Faults:

Rough idle; the engine stalls when decelerating. The car tends to shudder, the RPMs drop too low, or the engine cuts out when you let off the accelerator.

Temperature issues: the engine is running at its limit, or the needle easily climbs into the red zone.

Upon a cold start, the engine seems to run roughly until it warms up and settles down.

Clutch replaced at 130,000 km.

The radiator bulb broke.

General Comments:

Overall, it’s a good car, not the best among its competitors, but not the worst either. Compared to my previous Opel Astra, it was a noticeable step up in quality.

I think it was a significant design improvement over the MK5; it’s a shame the Focus came out shortly after and this Escort faded into obscurity, but it was undoubtedly better than previous Escorts, at least the ones from the 90s.

The seats tend to be firm but are comfortable for long trips, although their overall dimensions could be better. Lateral support isn't great, though it is adequate. They lack height adjustment, and the steering column adjusts only telescopically, not vertically. The controls are within easy reach, as is the gear selector.

The rear seats (which feature a fold-down center armrest) offer limited space in terms of both legroom and headroom. Front-seat occupants will need to sacrifice some space to improve comfort for those sitting behind them; clearly, the vehicle does not stand out for its interior spaciousness.

It does not have automatic climate control, but rather a manual system with recirculation and fresh-air intake. It offers precise control and operates effectively under any conditions. It features four airflow settings and a three-speed fan, which is noisy at its highest setting.

In terms of safety, it features protective side bars but lacks ABS and a driver's airbag.

The 1.8-liter Zetec-E features dual overhead camshafts, 16 valves, and multi-point fuel injection. Like any multi-valve engine, it is not particularly flexible and runs somewhat noisily when idling cold. It feels much livelier above 4,500 rpm than below that range, yet it responds smoothly, albeit without much punch. Fuel consumption is, all things considered, quite reasonable. I’d say it accelerates quite well; it’s easy to drive on the open road and performs well when overtaking, it certainly holds its own, even on today’s roads.

Mechanically reliable; its best feature is the engine, quite agile and relatively fuel-efficient—having given no trouble over 200,000 kilometers. A good choice for a mid-sized car: cheap to repair and economical. Everything a Ford should be.

Faults:

Both lower ball joints needed instant replacement.

Exhaust from cat to muffler had to be replaced at 85k miles.

Brakes wear quickly.

Makes the most terrible noise driving over bumps. Not sure what it is, but it sounds like something's very loose. Please help me there, if you can.

Tires wear quick up front.

Back windshield wiper stopped working 2 days ago for some unknown reason.

Paint peels, even though I've had it professionally re-painted.

Had to replace all four struts with new quick struts.

General Comments:

I don't mind the car, even with the aforementioned problems listed. I've had 3 Ford Escorts in my short driving career, and the others were just terrible (95 wagon, and 99 sedan). This one seems to be somewhat reliable, but the problem is when I go over bumps at speed (50-65 mph), it makes a terrible clunking sound. Also when I'm going around 40 mph, the sound is VERY noticeable and doesn't go away until I increase my speed, which doesn't feel comforting.

Other than that, got it at a good price and have put in the necessary parts for replacement. Has anyone encountered this noise before?

Please help me!