IllustrationTHE REAR COIL SPRING WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH CAUSING UNUSUAL HANDLING, A PLASTIC SLEVE PLACED AROUND THE STEEL COIL MAY HAVE TRAPPED MOISTURE BETWEEN THE STEEL AND PLASTIC CAUSING RUST OVER TIME AND EVENTUALLY BREAKING THE COIL. NLM
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 reportsVEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, AND MECHANIC NOTICED ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS CHAFED AND WORN, IT WAS REPLACED. CONTACTED FORD COMPANY, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH CONSUMER. NEVER CONTACTED HIM. CONSUMER CONCERNED WITH SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS. *AK THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS ABRADED AND WAS REPLACED. *YH
HOW CAN A DEALERSHIP NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION ARE BOTH FOREIGN ITEMS. IF I WANTED TO PURCHASE A FOREIGN CAR I WOULD HAVE. AND FOR BOTH MOTOR REPLACEMENT COST $2600 AND TRANSMISSION $2800 TO GO OUT THE SAME TIME. ISN'T THERE SOME LAW THAT STATES A DEALERSHIP/MFG MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (PARTS) BEING…
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HOW CAN A DEALERSHIP NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION ARE BOTH FOREIGN ITEMS. IF I WANTED TO PURCHASE A FOREIGN CAR I WOULD HAVE. AND FOR BOTH MOTOR REPLACEMENT COST $2600 AND TRANSMISSION $2800 TO GO OUT THE SAME TIME. ISN'T THERE SOME LAW THAT STATES A DEALERSHIP/MFG MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (PARTS) BEING USED IN A AUTOMOBILE??
MANUFACTURER CONTACTED - OWNER TOLD WARRANTY NOT COVERED MANUFACUTRER'S DEFECTS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
HARMONIC BALANCER CRANKSHAFT CAME OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. PART WAS DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING LOT WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING, AGAIN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A SAND PILE AND BUILDING, THE SANDPILE PLUGGED THE TAILED PIPE CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, ACC…
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WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING LOT WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING, AGAIN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A SAND PILE AND BUILDING, THE SANDPILE PLUGGED THE TAILED PIPE CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, ACCIDENT RESULTED IN 1 INJURY. NLM
VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT. HORN WAS BLOWING CONSTANLY AND THEN IT STARTED BEEPING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT SHE LEFT HER VEHICLE PARKED IN THE SUN AND THE SUN DAMAGED THE HORN. AND IN ORDER FOR HER TO FIX IT THE MECHANIC NEEDED TO GO INTO STEERING COLUMN WITH AIR…
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VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT. HORN WAS BLOWING CONSTANLY AND THEN IT STARTED BEEPING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT SHE LEFT HER VEHICLE PARKED IN THE SUN AND THE SUN DAMAGED THE HORN. AND IN ORDER FOR HER TO FIX IT THE MECHANIC NEEDED TO GO INTO STEERING COLUMN WITH AIRBAG AND THE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
HAD TAKEN VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION & MECHANIC NOTICED REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME PLACE. VEHICLE WAS REJECTED. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT PLACE & IT PASSED INSPECTION. BREAK IS 1/8 INCH LONG & ITS THE 2ND COIL SPRING FROM THE BOTTOM. WILL BE TAKING IT TO BE REPAIRED. *AK
TIMING BELT WAS BROKE HAD REPLACED IT CAR ONLY RUNS ON 2 CYLINDERS CAR NOT RUNNING. *AK
IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILURE RESULITING IN IDLE BEING ERRETIC WILL RACE UP TO 2,500 RPM BY IT'S SELF AND WHEN IN GEAR SUDDEN ACCELERATION ALSO ENGINE FAN WILL NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN KEY IS OFF
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.