WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER. WHILE TALKING TO A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE VIA PHONE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE LESS THEN 15 MINUTES WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER. WHILE TALKING TO A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE VIA PHONE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE LESS THEN 15 MINUTES WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10113814
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2004
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE. CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10101914
45,000 miles · Nov 22, 2004
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A BRICK WALL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10097832
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2004
Air BagsVisibility
WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE, AND THE HEATER COIL WENT OUT. THERE WAS ANTI FREEZE ALL OVER THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE AIR BAG BUSTED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10099427
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2004
Air BagsInjury
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10099343
111,000 miles · Oct 13, 2004
Air Bags
THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10096697
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2004
Air Bags
DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WONT HONORING THE NHTSA RECALL 02V323000. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM) CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND COULD EXPERIENCE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10089109
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2004
Air Bags
CONSUMER RECEIVE RECALL NOTICE 02-S44 REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAGS . DEALER FAILED TO REPAIR THE RECALL. CONSUMER INFORMED MECHANIC THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LIGHT WAS NOT ON BEFORE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. SERVICE MANAGER TAMMY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090250
84,440 miles · Aug 3, 2004
Air Bags
AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS BY FORD (NOTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF NOTICE AND REPAIR ARE IN OUR POSSESSION) RESULTING IN BURNS TO PASSENGER ON FOREARMS (DUE TO INFLATION OF BAG), BROKEN WINDSHIELD AND DASH IS MESSED UP. NO ACCIDENT OCURRED OR OBJECT HIT. CAR WAS MOVING AT 15 MPH (MAX) AT DEPLOYMENT. FORD DECLAR…
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AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS BY FORD (NOTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF NOTICE AND REPAIR ARE IN OUR POSSESSION) RESULTING IN BURNS TO PASSENGER ON FOREARMS (DUE TO INFLATION OF BAG), BROKEN WINDSHIELD AND DASH IS MESSED UP. NO ACCIDENT OCURRED OR OBJECT HIT. CAR WAS MOVING AT 15 MPH (MAX) AT DEPLOYMENT. FORD DECLARES "NO" RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO EXCESS MILEAGE (84,440). I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE IS A "MILEAGE LIMITATION" ON SAFETY!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10086117
Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
MY CLIENT, AKRUARIA WRIGHT WAS DRIVING HER 1997 FORD ESCORT LX SEDAN SOUTH ON GA HWY 300, WHEN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. AS NOTED IN THE POLICE REPORT, THERE WAS NO CONTACT OR IMPACT WITH ANY OBJECT OR VEHICLE. THE ROAD THAT SHE WAS ON IS A MAJOR ROAD; IT IS PAVED AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.…
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MY CLIENT, AKRUARIA WRIGHT WAS DRIVING HER 1997 FORD ESCORT LX SEDAN SOUTH ON GA HWY 300, WHEN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. AS NOTED IN THE POLICE REPORT, THERE WAS NO CONTACT OR IMPACT WITH ANY OBJECT OR VEHICLE. THE ROAD THAT SHE WAS ON IS A MAJOR ROAD; IT IS PAVED AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. UPON DEPLOYING, THE AIRBAGS FORCED THE DASH UP AND BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRBAGS, AS THEY DEPLOYED, MADE CONTACT WITH MS. WRIGHT'S FACE, ARMS, HANDS, AND CHEST. ON HER FACE, ARMS , AND HANDS SHE SUFFERED MINOR BURNS FROM THE CONTACT. SHE ALSO HAS SUFFERED CERVICAL AND THORACIC STRAIN FROM THE CONTACT. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR IS STILL WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN DEARBORN, MI, BUT AS OF NOW I HAVE NOT HAD A RESPONSE.*AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM) CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND COULD EXPERIENCE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORTING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY, IN TURN, CAUSE THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND IN VERY RARE OCCURRENCES, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, MELTED WIRING, OR FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE SHIELD OVER THE IABM AND APPLY NYOGEL GREASE TO THE CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA02008 · Water Intrusion Into Airbag Monitor
Opened Jun 10, 2002 · Closed Dec 11, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 6, 2002, FORD NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON ALL 1997 FORD ESCORT AND MERCURY TRACER VEHICLES.FORD FOUND THAT ELECTRICAL SHORTING OF THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM)DUE TO LIQUID INTRUSION OF WATER OR ENGINE COOLANT CAN OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FORD AND LINCOLN MERCURY DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE SHIELD OVER THE IABM AND APPLY NYOGEL GREASE TO IT'S ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.SEE FORD'S DECEMBER 6, 2002 DEFECT AND NONCOMPLIANCE INFORMATION REPORT FOR DETAILS.
PE02010 · Integrated Air Bag Monitor Water
Opened Jan 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 10, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
No summary supplied.
1997 Ford Escort Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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