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KLUNK
KLUNK

2000 Ford Escort

The Verdict

64 Solid Pick

The 2000 Ford Escort has 149 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (54 complaints) and electrical (39 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 64/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Escort, consider the 2002 model year which has 39% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2002 has 39% fewer complaints

View the 2002 Ford Escort dashboard →

64

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

04E048000 SEAT BELTS:FRONT

CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B...

Risk

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.

Reported Dec 7, 2004

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20005410393016
2001375222114
2002317131920

By Category

Body
54
Electrical
39
Engine
30
Transmission
16
Brakes
10

By Severity

1
60
2
53
4
36

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 1

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. TENSIONER ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING SHREDDING THE BELT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED.

128mo ago
Electrical 1

THE FIRST DEFECT IS ABOUT THE SHIFTING GEARS LIGHT. I CAN NOT SEE THE SHIFTING GEARS AT NIGHT UNLESS I TURN THE CAR'S LIGHT ON OR SOMETIMES I USE A LIGHT APP TO SEE THEM. THIS IS BECAUSE THE SHIFTING GEARS DON'T SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN AND ALSO THERE'S NO LED LIGHTS FOR THE SHIFTING GEARS THE OTHER PROBLEM I WANT TO REPORT IS THAT THESE CARS HAVE ALWAYS HAD LOUD NOISES AND I AM SUSPECTING THERE'S TRANSMISSION/ENGINE DEFECTS. NOW I AM LEFT WITH A DISABLED VEHICLE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION JUST DECIDED TO BREAK ON ME, I DROVE IT PERFECTLY FINE THE DAY BEFORE IT BROKE DOWN. THE NEXT DAY, AS I WAS USING THE CAR, I TURNED IT ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME REALLY HARD AND THE CAR WAS MOVING SUPER SLOWLY SO I DECIDED TO PARK IT RIGHT BACK. AFTER I TOLD A MECHANIC EXPERT ABOUT IT, HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. I DON'T HAVE NO MONEY TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT COST A LOT OF MONEY. FORD SHOULD REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VEHICLE AND FIX THE MANY DEFECTS THEY CAME UP WITH

131mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND CRASHED INTO A VAN. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH SUCH AN EXTREME FORCE THAT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, CHEST, AND RIGHT ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

139mo ago
Body 1

MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL WHERE OUR DAUGHTER RECEIVED OUTPATIENT CHEMO THERAPY . AT THE FIRST LIGHT LEAVING THE HOSPITAL THE CAR STARTED SHAKING. MY DAUGHTER THOUGHT HER DOOR WAS OPEN , SO SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND CLOSED IT TO VERIFY THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THEY ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND WENT ABOUT 1/4 MILE AND THE CAR MADE A RUMBLING NOISE AND 1 OR 2 MINUTES LATER THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS DRAGING SOMETHING. MY WIFE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND CALLED ME. I WENT DOWN TO ASSIST HER IN CHANGING THE FLAT TIRE.THE TIRE SIDE WALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE SEPERATED IN SEVERAL PLACES . THERE ARE 11 PLACES WHERE THE BELTS SEPERATED CAUSING INSTANTIOUS FAILURE.. ALL SEPERATIONS OCCURED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING PUNCTURING THE TIRE TO CAUSE IT TO GO FLAT. THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY OBJECDT CONTACTING THE TIRE ANYWHERE EXCEPT FOR NORMAL TIRE WEAR ON THE TREAD SURFACE OF THE TIRE. I HAVE THE TIRE IF YOU WANT TO ANNALISE IT.LUCKILY THEY WERE NOT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED YET WHERE THEY COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS MAINTAIINED REGULARY AND THE TIRES ARE IN ALMOST NEW CONDITION. THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE IS NOT LISTED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE IT IS IRONMAN 195 60 R15. DOT CODE 53JL OTHER NUMBERS INCLUED ON THE TIRE ARE SH09 4409 INSIDE A BOX IS: C4 FOLLOWED BY 0248560S IMAX. ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE IS A CIRCLE WITH E4 INSIDE OF IT FOLLOWED BY 0244851. I THINK THAT IS ALL OF THE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON THE TIRE.

171mo ago
Body 2

FORD ESCORT 2000 COUPE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON; I.E., MY WIFE GOT IN THE CAR AND BEFORE SHE EVEN STARTED THE ENGINE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE REAR WINDOW WITH DEFROSTER SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. *TR

191mo ago
Engine 1

BURN OUT MOTOR. *TR

202mo ago
Body 1

VEHICLE DROPS IN RPM WHILE STOPPING...UPON RESEARCH OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM...THIS IS ON THE FORD ESCORT ZX2...ALL MODELS FROM 1999-TO NOW... *TR

211mo ago
Electrical 1

HAVE EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FOR YEARS. A BLOWER CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, CAUSING THE RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. *TR

225mo ago
Body 1

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCORT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON A LIFT, THE TIRE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS REGARDING THE SPRINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,009 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

225mo ago
Electrical 2

I WENT TO START MY CAR ONE NIGHT AND THE KEY WOULD NOT FIT IN THE IGNITION. MY COUSIN HAS TRIED WORKING ON IT AND HE CAN'T EVEN GET THE OLD IGNITION SWITCH OUT OF THE CAR TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. I HAVE BEEN OUT OF A CAR FOR A WEEK AND AFTER RESEARCHING FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS NOT FIXED. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

226mo ago
Body 2

THE TREAD ON A TIRE FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE TREAD PEELED OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY BUMPER, AIR CONDITIONER, WASHING FLUID RESVERVOIR, SPARE TIRE AND HEADLIGHT/FOGLIGHTS ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. *TR

226mo ago
Electrical 4

MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND BURNED UNTIL IT WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE DONE TO MY HOUSE. MY FAMILY ALSO SUFFERED FROM MENTAL TRAUMA. *TR

227mo ago
Engine 1

VEHICLE DIED DURING TRAVEL WITH NO WARNING, FORD ISSUED RECALL. HOWEVER DUE TO THE LIMITED NUMBER OF CONSUMERS WITH THIS YEAR AND SPECIFIC MODEL COMPLAINTS WERE OVERLOOKED. DEALER SHOULD OFFER RECOURSE. *AK

231mo ago
Brakes 1

2000 WINDSTAR. ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAVE HAD CAR LOOKED AT 4 TIMES AND TOLD "PROBLEM" (A SEAL IN THE MECHANISM) WAS REPLACED AND PROBLEM FIXED. BUT IT'S NOT - ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. EXPENSIVE TO "FIX". ALSO, BRAKE FLUID LEAKS AND HAVE HAD TIMES WHEN DRIVING AND BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING AND DELAYED STOPPING. LUCKILY HAVE NOT HAD ACCIDENTS WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. HAVE ALSO HAD BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT - NO PRE-WARNING ON THIS MODEL WINDSTAR WHEN BRAKE PADS ARE WEARING OUT. HAD TO HAVE BRAKE PADS REPLACED, AND ROTORS REPLACED - AGAIN AND EXPENSIVE FIX TO A PROBLEM WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, BRAKES KEEP SQUEALING WHEN BRAKES APPLIED - AM TOLD THIS IS AIR IN THE LINES (HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT LINES FLUSHED BUT PROBLEM STILL KEEPS HAPPENING). ALSO, WHEN STEERING AFTER THE LAST TIME ABS LIGHT PROBLEM "FIXED" THERE IS A GRATING STEERING NOISE WHENEVER WHEEL IS TURNED. WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT - BUT PROBLEM WITH ABS STILL EXISTS AND I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER $700. BILL TO "FIX" PROBLEM. 2000 WINDSTAR SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS ABS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE BY FORD. AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED WITH THIS PROBLEM - AND FEEL THAT I AND MY CHILD ARE DRIVING IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE.

232mo ago
Body 2

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT WHEEL MADE A LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATED WHILE IN MOTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE WHEEL IS CURRENTLY WOBBLING AND MAKING A POPPING AND CRACKING NOISE. THE MECHANIC HAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. SAFETY CAMPAIGN # 01I017000(WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS) INVOLVES THE SAME FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 31, 2002. THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT WILLING TO PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR FREE. THE VIN IS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 153,000.

233mo ago
Body 4

AFTER CAR WAS DRIVEN TO WORK APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES. MY EMPLOYERS SECURITY DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME THAT MY CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHILE PARKED ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AFTER ARRIVING TO WORK. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND PUT OUT FIRE, AND IT RELEASED A REPORT STATING FIRE DEFINATELY STARTED IN UNDER THE THE HOOD IN ENGINE AREA.*AK

233mo ago
Brakes 2

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCORT. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY BRAKE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 71,642, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.*AK UPDATED 05/23/07. *JB

234mo ago
Electrical 4

FORD 2000 EXPITITION CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND OCCURED IN MY DRIVEWAY AROUND 7AM AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON AND THE LAST TIME USED AROUND 10:30 PM THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. *NM

236mo ago
Engine 1

#8 SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF HEAD CAUSING THE THREADS TO STRIP IN HEAD & BUSTED COIL PACK. CONVERTER WAS GLOWING RED & POPPING. *NM

236mo ago
Electrical 4

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT AND FRACTURE THE WINDSHIELD AT 35 MPH. THE ACCIDENT WAS A REAR END COLLISION. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON PRIOR TO THE CRASH. PICTURES WERE AVAILABLE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.

242mo ago

149 total

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