IllustrationTHE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE. *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 reportsTHE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG SENOR CONTROL MODULE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE SLID ON ICE AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER CAR. NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM
I WAS BURNED ON MY RIGHT HAND (3 FINGERS AND THUMB) DUE TO BOTH AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB
THE CONSUMER DOES NOT WANT THE AIR BAGS IN HER VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE HAS TO SIT CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THERE WAS A RECENT RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. *JB
THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 0 2 V 32 3000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHI…
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THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 0 2 V 32 3000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. *JB
THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 3 23000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE …
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THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 3 23000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. 8JB
THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02V323000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHI…
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THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02V323000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. DEALER WOULD REPLACE PARTS AND LABOR FREE OF CHARGE.*JB
CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE WERE ON BACK ORDER. RECALL # 02V323000. *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.