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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 →
543Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
279
1994576
1995205
1996543
1997375
1998325
199998
2000
Compare all Escort years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
152Electrical System
114Suspension
67Engine And Engine Cooling
66Service Brakes, Hydraulic
39
All reported categories
Visibility
31Power Train
29Vehicle Speed Control
28Steering
22Unknown Or Other
21Fuel System, Gasoline
13Exterior Lighting
12Seat Belts
12Tires
12Equipment
8Structure
8Seats
7Latches/locks/linkages
5Wheels
3Fuel System, Other
2Parking Brake
2Child Seat
1Engine
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Air
1

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

Engine complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
155,941 miles · Dec 3, 2013
Engine

VALVE SEAT NO. 4 FELL OUT OF HEAD AND WAS DESTROYED, DAMAGING NO. 4 AND NO. 3 PISTON, AND THE HEAD ITSELF. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE TOTAL FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE PARKED RATHER THAN ON THE INTERSTATE, AT WHICH TIME POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WOULD HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN MODE OF FAILURE FOR THIS ENGINE BUT,…

Read full complaint

VALVE SEAT NO. 4 FELL OUT OF HEAD AND WAS DESTROYED, DAMAGING NO. 4 AND NO. 3 PISTON, AND THE HEAD ITSELF. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE TOTAL FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE PARKED RATHER THAN ON THE INTERSTATE, AT WHICH TIME POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WOULD HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN MODE OF FAILURE FOR THIS ENGINE BUT, APPARENTLY, FORD AND NHTSA TOOK NO STEPS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WAS DISCONTINUED IN 2005. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554623

Official recalls

1

02V323000 · 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

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.