Two problems related to body have been reported for the 1999 Ford Escort. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Under carriage is separating. Spot welds are breaking. Fuel tank straps are not secured for tank, which causes it to move around. Structural integrity of vehicle is compromised because of spot welds. Windshield tilts towards driver. Passenger's door in rear of the station wagon would pivot and was getting worse.
The structural integrity of the entire vehicle is unsound. There are broken welds, distorted sheet metal subframe componants, and shifting or flexing of the body throughout the entire vehicle. It has severe oversteer at speed when cornering over roads with varying surfaces. The undercarraige will twist allowing the gas tank to strain and loosen at its retaining straps and the brackets they attach to are pulling loose at their welds. The windshied angle changes, the roof bulges and buckles, the rear doors drop and lift as well as the rear hatch area as the car is accellerated or the brakes are applied. When the steering wheel is turned left or right the body twists. There is a noticable pull under accelleration. Also the interior seats shift and sway seperate from the exterior.