydraulic clutch leaks but never affects brakes.
Minor oil leaks to be expected on high mileage vehicles. The most oil is coming from the oil pressure sensor.
Hoses are cracking.
Exhaust manifold bolts sheered off and the dealer only sells one of them, i got the other two in a universal kit from auto zone.
Noisy because of poor sound insulation. The engine, transmission, windows, and roof rack are loud. I have to shout for people to hear me when I talk on my phone bluetooth and have to talk very loud to others in the car on the highway.

Ignition suddenly failed which is why I'm here on this site.