1999 Ford Escort Gas Tank Size & Fuel Capacity

Hatchback 5 trims listed ← 1998 2000 →

Fuel tank capacity

12.8gal · 48 L

The 1999 Ford Escort has a fuel tank capacity of 12.8 gallons (48 liters) on every trim.

A full tank is good for roughly 384–435 highway miles or 282–307 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.

12.8 gal · Smaller than 95% of 1999 models we list.

Highway range
384–435 mi
City range
282–307 mi
Fuel
Regular unleaded
EPA combined
25–28 MPG
EPA size class
Subcompact Cars

1999 Ford Escort fuel tank capacity by trim

MPG and range are city / highway.

TrimEngineDrive Tank MPG city / hwy Range city / hwy
LX 4dr Sedan 2.0L 4cyl 5M · FWD MPG 24 / 34Range 307 / 435 mi 2.0L 4cyl 5M FWD 12.8 gal48 L 24 / 34 307 / 435 mi
SE 4dr Sedan 2.0L 4cyl 5M · FWD MPG 24 / 34Range 307 / 435 mi 2.0L 4cyl 5M FWD 12.8 gal48 L 24 / 34 307 / 435 mi
SE 4dr Wagon 2.0L 4cyl 5M · FWD MPG 24 / 34Range 307 / 435 mi 2.0L 4cyl 5M FWD 12.8 gal48 L 24 / 34 307 / 435 mi
ZX2 Cool 2dr Coupe 2.0L 4cyl 5M · FWD MPG 22 / 30Range 282 / 384 mi 2.0L 4cyl 5M FWD 12.8 gal48 L 22 / 30 282 / 384 mi
ZX2 Hot 2dr Coupe 2.0L 4cyl 5M · FWD MPG 22 / 30Range 282 / 384 mi 2.0L 4cyl 5M FWD 12.8 gal48 L 22 / 30 282 / 384 mi

Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG.

How far a 1999 Ford Escort goes on a tank

Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 28 MPG, a full 12.8-gallon tank covers about 358 miles.

GaugeGallonsHighway milesCity miles
Full12.8435307
3/49.6326230
1/26.4218154
1/43.210977
1/81.65438

Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 536 gallons, roughly 42 full tanks.

In real driving: owners who log fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 30.1 MPG in the Escort (23 drivers), about 385 miles on a full 12.8-gallon tank.

Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.

EPA combined
25–28 MPG
Tailpipe CO2
317–355 g/mi
Source
EPA ratings

What it costs to fill up a 1999 Ford Escort

$54.66 to fill the 12.8-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.

TankFuelUS avg / galFrom emptyFrom 1/4 tank
12.8 galRegular$4.27$54.66$40.99

By region, 12.8-gallon tank

RegionRegular / galFill from empty
East Coast$4.02$51.46
Midwest$4.27$54.66
Gulf CoastLowest$3.70$47.36
Rocky Mountain$4.46$57.09
West Coast$5.42$69.38
CaliforniaHighest$5.89$75.39

Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.

Your own price

  • 12.8-gallon tank$54.66
  • A year of driving (15,000 mi)$2,287

Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.

Escort tank size in other years

The 1999 Escort uses the same 12.8 gal tank as the 1998 model.

Model yearTankLongest highway range
2003 Escort 12.7 gal 381 mi
2002 Escort 12.7–12.8 gal 406 mi
2001 Escort 12.8 gal 397 mi
2000 Escort 12.7–12.8 gal 406 mi
1999 Escort 12.8 gal 435 mi
1998 Escort 12.8 gal 435 mi
1997 Escort 12.7 gal 432 mi
1996 Escort 11.9–13.2 gal 417 mi
1995 Escort 11.9–13.2 gal 405 mi
1994 Escort 11.9 gal 405 mi
Ford Escort fuel tank by model yearSmallest tank Larger tank options

1999 Ford Escort vs similar 1999 hatchbacks

At 12.8 gallons, the Escort's largest tank ranks sixth of the seven 1999 hatchbacks compared here. The Suzuki Esteem carries the most (13.5 gal) and the Mercury Tracer the least (12.8 gal).

1999 modelTankLongest highway range
Suzuki Esteem 13.5 gal 446 mi
Mazda Protege 13.2 gal 409 mi
Toyota Corolla 13.2 gal 449 mi
Kia Sephia 13.2 gal 370 mi
Chevrolet Prizm 13.2 gal 449 mi
Ford Escort 12.8 gal 435 mi
Mercury Tracer 12.8 gal 435 mi

Other 1999 hatchbacks of a similar size, one model per brand.

1999 Ford Escort fuel system recalls

None of the 1 recall NHTSA lists for the 1999 Ford Escort involve the fuel system.

All Ford fuel recalls Look up your tank by VIN

1999 Ford Escort fuel pump and gauge parts

NHTSA lists no fuel-system recall for the 1999 Ford Escort, so a failed pump or gauge is a normal repair. These are the part numbers the makers list for it.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 1999 Ford Escort?

The 1999 Ford Escort holds 12.8 gallons (48 liters) on every trim we list.

How many gallons and liters does the 1999 Ford Escort gas tank hold?

The 1999 Ford Escort tank holds 48 liters, or 12.8 gallons in US gallons.

How far can a 1999 Ford Escort go on a full tank?

About 384–435 miles on the highway and 282–307 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.

How many miles can a 1999 Ford Escort go on a quarter tank?

About 109 highway miles or 77 in town from the 12.8-gallon tank, which has roughly 3.2 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.

How many miles does a 1999 Ford Escort really get on a tank?

Drivers who log their fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 30.1 MPG in the 1999 Ford Escort (23 drivers), which works out to about 385 miles on a full 12.8-gallon tank.

What gas does the 1999 Ford Escort take?

Regular unleaded. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.

How much does it cost to fill up a 1999 Ford Escort?

At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 12.8-gallon tank from empty costs $54.66. It ranges from $47.36 in the Gulf Coast to $75.39 in California.

How much does a full tank of gas weigh in a 1999 Ford Escort?

About 79 pounds for the 12.8-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.

Does the 1999 Ford Escort have a bigger gas tank than the Mercury Tracer?

No, they match: both top out at 12.8 gallons in 1999.

Has the 1999 Ford Escort had a fuel pump or fuel system recall?

No. None of the 1 recall NHTSA lists for the 1999 Ford Escort involve the fuel system.

Sources

  • Tank sizes: manufacturer-rated capacities from US-market specifications, checked against independent references. Updated October 2026.
  • MPG and range: EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov). Range is tank size times EPA MPG.
  • Fuel prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of October 26, 2026 (this week's prices).
  • Recalls: NHTSA recall database (Ford fuel system recalls).
  • Real-world MPG: driver-reported fill-ups shared at fueleconomy.gov (My MPG).

Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.

Other 1999 Ford models