IllustrationCRANKSHAFT/PULLEY BROKE AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. *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 reportsCONSUMER NOTICED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASH PANEL WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THEN, NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS STILL FLASHING, AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. SHE HAD VEHICLE PARKED, THEN SHE GOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. TURNED VEHICLE ON, AND IT STARTED SMOKING. HAD MOVED THE PANEL, AND NOTICED THAT FIRE WAS COMMING FRO…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASH PANEL WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THEN, NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS STILL FLASHING, AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. SHE HAD VEHICLE PARKED, THEN SHE GOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. TURNED VEHICLE ON, AND IT STARTED SMOKING. HAD MOVED THE PANEL, AND NOTICED THAT FIRE WAS COMMING FROM THERE. ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD A FRE EXTINGUISHER, AND PUT FIRE OUT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT IT WOULD TAKE $1300 75 TO FIX VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE HORN WAS STUCK. DEALER STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR IT WAS TAKING THE AIRBAG OUT. CONSUMER WOULD BE CHARGE $ 700-$750. DEALER COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHAT CAUSED IT. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS OWNED 2 FORD ESCORT AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACED THE REAR SPRINGS IN BOTH VEHICLES ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION CONSUMER BELIEVES THE ARE CHEAPLY MADE AND TOO LIGHT. NLM
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH BOTH AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING, NOR HITTING ANYTHING. *AK
BOTH DRIVER & PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED & SHATTERING PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FROM THE FORCE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, TALKED TO DEALER & AIRBAGS KNOCKED OUT THE CLOCK SPRING, MONOITOR, DASH ASSEMBLY, DASH FRAME BUCKET & SENSORS. *AK
CONSUMER LEFT VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP TO DETERMINE WHY A LIGHT IN THE DASH WAS ILLUMINATING, DEALER STATED THAT THE HEATER CORE HAD A HOLE IN IT, CONSUMER SAW THAT VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DASH AND THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS BURNED, CLAIM 24-5124-338. *SLC
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN OPERATING VEHICLE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME OR CLIMBING A HILL. *AK THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. BUT THE TRANSMISSION'S ERRATIC SHIFT UPHILL AND CHECK THE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CONTINUED. *YH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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.