IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNED OUT. *AK *SLC
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 CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THERE IS DAMAGE UNDER THE DASH, CLAIM 53-C737-570. *SLC
CONSUMER SAW SMOKE AND SOME SPARKS COME FROM UNDERNEATH PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, THE AREA WHERE SPARKS AND SMOKE CAME FROM IS THE EXACT SAME AREA WHERE AVR HAD WORKED, FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE CENTERED UNDER THE SEAT, CLAIM 03-3209-456. *SLC
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ERRATIC OPERATION OF HORN. HORN WILL GO OFF WITHOUT CONSUMER ENGAGING IT. DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING AIRBAG AS WELL AS HORN TO FIX THIS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE AT DASH PANEL, CLAIM 18-0486-942. *SLC
CONSUMER CAME TO VEHICLE AFTER A DAY OF WORK AND INTERIOR WAS SMOKEY, DASHBOARD AND INTERIOR WERE BURNED, ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CLAIM 05-4593-366. *SLC
THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN IT IS APPLIED, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE HORN SWITCH WAS STUCK ON PART OF THE AIR BAG, DEALER REPLACED HORN AND DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG. NLM
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD, CLAIM 53-C675-364. *SLC
VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT. HORN WAS BLOWING CONSTANLY AND THEN IT STARTED BEEPING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT SHE LEFT HER VEHICLE PARKED IN THE SUN AND THE SUN DAMAGED THE HORN. AND IN ORDER FOR HER TO FIX IT THE MECHANIC NEEDED TO GO INTO STEERING COLUMN WITH AIR…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT. HORN WAS BLOWING CONSTANLY AND THEN IT STARTED BEEPING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT SHE LEFT HER VEHICLE PARKED IN THE SUN AND THE SUN DAMAGED THE HORN. AND IN ORDER FOR HER TO FIX IT THE MECHANIC NEEDED TO GO INTO STEERING COLUMN WITH AIRBAG AND THE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. *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.