IllustrationPREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH REAR SPRINGS, 1997 FORD ESCORT LX, VIN [XXX], RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF SPRING ASSY'S AT CUSTOMER COST FOR ALL PARTS, LABOR AND ASSOCIATED PARTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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 reportsTHE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE CRACKED. *MR *NLM
CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. NLM
REAR SPRINGS ON THE STRUT ASSEMBLY WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING ROUGH HANDLING OF VEHICLE ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR HAD PASSANGERS IN REAR SEAT. BOTH REAR STRUTS/SPRINGS WERE REPLACED AT COST OF $500. MECHANIC SAID HE SAW MANY O F THE SAME BROKEN SPRINGS ON ESCORT MODEL. CAR ONLY HAD 34,000 MILES ON IT WHEN SPRING RUSTED …
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REAR SPRINGS ON THE STRUT ASSEMBLY WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING ROUGH HANDLING OF VEHICLE ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR HAD PASSANGERS IN REAR SEAT. BOTH REAR STRUTS/SPRINGS WERE REPLACED AT COST OF $500. MECHANIC SAID HE SAW MANY O F THE SAME BROKEN SPRINGS ON ESCORT MODEL. CAR ONLY HAD 34,000 MILES ON IT WHEN SPRING RUSTED THROUGH MAKING THIS EITHER A DESIGN DEFECT OR PART DEFECT.*AK
WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE REAR SPRING AND TOP MOUNT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. BOTH TIE RODS FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *YH
BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE AT APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES. BROKEN SPRING HAS A HIGH POTENTIAL TO PUNCTURE A TIRE AND IF AT HIGH SPEED CAUSE MAJOR WRECK AND PERSONNAL INJURY. INVESTIGATION AT SEVERAL REPAIR FACILITIES I DISCOVERED THAT THIS VEHICLE AND MODEL YEAR HAS A SYSTEMMATIC PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SPRINGS BREAKING AT 60000 MI…
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BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE AT APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES. BROKEN SPRING HAS A HIGH POTENTIAL TO PUNCTURE A TIRE AND IF AT HIGH SPEED CAUSE MAJOR WRECK AND PERSONNAL INJURY. INVESTIGATION AT SEVERAL REPAIR FACILITIES I DISCOVERED THAT THIS VEHICLE AND MODEL YEAR HAS A SYSTEMMATIC PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SPRINGS BREAKING AT 60000 MILES. THE AUTO COMPANY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR NOTIFICATION OF A POTENTIAL CONCERN.
REAR COIL SPRING FOUND BROKEN AT STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. BREAK OCCURRED AT BOTTOM, INSIDE THE VINYL COVERING OF SPRING. NEW SPRINGS WERE $165.*AK
REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WENT IN FOR REPAIR TO BAD SPOT ON TIRE. MECHANIC FOUND THAT ALL 4 GAS STRUTS AND BOTH SETS OF COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH A TIE ROD, AND ALL 4 TIRES. I HAD NOT STRUCK ANYTHING AT ALL TO CAUSE THIS, AND ALL OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS WOULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THEY FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. $ 11…
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WENT IN FOR REPAIR TO BAD SPOT ON TIRE. MECHANIC FOUND THAT ALL 4 GAS STRUTS AND BOTH SETS OF COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH A TIE ROD, AND ALL 4 TIRES. I HAD NOT STRUCK ANYTHING AT ALL TO CAUSE THIS, AND ALL OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS WOULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THEY FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. $ 1136.48 IN REPAIRS AFTER ONLY 30K MILES IS COMPLETELY UNCONSCIONABLE!!
NO ABUSE AT ALL. REPORTED TO DEALER. THEY SAID TO SAVE RECEPT IN CASE OF RECALL. BOTH SPRINGS FAILED INSIDE PLASTIC PROTECTIVE SLEEVE. *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.