Total Complaints
9 filings
FORD ZX2 (ESCORT) · model year
1998 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT)
9 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FORDZX2 (ESCORT) carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 ZX2 (ESCORT) is structure:body:door with 1 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl) (1) and vehicle speed control (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1998 ZX2 (ESCORT), and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
9
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20111221SEATS
THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE SEAT-BACK RELEASE HANDLE ( PASSENGER SIDE) OF MY 1998 FORD ESCORT ZX2 HAS BECOME BROKEN AND WILL POP OFF WHEN THE SEAT BACK IS RELEASED. AS A RESULT, ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20TH, I SEVERELY LACERATED MY FINGER ON THE SHARP METAL LEVER INSIDE THE PLASTIC COVER WHILE RELEASING THE SEAT BACK. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR
Mileage: 117,000
20080729CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
A STALLED SUBURBAN IN THE #1 LANE AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL BECAME VISIBLE WHEN THE VAN DIRECTLY AHEAD OF ME SWERVED AT THE LAST MOMENT. I HIT THE BRAKES BUT HIT THE SUV AND TOTALED MY ESCORT. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT CAUSED A BROKEN STERNUM, CRACKED RIBS. ALSO HAD RIGHT ARM BROKEN IN 3 PLACES WHILE BRACING FOR IMPACT. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
20050714UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR MAKES HIDIOUSLY LOUD SCREECHING SOUND. MECHANICS CAN'T FIND WHERE IT IS. I REPLACED MANY PARTS BUT THE SOUND CONTINUES TO COME OUT.
Mileage: 40,000
20050714ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR MAKES HIDIOUSLY LOUD SCREECHING SOUND. MECHANICS CAN'T FIND WHERE IT IS. I REPLACED MANY PARTS BUT THE SOUND CONTINUES TO COME OUT.
Mileage: 40,000
20031212ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
CLOSE CALL: THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF AND THE CAR LOOSES POWER STEERING.*AK
Mileage: 79,682
20030725SUSPENSION
I HAVE A '1998 FORD ZX2. IT'S REALLY MAKING SQUEAKING SOUND SINCE AROUND 2 YEARS AGO, I AM SURE THAT THIS IS NOT AN USUAL SQUEAKING SOUND YOU IMAGINE. I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED AT FORD DEALERSHIP AND OTHER CAR REPAIR CENTER. BEFORE INSPECTION, EVERY MECHANICIAN GUARANTEED HE COULD FIX IT. BUT AFTER LOOKING AT MY CAR, THEY JUST WONDERING WHY, AND THEY GAVE UP, AND I JUST SHOULD PAID. I TRIED TO REPLACE ALL KINDS OF BELTS AND COMPRESSA(?), BUT I JUST WASTED MY MONEY ABOUT $2,000 FOR THAT. AND THERE'S STILL LOUD SOUND OF PROBLEM. WHEN I REPORTED AT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT MY CAR, THEY E-MAIL ME THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAY, BUT THEY DIDN'T.HE FORD IS SO "IRRESPONSIBLE". I THINK I DID EVERY THING I CAN.*AK EVERYBODY ON THE ROAD IS LAUGHING AT ME AND MY CAR, WHILE I AM DRIVING. I SHOULD SELL MY CAR NOW, BUT WHO CAN BUY THIS KIND OF BAD FORD CAR? PLEASE TELL ME WHAT SHOULD I DO. THANKS.
20030707VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STATES WHEN ACCELERATING VEHCILE MAKES A VERY WIERD NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
20010308POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
WHILE DRIVINH 65 MPH PASSENGER TAPPED GEARSHIFT AND VEHICLE JUMPED FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT GEARSHIFT BUTTON BEING PUSHED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES. *AK
20000821FatalSTRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER APPARENTLY LOOKED AWAY AND RAN OFF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, FLIPPED OVER AND THE DRIVRERS SIDE DOOR BECAME AJAR AND THE DRIVER WAS CRUSHED, INVESTIGATOR SAID THE DOOR SHOULD NOT HAVE COME OPEN. NLM
Compare 1998FORDZX2 (ESCORT) to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT) have?▼
The 1998 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT) has 9 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT)?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT) is STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1998 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT) safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.