IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON.THEN, AIR BAG DEPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
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
What owners actually said
543 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 10MPH ON FLAT SURFACE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKTHERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE FROM THE BELTS. *JG
DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO BLOWOUT.*AK
HEATER CORE LEAKED ONTO AIR BAG SENSOR AND MODULE CAUSING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. HAD TO REPLACE HEATER CORE,AIR BAG SENSOR AND MODULE.*AK
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER OF AIR BAGS REPLACEMENT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NO CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONER AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, TECHNICIAN STATED AIR BAG MODULE WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED. *AK
WHILE APPYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. A BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON PANEL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH ON SMOOTH SURFACE CONSUMER SMELLED SULPHUR, THEN BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK *YH
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.