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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.

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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 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 7, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ENGINE IDLING. LOUD NOISE SUCH AS METAL ON METAL EMINATED FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALER. ADVISED BY DEALER THAT PART POORLY DESIGNED AND NEW DESIGN IN STOCK FOR REPLACEMENT. THERMOSTAT REMAINED OPEN NOT ALLOWING ENGINE TO REACH OPER…

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HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ENGINE IDLING. LOUD NOISE SUCH AS METAL ON METAL EMINATED FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALER. ADVISED BY DEALER THAT PART POORLY DESIGNED AND NEW DESIGN IN STOCK FOR REPLACEMENT. THERMOSTAT REMAINED OPEN NOT ALLOWING ENGINE TO REACH OPERATING TEMPERATURE. WHEN REPLACED, THE ORIGINAL THERMOSTAT CAME OUT OF HOUSING IN THREE SEPARATE PIECES. FUEL PUMP MADE WHINING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745039

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887007

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR REPLACED, OLD RADIATOR LEAKING AT TANK SEAM SPLIT. CJ

NHTSA ODI #559292

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

HOW CAN A DEALERSHIP NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION ARE BOTH FOREIGN ITEMS. IF I WANTED TO PURCHASE A FOREIGN CAR I WOULD HAVE. AND FOR BOTH MOTOR REPLACEMENT COST $2600 AND TRANSMISSION $2800 TO GO OUT THE SAME TIME. ISN'T THERE SOME LAW THAT STATES A DEALERSHIP/MFG MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (PARTS) BEING…

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HOW CAN A DEALERSHIP NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION ARE BOTH FOREIGN ITEMS. IF I WANTED TO PURCHASE A FOREIGN CAR I WOULD HAVE. AND FOR BOTH MOTOR REPLACEMENT COST $2600 AND TRANSMISSION $2800 TO GO OUT THE SAME TIME. ISN'T THERE SOME LAW THAT STATES A DEALERSHIP/MFG MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (PARTS) BEING USED IN A AUTOMOBILE??

NHTSA ODI #736408

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

HARMONIC BALANCER CRANKSHAFT CAME OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. PART WAS DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #874873

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING BELT WAS BROKE HAD REPLACED IT CAR ONLY RUNS ON 2 CYLINDERS CAR NOT RUNNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #732562

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WOULD START TO SPUTTER WHEN STARTED. WOULD NEED TO GIVE GAS TO GET VEHICLE RUNNING & THEN MOVING. AT OTHER TIMES, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING. CAN SMELL ANTI-FREEZE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED HEAD GASKET THE LAST TIME. *AK THE HEAD GASKET FAILED OVER AND OVE…

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VEHICLE WOULD START TO SPUTTER WHEN STARTED. WOULD NEED TO GIVE GAS TO GET VEHICLE RUNNING & THEN MOVING. AT OTHER TIMES, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING. CAN SMELL ANTI-FREEZE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED HEAD GASKET THE LAST TIME. *AK THE HEAD GASKET FAILED OVER AND OVER AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #870437

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

BOTTOM PULLEY/CRANKSHAFT HAS SLOWLY SEPARATED AND CUT INTO THE FIREWALL.*AK WHEN TURNING LEFT, THE ENGINE TILTS AND THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CUTS INTO THE RIGHT FENDER. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT IS DUE TO DEFECT. *YH

NHTSA ODI #868722

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY BROKE AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867413

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

GAS GAUGE DOESN'T SHOW THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GAS ONCE IT REACHES 1/4 OF A TANK. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS ON HIGHWAYS. THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM GOES ON FOR UNKNOWN REASON. THE HORN MALRUNCTIONS TOO. *YH

NHTSA ODI #864706

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.