VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A LOCAL GARAGE.*MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF THE REMAINED ON. CONSUMER ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL AFTER SMELLING SMOKE. A TROOPER RECOMMENDED HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL GARAGE LOCKED UP WHEN THE FIRE OCCUR…
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VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A LOCAL GARAGE.*MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF THE REMAINED ON. CONSUMER ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL AFTER SMELLING SMOKE. A TROOPER RECOMMENDED HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL GARAGE LOCKED UP WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED DUE TO THE HOT TEMPERATURE. THE FIRE DEPT. FOUND THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10050222
75,000 miles · Sep 15, 2003
Electrical System
HORN SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY ONE TOUCHING THE MECHANISM.*AK *PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10034420
32,000 miles · Aug 22, 2003
Electrical System
HORN ACTIVATED ON ITS OWN AND STUCK ON. EVENTUALLY BOTH HORNS FAILED. PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE HORN PAD SWITCH WHICH IS PART OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG. REPLACING THE HORNS AND AIR BAG COSTS IN EXCESS OF $800.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10033304
114,697 miles · Aug 14, 2003
Electrical SystemVisibilityFire
HEATER CORE LEAKED ONTO THE AIRBAG MONITOR WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SHORT CIRCUITED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10033955
60,000 miles · Aug 9, 2003
Electrical System
HORN MALFUNCTIOED, ,DOES NOT STOP,HAD TO PULL FUSE OUT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10031169
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATES HIGHWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. SHE SMELLED SMOKE, AND LOOKED DOWN, AND THERE WERE FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. DASH BURNED UP. SHE HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, BUT HE DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, JUST SAID IT WAS THE DASHBOARD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032318
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2003
Air BagsElectrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicFire
CONSUMER REQUESTING RESTITUTION FOR A HOUSE FIRE THAT WAS CAUSED BY A VEHICLE FIRE.*MR *TS. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10029630
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
PROBLEMS WITH WIRING HARNESS RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *MR WHILE THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED THROUGH A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACT ERRATICALLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT LATER CAUGHT FIRE AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THERE WAS A RECALL RELA…
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PROBLEMS WITH WIRING HARNESS RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *MR WHILE THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED THROUGH A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACT ERRATICALLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT LATER CAUGHT FIRE AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THIS FAILURE BUT THE CONSUMER DIDN'T RECEIVED THE NOTICED PRIOR TO THE FIRE (RECALL # 02V323000). THE CONSUMER ALSO REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SCC *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10026603
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2003
Electrical System
THE HORN ACTIVATED BY ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10019427
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2003
Electrical System
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FUSE BLOWN ALONG WITH TAIL LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHT AND RADIO NOT FUNCTIONING. FOUND MELTED WIRES UNDER DASH BY THE FUSE BLOCK MAKING THE IGNITION BELL RING WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER DASH. SERVICE DEALER CLAIMS IT WILL BE IN EXCESS OF $2000.00 TO REPAIR.*JB
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
2
EA02008 · 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.
1997 Ford Escort Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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