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…
Read full complaint
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
82,610 miles · Nov 11, 2004
Electrical System
INITIAL PROBLEM WAS THAT HEATER BLOWER WOULD NOT OPERATE. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ELECTRICAL MELT-DOWN ON A COMPONENT AND STATED THAT WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD NOT HAD A FIRE. THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE MOTOR RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE WHEN I CHECKED FO…
Read full complaint
INITIAL PROBLEM WAS THAT HEATER BLOWER WOULD NOT OPERATE. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ELECTRICAL MELT-DOWN ON A COMPONENT AND STATED THAT WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD NOT HAD A FIRE. THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE MOTOR RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE WHEN I CHECKED FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING ESCORTS, THERE WERE MANY OTHERS THAT DID HAVE FIRES DUE TO WIRING/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10098670
23,000 miles · Sep 29, 2004
Electrical System
THE HORN STUCK WHEN IN USE. CONSUMER HAD TO UNHOOK THE HORN FROM THE BATTERY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094604
74,458 miles · Aug 27, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH CONSUMER TURNED THE HEATHER ON TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES AND HEAVY SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10089893
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON IT STALLED . TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND IT BLEW UP, BURNING COMPLETELY TO THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10089859
99,000 miles · Aug 26, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW SECONDS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE FIREWALL. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10089826
99,000 miles · Aug 24, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
CAR STALLED TRY TO RESTART CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, NOW TOTAL LOSS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10088496
72,000 miles · Aug 16, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHIC EVENTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL, AND STARTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10080085
98,000 miles · Aug 3, 2004
Electrical System
WIRING HARNESS BREAK IN WAGON HATCH CAUSING ALL ELEC. COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION, LSO ENGINE UNABLE TO SHUT OFF(WITH KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION). *AK
NHTSA ODI #10086113
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2003
Air BagsElectrical SystemFire
CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND LATER WENT OFF. ON DECEMBER 22, 2003, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON UPON STARTING , AND THEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE DASH. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED FIRE WAS DUE TO A SHORT IN A …
Read full complaint
CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND LATER WENT OFF. ON DECEMBER 22, 2003, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON UPON STARTING , AND THEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE DASH. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED FIRE WAS DUE TO A SHORT IN A WIRE. *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
Illustration