Our zx2 has been nothing but trouble! On 9-10-02 (29,183 miles) $342.30 worth of work was done on the brake system: friction reline, disc pads, brake shoes, rotors, drums, disc hardware (which was broken), shim kit, return springs (weak), bleed & adjust, and bearing pack. On 6-19-03 (37,829 miles) we had to have the complete transmission replaced. The cost for this was $1560.07, but since our warranty had just expired our local mechanic had firend at a ford dealer who gave us the 'good faith' policy and we only paid half. Gee...what a bargain for a 4 year old car. 2 months later, our A/C went out. W delayed repair due to $. On 2-10-04 (44,000 miles) the housing and water pump broke. This is a huge metal piece which the mechanic said he'd had never seen break. It snapped like plastic. The cost of this was $509.47. On 2-24-04 (44,428 miles) we had to have the battery and cabels replaced which cost $117.58. On 3-22-04 we repaired the A/C (45,524 miles). The technician found constant control relay module faulty. This cost $375.76. On 4-25-04 (@ 45,700 miles) another huge metal piece broke! It was the serp. Tension housing and belt. The mechanic again said he has never seen that problem, special ordered the part from a ford dealer who was also shocked. This cost us $195.96. So far, we have sunk $2321.11 into this car. The worst part is that we still owe on it. May of '04 we went to lou grubb ford and were told that they were not responsible because our oil changes were not done at a ford dealer! Ford field engineer denied seeing us. The ford c.s. Woman said, "well, I guess it's time to trade in the car. People trade in bad cars all the time". I have issues knowing that some poor soul will own this money trap. We have written 3 letters to the ford headquarters in dearborn, mi, but have had no response. It shakes & idles like it could die at any time! I would love to see a class action suit. I will never buy a ford again if this is their idea of 'built ford tough'.
1999 Ford Escort transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 35 of 35, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I had to put an engine and transmission in my car last year. Now my AC doesn't work and I recently had to replace the battery and put a new alternator in it too. I have had issue after issue with my zx2.
1999 escort automatic transmission was completely replaced at 30,906 miles (6/8/2001). 35,386 miles later (3/30/2004), the differential assembly blew up and destroyed the automatic transmission. Ford's customer support cntr on 4/6/04 said I would be responded to within 3 business days. I tried e-mailing them again, and I still have no response. A total of 66,292 miles and two new transmissions broken. Today is six business days later. I feel I am now being ignored by ford. They know I have bought 8 ford cars/trucks since 1977. I have dmv records for 6 of them.
Transmission very erratic while driving. While driving, the transmission will shift up and down all the time. Also makes a whinning noise on occasion.
Car idled at 4-5 RPM but was not accelerating. Felt tremendous pulling when trying to accelerate. Upon deceleration all service lights came on and car shut down.
When vehicle is put into reverse gear, it does not engage. The dealership indicated the problem was the automatic transmission and that it needed to be replaced.
With no warning or early signs, transmission burned up. Drove fine the night before, woke up the next morning and had not transmission. Transmission fluid was black. Had to get entire transmission rebuilt.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Transmission light came on. Dealer determined transmission needed to be replaced. On april 26, 2002 transmission light and engine check light illuminated again. Transmission had to be replaced. Consumer stated both times transmission was dragging.
Gears are not changing properly. Transmission is sticking. Please provide any further information.
Vehicle lunged forward while in neutral, causing a front end collision with garage wall. Dealer has been contacted, and informed consumer that oil pan was dented. Also, vehicle will not shift into reverse. Please provide further details.
Not only was my rebate check stolen by someone working at the dealership but I have complained so many times since purchasing my car. I believe that I 've been given the run around because I've just past qualifying for california's lemon law. My car is unsafe it rolls back on hills and now it won't go into park. I've had problems since buying the car. No safety defect.
Vehicle had less than a year when a metalic knocking noise started from the engine. The lifters & other parts has been replaced several times since the begining of the year 2000. Car still has the noise after many attempts to correct the problem and the ford international still does not want to claim the vehicle a defect. The second band of the transmision broke into many parts and the technition of bayamon ford said it was the first time he had seen this on this type of vehicle. He has seen this in explorer & expeditions, but not on ford escorts. Bayamon ford nor auto vega has been able to fix this this problem in more than a year. I also would like to add that another recurring problem in this car is that the headlight socket keeps melting. This is a fire hazzard and it is a recurring problem after replacement of headlight fixture. I noticed that the negative wire is thinner than both of the positive wires, thus causing the over heating & causing it to melt. Another recurring problem is that about every 6 months I have to take the car to the dealer to replace the front struts because they are shot. I would like to get a technition to properly do its job and not to put myself or other people in danger because he/she does not want to blow the whistle on a problem.
Catasthropic transmission failure while going 75 MPH on freeway. Engine runs fine. Vehicle would not go forward or reverse. No previous problems or sign(s) of impending failure. Would like manufacturer to do material failure analysis.
While shifting vehicle into reverse heard a loud noise, and running rough. Also, vehicle would not gain speed. Vehicle was serviced. Technician stated transmission needed to be replaced.
10/09/99 nelson ford supposedly fixed a problem with the transmission making terrible noise. 11/27/00 transmission locked up at 75mph on i40 in nc. All american ford replaced transmission and was supposed to be like new. 12/26/00 transmission slipping out of third gear nearly resulting in accident and continues to happen. 01/09/01 wade ford supposedly fixed the problem. Problem still exists and I am scared to drive the vehicle. I have nearly been involved in several accidents because of this unresolved situation and I am conviced that I will die in this vehicle due to the explained situation.
When trying to brake car would stall trying to put in reverse wouldn't go trying to put it in drive wouldnt go transmission was replaced and it is doing the same ting again intermittently.
The tape deck eats tapes and radio gets very warm and makes cliking noise.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Intermittently vehicle will not engage into reverse. When it does engage it will accelerate unexpectedly. Dealer has repaired and inspected the vehicle several tmes, and problem still exists.
The vehicle will not properly engage into reverse. When it does engage it accelerates suddenly . Dealer has inspeced and repaired the vehicle several times.
While in reverse position, the vehicle jumps forward which may cause a crash. Dealer replaced transmission system. Please provide further information.
While driving at 45 MPH downshifted to second gear and was making a right, lost control of vehicle. Consumer had no brakes/no powersteering, and vehicle went across on the other side of the road about 137 feet and end up on the passenger's side.
Whenever the car is shifted into gear it jumps forward, and then back out of gear again. Dealer says it needs new transmission.
Brake shift interlock will not disengage. Cannot shift out of park after starting car. Required to use manual override procedure of sticking a screwdrive down a small hole near the gearshift. (this procedure is listed in the owner's manual). Dealer has been contacted. This should not happen on a new car. Fuses checked w/o problem.
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