IllustrationTHE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *JB
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
66 reportsA FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED.*JB
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A FINE MIST COMING OUT OF RIGHT CLIMATE VENT, DEVELOPING FILM ON OUTSIDE OF WINDSHIELD, POSSIBLE HEATER CORE, A/C LEAK OR A/C CONDENSTATION. ALSO GETTING A NOISE WHEN BLOWER MOTOR IS RUNNING. HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER MOTOR, AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER RESISTOR, AND BLOWER MOTOR WIRING HARNESS HAVE BEEN…
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CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A FINE MIST COMING OUT OF RIGHT CLIMATE VENT, DEVELOPING FILM ON OUTSIDE OF WINDSHIELD, POSSIBLE HEATER CORE, A/C LEAK OR A/C CONDENSTATION. ALSO GETTING A NOISE WHEN BLOWER MOTOR IS RUNNING. HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER MOTOR, AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER RESISTOR, AND BLOWER MOTOR WIRING HARNESS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DISODORIZED. *TT
CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A VERY FINE MIST COMING FROM THE VENT AND THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN BLOWER MOTOR WAS ON, THE DEALER REPLACED MOTOR ASSEMBLY FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER.*JB
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FELL OFF.*AK *JB
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. WHEN DEALERSHIP DROPPED VEHICLE OFF THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. ENGINE LOCKED UP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER SHUT ENGINE OFF, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT RESTARTING. CONSUMER TRIED TO INVESTIGATE, AND FOUND THE ANTIFREEZE FLUID OVERFLOWING, AND CAUSING ELECTRICAL WIRES TO MELT. *AK
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IS OCCURRING WITHIN VEHICLE WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE BATTERY TO COMPLETELY LOSE POWER. *AK CONSUMER STATES RADIO CAUSED BATTERY TO DRAIN AND SPEAKERS TO POP, RADIO REPLACED 3 TIMES, EXPERIENCING OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING WHEN THE HEATER IS ON OR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, RADIA…
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AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IS OCCURRING WITHIN VEHICLE WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE BATTERY TO COMPLETELY LOSE POWER. *AK CONSUMER STATES RADIO CAUSED BATTERY TO DRAIN AND SPEAKERS TO POP, RADIO REPLACED 3 TIMES, EXPERIENCING OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING WHEN THE HEATER IS ON OR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND POOR ACCELERATION WHEN GOING UP A HILL. *TT
ENGINE STALLED AT 55 MPH. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DEALER COULDNT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE EGR VALVE. *AK
CRANKSHAFT PULLY SEPARATED FROM ENGINE BLOCK, CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 30M MILES.*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.