Faults:

My master brake cylinder was starting to go at about 83,700 miles.

I had a transmission tune-up and a oil change done when I first bought the car in October 2007. The tranny was so dirty that I may need another transmission tune-up again.

The thermostat is shot, but it's giving me hot and cold air.

Otherwise it was just minor thing1s that you would expect.

I expect to put new brakes, probably new struts, timing belt (if necessary) and make sure the car is still reliable in 2008 and beyond.

General Comments:

When I bought the car in October 2007, it was in a minor accident because you can tell of the discoloration of the driver's side passenger door. The door will open, but it struggles to open.

The car handles very well in the snow, ice, and the rain thus far. Now I'm impressed with how fast the car can go, but for some reason there are times it feels like it runs "cold" to me. Cold like it not fully warmed up, but when I drive the car during the day it gets better.

I would like to buy the next step up from the Escort, which would be the Ford Focus one day. I would like to buy the Caliber, but the Focus is improving it's reliability year by year.

Faults:

Nothing yet. It does have horrible acceleration, but that's OK.

General Comments:

Great on gas! Handles well considering the size of the tires.

AS I said no pick-up.

Economical car, cheap to maintain and repair.

Bought it cheap and did little work to get it going again.

A/C doesn't work though.

Has power steering, brakes and mirrors.

Stereo volume is messed up, it changes from whispers to screaming with no notice.

Faults:

I replaced brake pad on front passenger side.

I replaced battery when it went dead.

I still need to fix the valve cover gasket because it is screwed on too tightly and leaks oil.

Belt gets in the way of getting Pizza bags in and out of car on deliveries.

The light behind Radio display does not work.

General Comments:

I like my 1990 Ford Escort LX!

It gets me around, it's nice and compact, and the clutch is very forgiving! This is a good car to learn how to drive a stick on!

I hated Fords before I bought this one, and now I love them!!!

Faults:

Transmission joint problems. Replaced right joint on steering wheel.

Left wheel ball bearing crashed and replaced.

Cylinder head had from manufacturing small cracks/imperfections. The head gasket blew because of this and it took four days of work and 500$ to fix myself. Bought a head gasket kit and tools.

The seats aren't very comfortable.

Cooling system blew four times. Had radiator leaks, water pump leaks, and cooling parts joints. Air heater blew and lost coolant again.

If it's raining outside for few days, gallons of water are accumulating on the floor of front/rear seats.

Spent $2200 on this car and other $2500 in one and half year for parts and labor repairs.

General Comments:

I will never buy any US car...

Faults:

Everything started going wrong at about 32,000 miles.

It constantly needs new tires because the alignment always goes out of whack. You feel every single bump in the road and it's hard to keep control.

It has stalled everywhere from in the middle of intersections to cruising down the highway at 75 MPH.

I've had a tire literally fly off while I was driving 30 MPH, spinning me out of control.

Had to get a new computer installed because the old one would force the car to stall for no reason whatsoever while driving.

It couldn't handle driving in the rain. Even when cruising at 40 MPH, if it was raining the engine would try to die on me, making a very jerky driving experience.

I have been left abandoned by this vehicle on the side of the road about a dozen times. No exaggeration.

The door seals got all warped around 40,000 miles making it very drafty, especially in winter.

General Comments:

I am upset to see positive reviews of this car because no one, under any circumstances, should get near this automobile. I am surprised I made it out alive after 7 years of driving this thing.

I constantly had a knot in my stomach whenever I drove it, because at any moment something could go horribly wrong. I kept a deathgrip on the steering wheel, my knuckles always white with tension.

Obviously it has no pickup, but I don't care about that, and the one good thing I can say is that it got excellent gas mileage.

I have only seen two other cars on the road of this type in my seven years of driving. It's no wonder they're such a rarity.

This car was never anything, but a noisy and risky driving experience. I would not take a free brand new escort.

I will never drive a Ford again. No company that can produce a lemon like this should be taken seriously.

If for any reason you are looking to buy this car, even for $5, please do not. Your life will be at risk.