One problem related to manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe has been reported for the 2000 Ford Escort. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2000 Ford Escort based on all problems reported for the 2000 Escort.
I would like to reference odi cases # 8016196, 1451010 and particularly 881231 in reference to my Ford Escort. While driving at low speed, my power steering, ac and alternator went out when the serpentine belt broke. The belt was wrapped around the water pump tensioner, which literally snapped away from the water pump housing and broke the water pump housing in 3 pieces. My mechanic also said he had never seen anything like this - but he found it very interesting that Ford had the water pump housing in stock in their parts department. The water pump, the housing, the tensioner and the serpentine belt were all replaced at the consumer's cost.