1999 Ford Escort Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1999 Ford Escort, and owners have filed 325 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1999 Ford Escort
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Shift pattern indicator (power train)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the s/r option. The s/r option includes, among other features, a 5-speed manual transmission. On these vehicles, the transmission shift pattern is not displayed in the occupant compartment in view of the driver. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 102,…
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an adhesive backed plaque containing the shift pattern, along with materials and instructions for locating and affixing the plaque to the vehicle center console, just forward of the shift…
325 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 Ford Escort have filed 325 complaints with NHTSA; 79 describe a crash and 11 describe a fire. Reports cite 56 injuries and 4 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 71,265 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 62 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford escort. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and no occupant inside, the vehicle rolled backwards and crashed into another vehicle. A police report was”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 28, 2019 · Power train
“Vehicle AIRBAG light came on and is still activated, won't turn off. There has been no collisions or activity that caused light to be activated.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 6, 2017 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1999 Ford Escort (Escort Wagon, Escort ZX2). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22–24 / 30–34 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons, Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Escort model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Escort model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 Ford Escort | 10 | 1 |
| 1982 Ford Escort | 5 | 4 |
| 1983 Ford Escort | 5 | 7 |
| 1984 Ford Escort | 3 | 21 |
| 1985 Ford Escort | 3 | 26 |
| 1986 Ford Escort | 2 | 45 |
| 1987 Ford Escort | 3 | 56 |
| 1988 Ford Escort | 2 | 143 |
| 1989 Ford Escort | 1 | 152 |
| 1990 Ford Escort | 2 | 101 |
| 1991 Ford Escort | 3 | 327 |
| 1992 Ford Escort | 2 | 162 |
| 1993 Ford Escort | 1 | 379 |
| 1994 Ford Escort | 1 | 279 |
| 1995 Ford Escort | 4 | 576 |
| 1996 Ford Escort | 0 | 205 |
| 1997 Ford Escort | 1 | 543 |
| 1998 Ford Escort | 0 | 375 |
| 1999 Ford Escort | 1 | 325 |
| 2000 Ford Escort | 1 | 98 |
| 2001 Ford Escort | 0 | 68 |
| 2002 Ford Escort | 0 | 33 |
| 2003 Ford Escort | 0 | 10 |
Checking a specific 1999 Ford Escort
How do I know if my 1999 Ford Escort has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1999 Ford Escort; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 99V276000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.