IllustrationCOMPUTER--FALSE WARNINGS.
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
Electrical System complaints
114 reportsVEHICLE WAS PARKED. HORN WENT OFF ON ITS OWN. OWNER HAD TAKEN FUSE OUT TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED SMALL PLASTIC PIECE HAD WORN AWAY BETWEEN HORN & AIR BAG MODULE. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
HORN AUTOMATICALLY SOUNDS BY ITSELF. IT SOUNDS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING PARKED AND IT HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN OUTSIDE TERMPERATURES ARE HIGH. THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF AIRBAG/HORN BUTTON IS VERY SENSITIVE. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *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
VEHICLE EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL FIRE. *YC
HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN AN EMERGENCY.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSE UNKNOWN.. *AK
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY STOP WITHOUT NOTICE. IT WAS DAYTIME AND I HAD MY 13 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WITH ME. WE GOT THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WENT TO THE NEAREST HOUSE. THE WOMEN ADVISED ME THAT HER HUSBAND WAS A MECHANIC AND HE WOULD LOOK AT THE CAR WHEN HE RETURNED FROM A ERRAND. UPON THE MECHANIC ARRIVAL…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY STOP WITHOUT NOTICE. IT WAS DAYTIME AND I HAD MY 13 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WITH ME. WE GOT THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WENT TO THE NEAREST HOUSE. THE WOMEN ADVISED ME THAT HER HUSBAND WAS A MECHANIC AND HE WOULD LOOK AT THE CAR WHEN HE RETURNED FROM A ERRAND. UPON THE MECHANIC ARRIVAL--NOT ASSOCIATED WITH FORD MOTORS--HE LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID YOU HAVE A FUSE PROBLEM. HE OPEN THE HOOD AND THE FUSE COMPARTMENT. AFTER 20 SECONDS HE PUSH A FUSE BACK IN AND THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT PROBLEMS. HE ADVISED ME THAT LOOSE FUSES ON NEWER FORDS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT WHILE THIS HAPPENED IN THE DAY WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT WHILE I WAS TRAVELLING ON A DARK INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE. A STALL OUT CAUSED MY AN ELECTRICAL FUSE FAILURE COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT . I'M ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE MECHANICS STATEMENT THAT THIS HAPPENS ON A LOT OF NEWER FORD. HE ALSO SAID SOMETHING ABOUT AUTO MANUFACTURERS GETTING AROUND THIS WITH "SILENT RECALLS". NO PROBLEM UNLESS YOU COMPLAIN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHETHER MY INCIDENT IS ISOLATED OR THE MECHANIC IS RIGHT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING BUT ITS A SILENT MATTER.
WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY VARIOUS SPEEDS ENGINE WILL STALL OUT ,LOSES POWER. PUT IN NEUTRAL AND GIVE IT GAS SO IT CAN REACT CORRECTLY. DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE FIVE TIMES. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, IGNITION COIL. DEFECT IS STII REOCURRING. *AK
ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO FAULTY WIRES.
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.