IllustrationTHE VIBRATION DAMPER FAILS AND CAUSES THE PULLY TO SHIFT, CAUSING THE ALT. BELT TO RUB AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE CAR UNTIL IT BREAKS. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS FORD COMPONENT
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 INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT 45MPH, SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING A FEW DAYS LATER I BLEW A FUSE FOR THE BRAKES LIGHTS. I REPLACE THE FUSE AND BLEW THAT ONE. AT THIS SAME TIME I NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT SHUT OFF THE AIR CONDITIONING. I WILL CONTACT DEALER NEXT BUISNESS DAY. *AK
WHENEVER TURNING STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD MAKE LOUD/SQUEAKING NOISES. ITS SOUNDED LIKE THE FAN BELT WAS COMING OFF. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS ONLY A BUZZING NOISE, BUT THE NOISE WAS GETTING WORSE. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, ALTHOUGH NOTHING IS MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DEFROSTER STAYS ON WHEN BUTTON IS NOT ENGAGED. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL FIRE. *YC
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS RACING HIGH WITHOUT NO PRIOR WARNING. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A DITCH WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT APPROX. 25 MPH IN HEAVY RAIN CONDITION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND BURSTED. DRIVER RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS TO HIS FINGERS, AND PASSENGER RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS TO ONE OF HIS EYES AND FACE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFI…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A DITCH WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT APPROX. 25 MPH IN HEAVY RAIN CONDITION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND BURSTED. DRIVER RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS TO HIS FINGERS, AND PASSENGER RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS TO ONE OF HIS EYES AND FACE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.
DEFECTIVE DAMPER PULLEY IN THE MOTOR SYSTEM FELL APART, CAUSING THE STEERING AND BRAKING TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND MAY CAUSE A CRASH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKS OR VIBRATES AND HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. 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.