AI Damage1998 Ford ZX2 (escort): common problems
Owners of the 1998 Ford ZX2 (escort) filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 8
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 13% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 4 Seats 13% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 13% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 13% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 13% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (25% of all).
- Air bags: 1 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (13% of all).
- Seats: 1 complaints (13% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (13% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 8 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
Car makes hidiously loud screeching sound. Mechanics can't find where it is. I replaced many parts but the sound continues to come out.
Close call: the serpentine belt slips off and the car looses power steering.
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.
Consumer states when accelerating vehcile makes a very wierd noise. Took to dealer, and the dealer was not able to duplicate the problem.
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.
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
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,899 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 32% most complained about).
On average one model year of the ZX2 (escort) has 11 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 8, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ford ZX2 (escort)?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, air bags, powertrain. Total complaints: 8. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (13%), seat belts (13%), stalls while driving (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Ford ZX2 (escort)?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Ford ZX2 (escort) from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.