IllustrationFALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING 10 MPH (TAP) OF A GUARDRAIL, RESULTING IN INJURY TO EYES.
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
Air Bags complaints
152 reportsCONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE, PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS BURNING, NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. PASSENGER GOT BACK INTO CAR, WHILE DRIVER WAS STILL LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD. LESS THEN 30 SECONDS AFTER PASSENGER GOT INTO THE VEH…
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE, PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS BURNING, NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. PASSENGER GOT BACK INTO CAR, WHILE DRIVER WAS STILL LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD. LESS THEN 30 SECONDS AFTER PASSENGER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS AND CUTS ON FACE. ALSO, AIR BAGS CRACKED FRONT WINDSHIELD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURB AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. *AK
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 30MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WHILE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL. *AK
BRAKES FAILED AND VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25MPH, AND AIRBAGS ON BOTH SIDES DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED DURING A REAREND COLLISION, BURNING OCCUPANT'S HANDS AND INJURING THE FINGERS. *AK
VEHICLE HAD FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35MPH AND DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAS NOT BEEN TO DEALER. *AK
AIR BAG HAD VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT UPON COLLISION, CAUSING BURNS, SCRAPES AND BRUISES.
VEHICLE HIT A BUMP GOING ABOUT 28 MPH AND THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS EXPLODED . THE EXPLOSION CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER AND THE PANEL TO BURST. THER IS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE ONLY IF INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINES THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT . *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING OR VEHICLE HITTING ANYTHING IN THE ROAD, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *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.