2000 ford escort brake lights stay on

Check for an issue at the brake light switch and the wiring connector for that switch, at the brake pedal area. The switch may be on at all times, or the connector could have damage / melting.

It's a little bushing that sits on the pedal between the switch that turns lights on and off when you press the pedal so if you look up under the pedal from where you press the pedal and go up and follow it to where the little button switch is is a little round bushing that broke if you just put something in between there and go look your lights will be off you got to rig something up. It only misses by the width of a nickel or two, the button needs pushed in to turn the brake lights off.