IllustrationSIDE COLLISION TO VEHICLE AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURIES. *MR
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 reportsTHE VEHICLES AIR BAG CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NLM
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS ON THE AIR BAG MODULE ON 5/5/2003 TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THE REPAIRS WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION. ON 5/8/2003 THE AIR BAG MODULE SHORT CIRCUITED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. RECALL # 02V323000. *JB
THE AIR BAG BURNED THE VEHICLES DASH. THIS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTIFICATION (RECALL NUMBER 02V-323000). *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED 3 TO 4 MINUTES LATER, AND THEN SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE AIR BAGS. *JB
NAR 04/28/2003 MR THE CONSUMER RECIEVED SAFETY RECALL #(02S44) REGARDING AIR BAG MONITORS. PRIOR TO THAT THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING ON, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE AND IT COST OVER $500.00 FOR A PROBLEM THAT MAY HAVE ALREADY EXISTED IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALL. *CB
CONSUMER WAS PROCEEDING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH HIT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMERS CAR WENT INTO A SPIN. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 02V323000 WHICH WAS REMEDIED ON 4-6-03, HOWEVER ON 4-7-03, WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A "BURNING" SMELL AND SMOKE COMING THE FROM DASHBOARD AREA. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND WHEN HE RETURNED FOR VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY, IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A COOLANT LEAK ONTO THE AIRBAG FRONTAL CONTROL MODULE.…
Read full complaint
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 02V323000 WHICH WAS REMEDIED ON 4-6-03, HOWEVER ON 4-7-03, WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A "BURNING" SMELL AND SMOKE COMING THE FROM DASHBOARD AREA. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND WHEN HE RETURNED FOR VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY, IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A COOLANT LEAK ONTO THE AIRBAG FRONTAL CONTROL MODULE. *JB
THE CONSUMER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF RECALL 02-V-323-000 WHICH REFERENCED THE AIR BAG MONITOR. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS HIGH. *NLM
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*JB
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.