Faults:

Alternator at 260,000 kilometers (no rev limiter on manual Escorts, so easy to do)

Front brake pads, calipers and rotors at 260,000 kilometers.

Front brake pads and rotors again at 291,000 kilometers. This car eats through pads, and then proceeds to score the rotors. I had the rotors machined to minimum thickness, and then had to replace entirely a few weeks later (too much noise and increased stopping distance).

Horn at 270,000 kilometers. Replaced horn pad myself with parts from auto wrecker and instructions from the Internet.

Hose from PCV valve was split (when I bought it), causing a very rough idle and stalling. Replaced the hose and now the car runs like new!

General Comments:

Excellent car for the long haul. Though I've only had this car for a year, there was an Escort exactly like mine new in the family from 1997 and 2000 and it was perfectly reliable.

Though high kilometers, the car still sounds like new and is reasonably powerful considering the meagre 110 horsepower.

Not much interior storage and rear legroom is limited, but a very roomy trunk and plenty of headroom.

Watch the hoses for splits and leaks; these affect driving performance greatly, and are actually a cheap and easy fix!

Faults:

The car is in great condition. Nothing has happened to it and I think nothing ever will.

General Comments:

This car belonged to my grandfather and he bought it new in 1997. With it he drove to Florida and back to New York about 4 times so the mileage was very high when I got it. I must say even though its my first car my parents have owned many new Ford vehicles and although I love them all, this one really jumps out and says, "Unique!" the exterior is rounded off with no straight edges and to this day the car still shines like its new. the interior is miraculous. The design is beautiful. The dashboard is rounded in certain spots and I've never seen anything like it. (Besides my mom's 1997 Ford Windstar.) The car handles great and is really reliable. I drive to school with it and back and I never have a problem with it. Its great on gas, especially with the expensive gas prices we have today. I would defiantly recommend this car to any one, drivers new and old!

Faults:

Bought at 60,000mi.

New brakes 2x. once at 75,000, once at 90,000.

Spark Plug Wires corroded, causing misfires. Cheap fix.

Front tie rod ends went at 90,000mi. $250 fix.

Battery cables corroded @ 100,000 miles. $300 fix.

General Comments:

Spunky for a compact 4cly.

Good handling and relatively comfortable.

Very reliable. Only 2 problems in 4 years owning it.

These Escorts just don't die. Engine is as strong as ever and seems like it will take another 50,000mi.

Faults:

Will NOT move in snow or ice. Must be a weight distribution problem, it only spins.

General Comments:

The most dependable, toughest and economical car I have ever owned. I use it on a newspaper route 95 miles per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for 6 years. Everything (A/C, factory CD changer, cruise) works perfect.

Faults:

I replaced brake pads (regular car service) (200$)

I replaced lamps in rear lamps

I changed a third light

And that's it!

I had one more problem, but that was because of my own fault. I put real bad gas in it once. And the car started loosing its power and demanded an injection cleaning.

General Comments:

I bought this car a year ago with 97000 miles on it. With my excessive driving (I put around 30000 in less than a year) the car handled it very very good. I am extremely satisfied with this cute little car. I was driving to work, school, and giving a ride to my friends, and it all took nothing, but fun, not to mention it is great on gas. I could easily do 450 miles on one tank.