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.