VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A LOCAL GARAGE.*MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF THE REMAINED ON. CONSUMER ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL AFTER SMELLING SMOKE. A TROOPER RECOMMENDED HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL GARAGE LOCKED UP WHEN THE FIRE OCCUR…
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VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A LOCAL GARAGE.*MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF THE REMAINED ON. CONSUMER ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL AFTER SMELLING SMOKE. A TROOPER RECOMMENDED HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL GARAGE LOCKED UP WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED DUE TO THE HOT TEMPERATURE. THE FIRE DEPT. FOUND THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10050222
Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2003
Air BagsFire
MY 1997 ESCORT NOT ONLY HAD DEFECTIVE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BUT CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. HOW RARE IS THIS OCCURANCE? FORD IS ONLY WILLING TO GIVE ME THE TRADE IN VALUE FOR MY VEHICLE NOT THE REPLACEMENT COST. SEEMS LIKE THE CONSUMER IS THE LOSER AGAIN. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRI…
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MY 1997 ESCORT NOT ONLY HAD DEFECTIVE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BUT CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. HOW RARE IS THIS OCCURANCE? FORD IS ONLY WILLING TO GIVE ME THE TRADE IN VALUE FOR MY VEHICLE NOT THE REPLACEMENT COST. SEEMS LIKE THE CONSUMER IS THE LOSER AGAIN. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN THE BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE DASH WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS SO SEVERE IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND MELTED THE ENTIRE DASH. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10045721
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2003
Air BagsCrash
VEHICLE FIRE INVOLVING 1997 FORD ESCORT.*MR AFTER INCIDENT OCCURRED A RECALL WAS ISSUED ADVISING A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN AIR BAGS AND AIR BAG MODULES. HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF SEVERE DAMAGES SO THE DEALERSHIP VOIDED THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT FORD RE -ACTIONS WHERE UNACCEPTABLE, AND IS REQUES…
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VEHICLE FIRE INVOLVING 1997 FORD ESCORT.*MR AFTER INCIDENT OCCURRED A RECALL WAS ISSUED ADVISING A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN AIR BAGS AND AIR BAG MODULES. HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF SEVERE DAMAGES SO THE DEALERSHIP VOIDED THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT FORD RE -ACTIONS WHERE UNACCEPTABLE, AND IS REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE LOSS DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE SAFETY RECALL LETTER ISSUED IS (O2S44). PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *CB
NHTSA ODI #10040385
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2003
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HOWEVER, TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10039979
Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2003
Air BagsInjury
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A DOG, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *JB THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE AIR BAG HIT THE CONSUMER IN THE CHEST AND BRUISED OTHER AREAS. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10032503
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2003
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 FORD ESCORT IN SEPTEMBER 1996. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE FITTING WAS MISSING SOME THREADS. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. THIS PAST JAN…
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I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 FORD ESCORT IN SEPTEMBER 1996. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE FITTING WAS MISSING SOME THREADS. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. THIS PAST JANUARY I GOT A LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG MONITOR/SENSOR PROBLEM AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM CORRECTED. NOW THE CAR HAS A SLOW COOLANT LEAK. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 62,850 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $800.00 - $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. I FEEL THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS PREMATURE AND FORD SHOULD PAY FOR IT. THIS WAS THE FIRST FORD VEHICLE I EVER PURCHASED AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE THE LAST. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY CANNOT PUT A $14,000 CAR TOGETHER CORRECTLY AND ASSURE ITS QUALITY TO LAST. I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS AND PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE REGARDING THE 1997 FORD ESCORT AND THEY ARE DISTRESSING TO SAY THE LEAST. MY NEXT VEHICLE WILL BE A GM PRODUCT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10037367
Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2003
Air Bags
THE DEALER AND VARIOUS FORD OFFICERS WERE UNWILLING TO PERFORM RECALL 02S44. *PH *NLM *JB
NHTSA ODI #10038160
74,239 miles · Aug 22, 2003
Air BagsVisibility
CONSUMER HAD RECALL 02V323000 REMEDIED IN 03/03. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. *AK THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON FOR TWO DAYS. THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS IT HAD COME BACK ON. *SCC …
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CONSUMER HAD RECALL 02V323000 REMEDIED IN 03/03. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. *AK THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON FOR TWO DAYS. THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS IT HAD COME BACK ON. *SCC THE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL DOWN.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10022776
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2003
Air BagsCrash
THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, WHICH CASUED THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOY. ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS THE MANUAL THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY UNLESS THERE WAS SEVERE IMPACT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB *JB
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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