1999 Ford Escort ZX2 review from North America
"You get what you pay for"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Speed sensor went out at about 180k.
Transmission lines completely rusted out at 180k.
Alternator went out at about 170k.
D.O.H.C. solenoid faulty at about 175k.
The car has idled rough since I bought it. I gave it a major tune-up (plugs, wires, sensors, filters) and it still idled rough.
During a recent oil change, I noticed a wire that goes into one of the wiring harnesses on the alternator was loose. I pushed it in completely and the rough idle smoothed right out. I went to a Ford dealer and tried to get that particular piece, and was told that I had to buy the entire wiring harness for the entire car ($1200). I told him I wasn't building a car from scratch, just fixing the one I had, so I would try to make do with what I had. A little black tape held the wire tightly in place. The car runs great now.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1999 |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2006 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 liter D.O.H.C. Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 4 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 165000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 185000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Ranger |
| Date of Entry | 5th November, 2009 |