1999 FORD ESCORT Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

OK, SO I JUST BOUGHT MY 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX2 ON DECEMBER 1, 2008 AT 82,000 MILES. 2 MONTHS LATER I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ALTERNATOR IN FEBRUARY 2009. IN MAY 2009 MY ENGINE BLEW, APPARENTLY THE #1 ROD SEPARATED AND WENT THROUGH THE OIL PAN. I REPLACED THE ENGINE SINCE I STILL HAVE A LOAN ON THE CAR. IT IS NOW JULY 2009 AND MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I ONLY HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 8 MONTHS AND REPAIR COSTS ARE MORE THAN WHAT I PAID FOR THIS. UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T GET RID OF IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR A BETTER CAR AND NOW I AM IN THIS ENDLESS CYCLE OF REPAIRS. *TR

WHEN PRESSING GAS ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAR DOES NOT MOVE. CAR HESITATES WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. OCCASIONALLY (ABOUT 1 OF 2 TIMES) THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND OTHER SERVICE LIGHTS APPEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY ON 11/29/00. TRANSMISSION FURTHER COMPLAINED ABOUT ON 1/15/01 AND 8/9/01 - TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED BY AAA TWICE IN PAST TWO WEEKS. 5 MECHANICS CANNOT DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN CAR IS IDLING, IN GEAR, THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES. *NM

DT: 1999 FORD ESCORT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE GEAR SHIFTER MALFUNCTIONED. IT DID NOT GO INTO 2 OR 1 GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED LAST YEAR ON AUGUST 3, 2004. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY STATED THESE GEARS SHOULD NOT BE USED. THE ENTIRE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WILL NEED TO REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO, IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD. THIS CAUSED SOMETHING IN THE MECHANISM TO BEND. THE REMEDY DID NOT LAST A YEAR. THIS PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING ALL OF THE TIME.*AK

NOTICED THAT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING UP ON AND OFF, CHANGED SPARK PLUGS,WIRES, LIGHT WOULD GO OFF FOR A PERIOD AND THAN COME BACK ON. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY BETWEEN 65-70 MILES/HOUR WHEN I HURED A LOUD BANG , PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, I HAD THE CAR TAKING TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT THE VALVE SEAT IN THE HEAD HAD SEPERATED AND FELL INTO THE MOTOR. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE 1.9 MOTOR HAD A FLAW IN THE HEAD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS. THAN HE SHOWED ME ANOTHER ESCORT THAT6 HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST CAR HE SEENED WITH THIS PROBLEM. SECOND PROBLEM: I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 TRANSMITIONS WITH IN A YEAR, WHICH WAS COVERED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND POSSIBLY A 4TH. I DON'T...

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION FOR 1999 FORD ESCORT PURCHASED NEW. I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY THEN 72 YEAR OLD MOTHER WHO PUT 29,000 MILES ON THE CAR.

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO SHIFT THE GEARS AND A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE IT WENT BAD WITHIN AT 47,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE LIKE IT WAS STRAINING TO GO INTO GEAR. IT FELT LIKE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN SECOND GEAR INSTEAD OF DRIVE. DEALERSHIP ONLY REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE PROBLEM.*AK

OUR ZX2 HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE! ON 9-10-02 (29,183 MILES) $342.30 WORTH OF WORK WAS DONE ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM: FRICTION RELINE, DISC PADS, BRAKE SHOES, ROTORS, DRUMS, DISC HARDWARE (WHICH WAS BROKEN), SHIM KIT, RETURN SPRINGS (WEAK), BLEED & ADJUST, AND BEARING PACK. ON 6-19-03 (37,829 MILES) WE HAD TO HAVE THE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE COST FOR THIS WAS $1560.07, BUT SINCE OUR WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED OUR LOCAL MECHANIC HAD FIREND AT A FORD DEALER WHO GAVE US THE 'GOOD FAITH' POLICY AND WE ONLY PAID HALF. GEE...WHAT A BARGAIN FOR A 4 YEAR OLD CAR. 2 MONTHS LATER, OUR A/C WENT OUT. W DELAYED REPAIR DUE TO $. ON 2-10-04 (44,000 MILES) THE HOUSING AND WATER PUMP BROKE. THIS IS A HUGE METAL PIECE WHICH THE MECHANIC SAID HE'D HAD NEVER SEEN BREAK. IT SNAPPED LIKE PLASTIC. THE COST OF THIS WAS $509.47. ON 2-24-04...

I HAD TO PUT AN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR LAST YEAR. NOW MY AC DOESN'T WORK AND I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AND PUT A NEW ALTERNATOR IN IT TOO. I HAVE HAD ISSUE AFTER ISSUE WITH MY ZX2. *JB

1999 ESCORT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED AT 30,906 MILES (6/8/2001). 35,386 MILES LATER (3/30/2004), THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY BLEW UP AND DESTROYED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. FORD'S CUSTOMER SUPPORT CNTR ON 4/6/04 SAID I WOULD BE RESPONDED TO WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS. I TRIED E-MAILING THEM AGAIN, AND I STILL HAVE NO RESPONSE. A TOTAL OF 66,292 MILES AND TWO NEW TRANSMISSIONS BROKEN. TODAY IS SIX BUSINESS DAYS LATER. I FEEL I AM NOW BEING IGNORED BY FORD. THEY KNOW I HAVE BOUGHT 8 FORD CARS/TRUCKS SINCE 1977. I HAVE DMV RECORDS FOR 6 OF THEM.

TRANSMISSION VERY ERRATIC WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME. ALSO MAKES A WHINNING NOISE ON OCCASION.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE GEAR, IT DOES NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

WITH NO WARNING OR EARLY SIGNS, TRANSMISSION BURNED UP. DROVE FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE, WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND HAD NOT TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BLACK. HAD TO GET ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REBUILT.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DETERMINED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON APRIL 26, 2002 TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER STATED BOTH TIMES TRANSMISSION WAS DRAGGING.*AK

GEARS ARE NOT CHANGING PROPERLY. TRANSMISSION IS STICKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IN NEUTRAL, CAUSING A FRONT END COLLISION WITH GARAGE WALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT OIL PAN WAS DENTED. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NOT ONLY WAS MY REBATE CHECK STOLEN BY SOMEONE WORKING AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT I HAVE COMPLAINED SO MANY TIMES SINCE PURCHASING MY CAR. I BELIEVE THAT I 'VE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND BECAUSE I'VE JUST PAST QUALIFYING FOR CALIFORNIA'S LEMON LAW. MY CAR IS UNSAFE IT ROLLS BACK ON HILLS AND NOW IT WON'T GO INTO PARK. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE BUYING THE CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN A YEAR WHEN A METALIC KNOCKING NOISE STARTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE LIFTERS & OTHER PARTS HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE BEGINING OF THE YEAR 2000. CAR STILL HAS THE NOISE AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THE FORD INTERNATIONAL STILL DOES NOT WANT TO CLAIM THE VEHICLE A DEFECT. THE SECOND BAND OF THE TRANSMISION BROKE INTO MANY PARTS AND THE TECHNITION OF BAYAMON FORD SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD SEEN THIS ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. HE HAS SEEN THIS IN EXPLORER & EXPEDITIONS, BUT NOT ON FORD ESCORTS. BAYAMON FORD NOR AUTO VEGA HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS THIS PROBLEM IN MORE THAN A YEAR. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT ANOTHER RECURRING PROBLEM IN THIS CAR IS THAT THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET KEEPS MELTING. THIS IS A FIRE HAZZARD AND IT IS A RECURRING...

CATASTHROPIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE GOING 75 MPH ON FREEWAY. ENGINE RUNS FINE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS OR SIGN(S) OF IMPENDING FAILURE. WOULD LIKE MANUFACTURER TO DO MATERIAL FAILURE ANALYSIS. *AK

WHILE SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND RUNNING ROUGH. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. TECHNICIAN STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE CAR WOULD STALL TRYING TO PUT IN REVERSE WOULDN'T GO TRYING TO PUT IT IN DRIVE WOULDNT GO TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND IT IS DOING THE SAME TING AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE IT WILL ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALER HAS REPAIRED AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TMES, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE IT ACCELERATES SUDDENLY . DEALER HAS INSPECED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH DOWNSHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR AND WAS MAKING A RIGHT, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKES/NO POWERSTEERING, AND VEHICLE WENT ACROSS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD ABOUT 137 FEET AND END UP ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK

WHENEVER THE CAR IS SHIFTED INTO GEAR IT JUMPS FORWARD, AND THEN BACK OUT OF GEAR AGAIN. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK WILL NOT DISENGAGE. CANNOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER STARTING CAR. REQUIRED TO USE MANUAL OVERRIDE PROCEDURE OF STICKING A SCREWDRIVE DOWN A SMALL HOLE NEAR THE GEARSHIFT. (THIS PROCEDURE IS LISTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL). DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A NEW CAR. FUSES CHECKED W/O PROBLEM.