Complaints
413
Crashes
99
Fires
14
Injuries
80
Fatalities
5
Recalls
0
Worst 1999 Ford Escort Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#152 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Avg mileage:77,930 mi
Crash-related:48
Fires:3
#230 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Avg mileage:41,000 mi
Crash-related:1
#328 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:49,210 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1999 Ford Escort.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 52 | 48 | 3 | 77,930 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 30 | 1 | — | 41,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 28 | 2 | 1 | 49,210 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 22 | 1 | — | 54,500 mi | |
| Airbags | 14 | 10 | — | 88,000 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs | 13 | — | — | 64,748 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs | 13 | 1 | — | 69,011 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 13 | 1 | — | 73,333 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 10 | — | 1 | 49,325 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 | 3 | — | 60,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 8 | 1 | — | 59,333 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 8 | — | — | 30,075 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 7 | — | 3 | 89,268 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 7 | — | — | 52,647 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 6 | 1 | — | 60,000 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | 2 | — | 92,500 mi | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 5 | — | — | 97,120 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 5 | 1 | — | 8,000 mi | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 5 | — | — | 80,149 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | — | — | 98,580 mi | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 5 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 4 | 3 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 4 | 2 | — | — |
Air Bags:Frontal
52
complaints
Crashes
48
Fires
3
Avg Miles
77,930
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
30
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
41,000
Automatic Transmission
28
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
49,210
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
54,500
Airbags
14
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,000
Suspension:Rear:Springs
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
64,748
Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
69,011
Tire Defects
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,333
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
49,325
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
10
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,000
Electrical System:Horn
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
59,333
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
30,075
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
89,268
Electrical System:Ignition
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
52,647
Suspension:Front
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,000
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
92,500
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
97,120
Gasoline Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
8,000
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,149
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
98,580
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
4
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1999 Ford Escort. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Escort Years
1999 Ford Escort — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1999 Ford Escort reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1999 Ford Escort has 413 NHTSA complaints, 99 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Air Bags:Frontal with 52 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1999 Ford Escort?
Top reported problems: Air Bags:Frontal (52 complaints, avg 77,930 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (30 complaints, avg 41,000 mi); Automatic Transmission (28 complaints, avg 49,210 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1999 Ford Escort?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 63,369 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1999 Ford Escort?
NHTSA complaints for the 1999 Ford Escort include 99 crash-related reports, 14 fire reports, 80 injuries, and 5 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1999 Ford Escort have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1999 Ford Escort as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1999 Ford Escort?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escort reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1999 Ford Escort
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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