IllustrationTHE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FOLLOW UP TO A LETTER WHICH WAS SENT REGARDING A VEHICLE FIRE. *MR *TS *JB
1997 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Escort years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Ford Escort are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escort years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 100 of 543 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 152 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 114 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
66 crash reports83 fire reports52 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
152 reportsCONSUMER NOTICED A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER REQUESTING RESTITUTION FOR A HOUSE FIRE THAT WAS CAUSED BY A VEHICLE FIRE.*MR *TS. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKING. *JB
RECALL 02V323000, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AFTER HAVING RECALL DONE FOR INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR CONTAMINATION DEALER HAD INSTALLED THE SHIELD OVER THE IABM ,AND APPLIED NYOGEL GREASE TO THE CONNECTOR ONE MONTH AFTER CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE WIRES. *AK
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY. CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL WHICH IT STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE A SHELL ON TOP OF THE CABLE SO THAT AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON, BUT AFTER SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET IT FIXED THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. DEALER WILL ONLY FIX IT IF THE CONSUMER PAYS FOR IT.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V323000 CONCERNING INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR CONTAMINATION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON 6/17/2003. WHEN THE OWNER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAS TO BE DONE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. CONSUME…
Read full complaint
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V323000 CONCERNING INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR CONTAMINATION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON 6/17/2003. WHEN THE OWNER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAS TO BE DONE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. CONSUMER REQUESTED A CALL FROM THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER.*AK
EXPLOSION SOUND HEARD UNDER DASHBOARD OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER SUSPECTED PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS. *MR THE EXPLOSION WAS HEARD ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER STATED WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO OPEN THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. FIVE YEARS LATER, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. *TT *JB
WHILE TRAVELING 65-70 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DAMAGING WINDSHIELD.*AK
FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING.*AK
THE RECALL AIR BAG FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (RECALL NUMBER 02V323000). THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. *MR *SCC *NLM
Official recalls
102V323000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Dec 9, 2002
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
2EA02008 · 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.