IllustrationVEHICLE BURNED FROM THE INSIDE, POSSIBLY ELECTRICAL, FIRE STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD BY THE FLOORBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, CLAIM 04-1295-042. *SLC
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 reportsTHE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT SEAL FAILED. *YH
HAVING TAKEN CAR INTO DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR INSPECTION. VERY SHOCKED SINCE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO HAUL ANYTHING MORE THAN GROCERIES AND IS DRIVEN VERY SAFELY DUE TO LACK OF HORSE POWER. CALLED OTHER DEALERSHIPS T…
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HAVING TAKEN CAR INTO DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR INSPECTION. VERY SHOCKED SINCE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO HAUL ANYTHING MORE THAN GROCERIES AND IS DRIVEN VERY SAFELY DUE TO LACK OF HORSE POWER. CALLED OTHER DEALERSHIPS TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH FORD ESCORT AND TO MY SURPRISE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON. REPORTED TO FORD MOTORS AT DETROIT AND WAS TOLD TO GET IT FIXED AND KEEP RECEIPTS JUST INCASE THERE MAYBE A RECALL. IT APPEARS FROM THE VARIOUS DEALERS AND FORD MOTORS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THEY PLAN TO DO NOTHING ABOUT UNLESS FORCED TO BY PEOPLE BEING KILLED OR INJURED. WOULD APPRECIATE MY GOVERNMENTS INTERVENTION ON BEHALF OF UNFORTUNATE FORD CONSUMERS.*AK
HOOD LATCH POPS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. HOOD DOES NOT COME UP/ LATCH DOES NOT STAY TIGHT. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CRANKSHAFT PULLY SEPARATED FROM ENGINE BLOCK, CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 30M MILES.*AK
FRONT LEFT TIE ROD WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP BECAUSE COMPONENT WAS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE WEAR, AND WERE VERY NOISY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. *AK LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SLC
DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH AND THERE WAS AN ODOR THAT SMELLED LIKE A FIRECRACKER, VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE NEXT DAY WHEN CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE FLOORBOARDS, CLAIM 35-W686-849. *SLC
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE SHOES AND ROTORS 4 -5 TIMES. DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO DISC BRAKE CALIPERS CAUSING ROTORS TO WARP. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING IN THE COUNTRY VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR EXAMINATION BY DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT TWO REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
VEHICLE CAN BE PUT INTO GEARS WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES, ALSO, AT TIMES GEARS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM PARK POSITION, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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.