While driving , the car lost power and the steering wheel was hard to turn, after coming to a stop, we tried to start the car up again it bsounded like it wanted to turn over but didn't after a few tries it stopped making any noise. A mechanic said the engine blew and that it was a on going problem for this year and make of car. The engine was put in the car when we bought it, it was advertised as new so the previous owner must have had thishappen to them and knowingly sold us their problem. Please we need help.
1999 Ford Escort engine problems
64 complaints (20% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 70,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 64
- of this car's complaints
- 20%
- typical mileage
- 70,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Engine: gasoline30
- Engine22
- Exhaust system1
- Engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys1
- Cooling system1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Ford Escort engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Ford Escort engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Stalling 34Engine failure 7Check engine light 6Knocking 6Loss of power 6Won't start 5
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 1999 Ford Escort owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Since 2001, I have had my car serviced at ford and sears repair shop to address my complaints that when my car is stationary it has excessive vibration. I was told by many ford shops that it was nothing that I need to replace the motor mounts. It was replaced the mounts and it last long and still the vibration continued. Recently, I took my car to a local repair shop regarding that same complaint and they found it is an "engineer defect: engine-idle vibration". Can this be repaired by ford and at no cost to me?
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford escort. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. A local mechanic diagnosed that the timing belt was defective. In addition, the motor failed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 93,083.
Company states they do a comprehensive inspection, sell high quality used vehicles, meet customers personal needs, and back their product. No inspection was done, only cosmetic repairs to sell the car. No inspection report can be produced except the repairs before car was put on lot. This vehicle is far from the high quality. We have had this vehicle back in the shop 14 times in 14 months. It did not meet the 4 personal needs we requested. Everything with those needs has gone completely wrong! We did not want a ford; we got a ford, it is not reliable. We have been dealing with the AC at the shop 7 times, now rendering the car disabled. It is not reliable, keeps breaking down. It does not get good mileage; car gets 21 mpg when it should get about 35-38 according to mfg. Warranty was burned by miles going back and forth to shop for constant repairs. 700 miles for the same issue- the AC. Service issues are that they have not found the route of the problem and we keep having to go back to get the same thing fixed. Owner is uncooperative, wont listen, always comes back with responses and replies that go in circles. He will not listen. We have been asking for a different car since two weeks after we bought this car; when we found out the car was unsafe to be put on the road. Within two weeks it was in the shop for broken motor mounts, broken transmission mounts, bad fuel pump, worn brake pads to metal. Which were worn in two weeks after they were changed because of a warped rotor. We had told them there was a shake in the car when we did a test drive. They said it would happen to a ford. We did not want a ford! We were desperate because our car was disabled, old and ready for the junkyard. We were broke and could not come up with a down payment. This was the only place that advertised no down payment. We did not need to repair credit as most people who go here. We were approved everywhere, just had no down payment.
Ok, so I just bought my 1999 ford escort zx2 on december 1, 2008 at 82,000 miles. 2 months later I needed to replace my alternator in february 2009. In may 2009 my engine blew, apparently the #1 rod separated and went through the oil pan. I replaced the engine since I still have a loan on the car. It is now july 2009 and my transmission is slipping. I only have owned this car for less than 8 months and repair costs are more than what I paid for this. Unfortunately I can't get rid of it because I don't have enough money for a better car and now I am in this endless cycle of repairs.
Excessive engine vibration brakes front exhaust pipe and fumes get into car.
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford escort. The contact stated that the engine dropped two valve seats. As a result, two cylinder heads failed. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle performed as if it were not receiving any power and then shut off. There was no compression, but the vehicle still drove poorly. The contact also heard a disturbing, chopping noise under the hood. She purchased a rebuilt engine and had the transmission sensors replaced; however, the engine failed again six months later. The contact purchased a new engine, which was supposed to be under a lifetime warranty, but the failure recurred and the engine needed to be replaced again. Both the dealer and manufacturer offered no assistance. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage was approximately 142,000 and failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford escort. The contact stated that the entire air conditioning unit had to be replaced within a month of her purchasing the vehicle. She also stated that the timing chain needed to be replaced in august of 2007. A day or two later, the valves needed to be replaced as well. The radio and clock in the vehicle would intermittently turn on and off and made a strange noise. The dealer stated that the contact was responsible for the cost of the diagnostic. The current mileage was 136,964 and failure mileage was approximately 150. Updated 5/19/08 *cn the gear light went out. The marker light was inoperative. Updated
I purchased my se in november of 2006 with less than 83k miles on it. Three months after purchasing it, one of the head gaskets cracked. I had the head repaired, and less than two months after that the head cracked again. I had the engine replaced. I have now had new heads, new engine, new fuel pump and a new alternator installed and now am having a new problem. When I pulled out from a stop, the brake light would come on until the brakes were applied. The engine is now emitting a grinding noise when stopped, and I feel it is unsafe to drive. This is all in addition to the violent shaking, faulty front headlight, transmission that needs flushed and loud engine noise. I have spent more on repairs than I paid for the vehicle, and now have to put more money in to it, and it still has less than 94k miles on it. This is my first ford, and will be my last.
I own a 1999 ford escort se. It has less than 32,000 original miles. I was driving the car when it started making a loud vibrating noise from under the hood. As I had previously had to have the motor mounts replaced, when the car was still under warranty, I thought that was the problem. I took the car to my mechanic, not the dealership. On investigation, he discovered that my 4th piston is cracked. When he called jasper engines for the price on a replacement engine, they told him that they had received service bulletins that this was a problem in the 1999 escort engines. I have contacted ford about helping in the cost of replacing the engine and have been told that because the car is more than 5 yrs old they will not help. If they knew there was a problem, the should have to repair it. I don't know what other steps to take and wish to keep the car.
Questions about the 1999 Ford Escort engine
Does the 1999 Ford Escort have engine problems?
Owners have filed 64 complaints about the engine of the 1999 Ford Escort, 20% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Escort engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 70,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Ford Escort engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Ford Escort have bad engine?
The Ford Escort model years with the most engine complaints are 1997 (67 complaints), 1999 (64 complaints) and 1995 (55 complaints).
Other 1999 Ford Escort problems
Airbags 66Suspension 42Electrical 39Transmission 35Brakes 25Seat belts 16Steering 16Tires 14Fuel system 13Lights 12Acceleration 8Visibility 8Body 7Seats 6Locks 3
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