IllustrationVEHICLE WAS IN FOR TIRE ROTATION, MECHANIC NOTICED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE CRACKED. AS MECHANIC REMOVED ONE OF THE WHEELS COIL SPRING BROKE/ FLEW ACROSS THE AREA, AND BROKE SHOP WINDOW. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED.*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 reportsWENT FOR AN INSPECTION FOR MY ESCORT AND THE DEALER SAID THAT MY SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE REAR. THEY ALSO SAID THAT IT WAS COMMON FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THEY WERE BAD WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN, AS A MATTER OF FACT THE CAR DROVE PERFECTLY. THIS IS VERY SUSPICIUOS TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD …
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WENT FOR AN INSPECTION FOR MY ESCORT AND THE DEALER SAID THAT MY SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE REAR. THEY ALSO SAID THAT IT WAS COMMON FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THEY WERE BAD WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN, AS A MATTER OF FACT THE CAR DROVE PERFECTLY. THIS IS VERY SUSPICIUOS TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF COIL SPRINGS BREAKING BEFOR ON ANY VEHICLE. IS THIS A WAY FOR CAR COMPANYS TO MAKE THE CONSUMER FOOT THE BILL AND TOSS YOU A BONE TO MAKE YOU HAPPY. I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE NOT BROKEN AND IS A MAJOR COVER UP FOR FORDS ALREADY POOR REPUTATION!
CONSUMER WENT TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED, AND HE NOTICED THAT LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE COIL SPRINGS BROKE. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER REPLACED THE COIL SPRINGS AFTER RECEIVING NO RESPONSE FROM FORD, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT SPRINGS CONTAINED INFERIOR STEEL, BAD HEAT TREATING AND BAD DESIGN.*NLM
TWO REAR AIR SPRINGS BROKE ON VEHICLE. DEALER DISCOVERED IT WHILE ROTATING TIRES. THIS COULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATES BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRINGS, WHERE THE PLASTIC COVERING BEGINS, THE BREAKS WERE DIFFICULT TO FIND, HOWEVER THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE TO LEAD CONSUMER TO THE REAR COIL SPRINGS.*JB
HAVING TAKEN CAR INTO DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR INSPECTION. VERY SHOCKED SINCE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO HAUL ANYTHING MORE THAN GROCERIES AND IS DRIVEN VERY SAFELY DUE TO LACK OF HORSE POWER. CALLED OTHER DEALERSHIPS T…
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HAVING TAKEN CAR INTO DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR INSPECTION. VERY SHOCKED SINCE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO HAUL ANYTHING MORE THAN GROCERIES AND IS DRIVEN VERY SAFELY DUE TO LACK OF HORSE POWER. CALLED OTHER DEALERSHIPS TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH FORD ESCORT AND TO MY SURPRISE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON. REPORTED TO FORD MOTORS AT DETROIT AND WAS TOLD TO GET IT FIXED AND KEEP RECEIPTS JUST INCASE THERE MAYBE A RECALL. IT APPEARS FROM THE VARIOUS DEALERS AND FORD MOTORS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THEY PLAN TO DO NOTHING ABOUT UNLESS FORCED TO BY PEOPLE BEING KILLED OR INJURED. WOULD APPRECIATE MY GOVERNMENTS INTERVENTION ON BEHALF OF UNFORTUNATE FORD CONSUMERS.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING IN THE COUNTRY VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR EXAMINATION BY DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT TWO REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
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
WHILE IN FOR STATE INSPECTION, WAS TOLD BY LOCAL GARAGE THAT CAR WOULD FAIL DUE TO REAR SPRING BEING BROKEN. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD REPLACED SPRINGS ON OTHER '97 ESCORTS AND RECOMMENDED I CALL THE DEALER ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALL. CALLED PLEASANT VALLEY FORD, SPOKE TO STEVE IN SERVICE, SAID NO RECALL YET BUT WOULDN'T BE SURP…
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WHILE IN FOR STATE INSPECTION, WAS TOLD BY LOCAL GARAGE THAT CAR WOULD FAIL DUE TO REAR SPRING BEING BROKEN. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD REPLACED SPRINGS ON OTHER '97 ESCORTS AND RECOMMENDED I CALL THE DEALER ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALL. CALLED PLEASANT VALLEY FORD, SPOKE TO STEVE IN SERVICE, SAID NO RECALL YET BUT WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF ONE SOON. SAID NOT SAFE TO DRIVE CAR SINCE SPRING COULD PUNCTURE TIRE. SAID SAVE RECEIPT. HAD CAR REPAIRED, HAVE RECEIPT AND BROKEN SPRING. WILL BE CALLING FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 2/27/01
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. *AK MECHANIC STATED COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN TWO, HOWEVER INVOICE STATED THAT SPRINGS WERE WEAK, CONSUMER PAID 20% OF THE COSTS. *SLC
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.