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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 →

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

Structure complaints

8 reports
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111,000 miles · Feb 5, 2010
StructureInjury

1997 FORD ESCORT LX WAGON COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:HATCHBACK HYDRAULIC CYLINDER:TRUNK CYLINDER MANUFACTURER: FORD MOTOR COMPANY THE CLIPS THAT HOLD THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER TO THE FRAME HAVE COME OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE LIFTGATE ASSIST. HOW THIS WAS DETERMINED WAS I OPENED THE HATCHBACK AND LEANED IN AND THE HYDRAULIC ARM CAME …

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1997 FORD ESCORT LX WAGON COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:HATCHBACK HYDRAULIC CYLINDER:TRUNK CYLINDER MANUFACTURER: FORD MOTOR COMPANY THE CLIPS THAT HOLD THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER TO THE FRAME HAVE COME OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE LIFTGATE ASSIST. HOW THIS WAS DETERMINED WAS I OPENED THE HATCHBACK AND LEANED IN AND THE HYDRAULIC ARM CAME OFF AND THE HATCHBACK FELL ON ME. BOTH SCARY AND PAINFUL I CONTACTED FORD ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN REPLACEMENT CLIPS, BUT THEY ARE REQUIRING ME TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR RESPONSE, BECAUSE 1) THIS MIGHT POTENTIALLY CAUSE INJURY TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE FORD ESCORT LX WAGON, 2) IT ONLY NEEDS THE CLIPS I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PURCHASE UNNECESSARY COMPONENTS FOR MONETARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS, 3) THIS IS PART OF THE FRAME AND SHOULD NEVER BECOME A HAZARD TO PEOPLE. GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED. THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10306773

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2004
Structure

PAINT ON REAR BUMPER IS DEFECTIVE. AT FIRST IT SEEMED TO BE FADING IN ONE SPOT BUT SOON THE COATING CRACKED AND THE SPOT IS GETTING LARGER.

NHTSA ODI #10080503

106,000 miles · May 13, 2003
StructureCrashInjury

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. SHE AND MY TWO CHILDREN WERE CHOPPERED TO A TRAUMA UNIT. MY 10 WEEK OLD SON WAS IN THE EVENFLO ON MY WAY SYSTEM AND THE BASE BROKE APART UPON IMPACT. THE SYSTEM HELD HIM IN PLACE, BUT MY CONCERN IS WITH THE BASE BREAKING APART. MODEL#4921B7P2 MANUFACTURED 14 JAN98. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018606

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2003
Structure

THE HOOD FLEW OFF, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10009690

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2001
StructureSuspension

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE A METAL TO METAL GRINDING/RUBBING NOISE WAS BEING EMITTED FROM VEHICLE, UNKNOWN LOCATION. . THEN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, AND IN GENERAL SEEMED BOUNCY. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REAR BOLT SPRINGS WERE BUSTED, AND THAT GAS STRUTS WERE BUST…

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DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE A METAL TO METAL GRINDING/RUBBING NOISE WAS BEING EMITTED FROM VEHICLE, UNKNOWN LOCATION. . THEN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, AND IN GENERAL SEEMED BOUNCY. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REAR BOLT SPRINGS WERE BUSTED, AND THAT GAS STRUTS WERE BUSTED/ LEAKING FLUID. *AK REAR STRUTS AND SPRINGS BROKE AND LEAKING. *YH

NHTSA ODI #886103

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Structure

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #726137

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Structure

RUBBER DOOR SEAL FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #606551

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1997
StructureCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS IN AN COLLISION AND WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR ARMREST WAS LIKE A SPEAR, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #815471

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.