IllustrationVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE FREEWAY CAR COLLISION. UP IMPACT ESTIMATED AT 30 MPH, AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO DEPLOY. ( PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY). 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 reportsVEHICLE WAS AT A STANDSTILL WHEN BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CAUSE. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING ON DASHBOARD, AND AN ODOR APPEARED IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE, RESULTING IN CRACKED PISTONS AND DAMAGED CRANK. FAILED FUEL PUMP/THERMOSTAT. *AK
THE HORN WILL START TO BLOW BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE CAR OR WITHOUT THE CAR BEING STARTED. FUSE HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT IN ORDER TO STOP THE HORN. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE HORN AND THE AIRBAG. *AK
STEERING GEAR NOISE IS PRESENT, HOWEVER NO REMEDY TO SOLVE NOISE PROBLEM. MJS
WHILE DRIVING ON A RAMP VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK
SMELLED GAS FUMES IN CAR. BROUGHT TO DEALER. FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING DUE TO COMING APART AT THE SEAMS. TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $400.
HEARD A FUNNY SOUND. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY SAID THIS WAS ANORMAL SOUND FOR THE ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE A SECOND TIME BACK TO DEALER AFTER ENGINE WAS MAKING KNOCKING NOISES AND STALLED. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. VEHICLE'S WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK
NO SUMMARY
WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL STREET HIT A DOG, AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG BUSTED THE FRONT WINDOW, AND CONSUMER'S HAND WAS BURNED BADLY. *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.