IllustrationREAR SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURE. *AK
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
Suspension complaints
67 reportsREPLACEMENT OF REAR SPRINGS ON 1997 FORD ESCORT.*MR THE CONSUMER WANTED AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY HER 2000 FORD TAURUS WAS RECALLED BUT NOT HER 1997 FOR ESCORT. *JB
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED, AS IS. HOWEVER, THE OWNER WAS TOLD THAT IF THERE WERE ANY SAFETY FEATURES THAT WERE EFFECTED, THE DEALERSHIP WOULD REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY FOR TOWING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THEIR LOT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
TOOK CAR (1997 FORD ESCORT) TO SHOP FOR ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO PASS INSPECTION. I WAS VERY SURPRISED SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN VERY CONSERVATIVELY. MECHANIC STATED THAT PREMATURE FAILURE OF REAR SUS…
Read full complaint
TOOK CAR (1997 FORD ESCORT) TO SHOP FOR ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO PASS INSPECTION. I WAS VERY SURPRISED SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN VERY CONSERVATIVELY. MECHANIC STATED THAT PREMATURE FAILURE OF REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCORTS. REQUEST GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION TO MAKE FORD CO. REIMBURSE CONSUMER EXPENSE CAUSED BY FAULTY COIL SPRINGS. *CB
1997 FORD ESCORT SW REAR SPRING BREAKAGE. *CB
BOTH BACK REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. MY CAR HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY EXCESSIVE WEIGHT IN THE BACK SEAT. WHY WOULD THESE BREAK? THIS HAS WAY TO LITTLE MILEAGE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. FORD IS RECALLING TAURUS AND VOYAGERS....WHAT ABOUT ESCORT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] (NIGHT) OR [XXX] EXT [XXX] (DAY…
Read full complaint
BOTH BACK REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. MY CAR HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY EXCESSIVE WEIGHT IN THE BACK SEAT. WHY WOULD THESE BREAK? THIS HAS WAY TO LITTLE MILEAGE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. FORD IS RECALLING TAURUS AND VOYAGERS....WHAT ABOUT ESCORT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] (NIGHT) OR [XXX] EXT [XXX] (DAYTIME). I WOULD HOPE THAT FORD WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AND START RECALLING THE FORD ESCORTS. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
1997 FORD ESCORT HAD BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN AT THE SAME PLACE. HAD THEM REPLACED BY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BROKEN. I WANT FORD TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. IF 1 SPRING WAS BROKEN THEN I COULD SEE IT BEING POSSIBLE, BUT BOTH AT THE SAME PLACE???? THEY WERE MANUFACTURED POOR…
Read full complaint
1997 FORD ESCORT HAD BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN AT THE SAME PLACE. HAD THEM REPLACED BY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BROKEN. I WANT FORD TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. IF 1 SPRING WAS BROKEN THEN I COULD SEE IT BEING POSSIBLE, BUT BOTH AT THE SAME PLACE???? THEY WERE MANUFACTURED POORLY. *AK
IT WAS FOUND DURING AN INSPECTION THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. *AK *PH *JB
1997 FORD ESCORT REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN AFTER 60K MILES.*AK
WE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE REAR END. TOOK TO THE MECHANIC AND THE REAR SPRINGS ARE COMPLETELY SHATTERED.*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.