Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2000 Ford Escort, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling21
- Power train18
- Air bags18
- Seat belts11
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Suspension8
- Visibility6
- Vehicle speed control5
- Electrical system5
- Steering4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 21 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2000 Ford Escort failed the safety check 3.77% of the time — 103% more often than the average 2000 passenger car (1.86%). Median odometer at inspection: 99,570 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
179 cars built in 2000 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 948 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 528 of these cars first registered in 2000 took their annual MOT test. 56% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2000 the figure was 61%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 21.0% | 14.3% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 18.8% | 9.6% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.6% | 17.7% |
| Brakes | 13.1% | 12.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.3% | 7.7% |
| Tyres | 8.0% | 4.9% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
76 of these cars first registered in 2000 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 184,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
1 2000 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 9.4 L/100 km (about 25 mpg US), CO₂ 216 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escort ZX2 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.6 | 7.9 | 9.4 |
| Escort ZX2 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.6 | 7.9 | 9.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2000 Ford Escort.
| 2000227 16 Oct 2000 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements C.M.V.S.S. 209 - Seat Belt Assemblies. The seat belt assemblies may not withstand the force requirements o… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2000 Ford Escort: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637615 | ROUGH IDLE, LOW POWER AND / OR STALL AT IDLE, A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0300 THROUGH P0304 STORED IN MEMORY. *TT |
| 636089 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L SPI ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P0300 THROUGH P0304 STORED. *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 621046 | EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL IDLE SPEED, RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE AND / OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0171. *TT |
| 619329 | SOME VEHICLES WITH 2.0L SPI ENGINE ONLY, MAY EXHIBITA BURNING OIL SMELL NOTED FROM OUTSIDE OR FROM WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 618643 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INOPERATIVE OR INCORRECT A/C OPERATION AFTER REPLACING THE CCRM. *JB |
| 618620 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND / OR DELAYED REVERSE / DRIVE ENGAGEMENT. *JB |
| 618615 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING INNER FUSE BOX COVER DURING PRE-DELIVERY. *JB |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 6092160 | INFORMATION REGARDING A/C PEANUT O-RING COLOR. *TT |
| 6090834 | INFORMATION ON USING PEANUT STYLE A/C FITTINGS. *TT |
| 6090731 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0455 (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION) IN MEMORY. *TT |
| 6090647 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP LIGHT ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0455 IN MEMORY. *TT |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 6089681 | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT |
| 10026389 | FORD: CERTAIN 1999-2001 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES UP TO 6000 LB GVWR REGISTERED IN NEW YORK AND CERTAIN 2001 VEHICLES UP TO 6000 LB GVWR REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF MAINE, CERTIFIED FOR SALE IN CALIFORNIA-FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY REFUND. *PE |
| 10019076 | REPLACE TIMING BELT IDLER PULLEY DURING 2.0L ZETEC ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10014062 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)