IllustrationTHE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB
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
What owners actually said
543 reportsBROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE WIRING RECALL AND I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS SPARK KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WHEN IT FIRST STARTS AND UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. WHEN I DRIVE INTO MY PARENTS DRIVE WAY MY PARENTS TELL ME THAT THEY KNOW I AM THERE BECAUSE OF THE RADIO INTERFERENCE ON THE TV SCREEN. I KNOW A LOT ABOUT ELECTRICITY AND I K…
Read full complaint
BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE WIRING RECALL AND I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS SPARK KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WHEN IT FIRST STARTS AND UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. WHEN I DRIVE INTO MY PARENTS DRIVE WAY MY PARENTS TELL ME THAT THEY KNOW I AM THERE BECAUSE OF THE RADIO INTERFERENCE ON THE TV SCREEN. I KNOW A LOT ABOUT ELECTRICITY AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY NOISE AND OR SHORTS, BAD CONNECTIONS WHAT HAVE YOU. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE CAR HAS RESISTOR PLUGS. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE COMPUTER ONCE AND NOW THIS RECALL THING! WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS. WHEN ITS REALLY COLD OUT AND GO TO START THE CAR THE STARTER DOES NOT DISENGAGE AND GRINDS ON THE FLY WHEEL. IT TAKES FOREVER FOR IT TO WARM UP AND IT DOES NOT RARELY EVER WARM UP WHEN ITS IDLING YOU HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO GET ANY HEAT. BUT OVERALL ITS ONLY LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED ONCE. THAT'S BETTER THAN OUR LAST VEHICLE!! BUT NOW I WONDER IF THIS CAR IS A TICKING TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN. FORD MAY NOT BE MY NEXT CHOICE OF VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE THAT IS IF IT DOESN'T KILL ME FIRST! *JB
THE CONSUMER DOES NOT WANT THE AIR BAGS IN HER VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE HAS TO SIT CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THERE WAS A RECENT RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. *JB
THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 0 2 V 32 3000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHI…
Read full complaint
THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 0 2 V 32 3000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. *JB
THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 3 23000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE …
Read full complaint
THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 3 23000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. 8JB
THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02V323000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHI…
Read full complaint
THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02V323000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. DEALER WOULD REPLACE PARTS AND LABOR FREE OF CHARGE.*JB
THE HOOD FLEW OFF, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*JB
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE.*JB
WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT DID NOT MOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PUT IN TRANSMISSION FLUID.*JB
ON THE 1997 FORD ESCORT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE IS INSTALLED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE HEATER CORE. ON MY CAR THE HEATER CORE DEVELOPED A LEAK AND ANTIFREEZE FLOWED OVER THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THIS RESULTED IN BURNT INSULATION ON THE WIRING FOR THE AIRBAG CONTROL AND BLOWING …
Read full complaint
ON THE 1997 FORD ESCORT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE IS INSTALLED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE HEATER CORE. ON MY CAR THE HEATER CORE DEVELOPED A LEAK AND ANTIFREEZE FLOWED OVER THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THIS RESULTED IN BURNT INSULATION ON THE WIRING FOR THE AIRBAG CONTROL AND BLOWING THE ASSOCIATED FUSE. IT CAME VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING A FIRE. THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT YOU DO NOT GET INDICATIONS OF AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK UNTIL IT IS TO LATE AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NO LONGER USABLE.*JB
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.