DT: HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGING UP DUE TO MOISTURE. CALLER IS CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION IF THEY GET ANY WORSE. DEALER SAID HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CALLED YET.*AK THE 2 HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER THOUGHT WHEN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONAL MALFUNC…
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DT: HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGING UP DUE TO MOISTURE. CALLER IS CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION IF THEY GET ANY WORSE. DEALER SAID HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CALLED YET.*AK THE 2 HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER THOUGHT WHEN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONAL MALFUNCTIONED , IT WAS DUE TO THE MOSITURE TOO. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10124445
107,000 miles · Mar 29, 2005
Exterior Lighting
BOTH REAR BRAKE STOP LAMPS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN STOPPING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BECOME INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO INFORM…
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BOTH REAR BRAKE STOP LAMPS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN STOPPING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BECOME INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE'S PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10117038
Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2004
Exterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM. THE PLASTIC LENS THAT COVERED THE HEADLIGHTS WAS FROSTED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10067410
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2003
Exterior Lighting
WE HAVE A 1997 FORD ESCORT, AND THE PLASTIC LENS THAT COVERS THE HEADLIGHTS IS EXTREMELY FROSTED. THIS MEANS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT OUTPUT BY THE HEADLIGHTS IS REDUCED, LIMITING THE VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD BE HAZARDOUS. WHEN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, THE ADDITIONAL …
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WE HAVE A 1997 FORD ESCORT, AND THE PLASTIC LENS THAT COVERS THE HEADLIGHTS IS EXTREMELY FROSTED. THIS MEANS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT OUTPUT BY THE HEADLIGHTS IS REDUCED, LIMITING THE VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD BE HAZARDOUS. WHEN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, THE ADDITIONAL LIGHT OUTPUT IS SMALL, ONCE AGAIN DUE TO THE FROSTED LENS ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON ANOTHER ESCORT, AND NO DOUBT IT EXISTS ON OTHERS. A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP SAYS IT IS A DEFECT. THE PLASTIC LENS SHOULD REMAIN CLEAR. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD REPLACE THEM. THEY SHOULD REMAIN FREE OF ANY HAZE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I CHECKED AND TO REPLACE BOTH, IT WOULD COST I BELIEVE SOMETHING LIKE $250 OR $300 DOLLARS! *AK
NHTSA ODI #10049442
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2003
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT LENS DULL, CLOUDY. HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT AS BRIGHT AS THEY SHOULD BE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041691
50,000 miles · Mar 18, 2003
Exterior Lighting
THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS WERE DULL WHICH IMPAIRED THE DRIVERS VISION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10011985
Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2002
Exterior Lighting
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEEN ON ALL THE TIME ON THE PANEL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RECALLS SO THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023224
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IS OCCURRING WITHIN VEHICLE WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE BATTERY TO COMPLETELY LOSE POWER. *AK CONSUMER STATES RADIO CAUSED BATTERY TO DRAIN AND SPEAKERS TO POP, RADIO REPLACED 3 TIMES, EXPERIENCING OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING WHEN THE HEATER IS ON OR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, RADIA…
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AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IS OCCURRING WITHIN VEHICLE WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE BATTERY TO COMPLETELY LOSE POWER. *AK CONSUMER STATES RADIO CAUSED BATTERY TO DRAIN AND SPEAKERS TO POP, RADIO REPLACED 3 TIMES, EXPERIENCING OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING WHEN THE HEATER IS ON OR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND POOR ACCELERATION WHEN GOING UP A HILL. *TT
NHTSA ODI #8002796
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2001
Exterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, TURN SIGNALS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE GIVES NO PRIOR WARNING. WHEN USING TURN SIGNAS, BOTH LIGHTS WILL BLINK ON DASH, BUT ONE WILL BLINK ON OUTSIDE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE FLASHER, AND FLASHER WAS REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER FILED A C…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, TURN SIGNALS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE GIVES NO PRIOR WARNING. WHEN USING TURN SIGNAS, BOTH LIGHTS WILL BLINK ON DASH, BUT ONE WILL BLINK ON OUTSIDE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE FLASHER, AND FLASHER WAS REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT AROUND MARCH. *AK *SLC
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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