IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD APPEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
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 reportsREAR SPRING BROKE ON A 1997 FORD ESCORT. THIS IS THE 5TH ESCORT OUR AGENCY OWNS THAT HAS HAD BROKEN REAR SPRINGS.
THE HEATER CORE SPRUNG A LEAK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHIN 15 MONTHS. I CAUGHT THE PROBLEM BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OCCURED. THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE AIR BAG AND PCM MODULES WERE DAMAGED BY THE HEATER CORE LEAK. THERE ALSO WAS A FIRE FROM THE PCM AND AIR BAG MODULE. THIS DAMAGE COST $150…
Read full complaint
THE HEATER CORE SPRUNG A LEAK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHIN 15 MONTHS. I CAUGHT THE PROBLEM BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OCCURED. THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE AIR BAG AND PCM MODULES WERE DAMAGED BY THE HEATER CORE LEAK. THERE ALSO WAS A FIRE FROM THE PCM AND AIR BAG MODULE. THIS DAMAGE COST $1500. THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 3 MONTHS. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY CARS THAT ARE EXPIERENCING THIS PROBLEM.
PREMATURE 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
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT IMPACT. THE DEALER COMPLETED THE REPAIRS, BASED ON WATER GETTING INTO THE AIR BAG MODULE, THEN INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NHTSA# 02V323000 SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 12/1/2002 VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE NEAR DASHBOARD AREA. VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS PUSHED INTO NEARBY PARKING DECK. VEHICLE TOWED TO HOME THE NEXT DAY MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AREA HAD CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE IN DECK AND ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND WIRING SYSTEM COMPLETELY DESTROYED. FRONT WINDO…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 12/1/2002 VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE NEAR DASHBOARD AREA. VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS PUSHED INTO NEARBY PARKING DECK. VEHICLE TOWED TO HOME THE NEXT DAY MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AREA HAD CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE IN DECK AND ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND WIRING SYSTEM COMPLETELY DESTROYED. FRONT WINDOW ALSO SUSTAINED MAJOR FIRE DAMAGE. DT
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEEN ON ALL THE TIME ON THE PANEL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RECALLS SO THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING. TS
UPON REPLACEMENT OF MY HORN ASSEMBLY, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHES. AIR BAG HAS NOT DEPLOYED AND SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWING A MINOR INCIDENT IN WHICH I STRUCK A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. CONCERNED THAT AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A SERIOUS CRASH. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONTACTED DEALER TO BRING VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN STALLED. RELATED SAFETY INVESTIGATION EA02008/WATER INGESTION INTO THE AIR BAG MONITOR TS
THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING/WORKED 5 TIMES DURING THE WEEKEND OF NOV 11, 2002. THE FIRST TIME IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE ERRATIC AND THEN IT STARTED WORKING. FROM THE SECOND TIME ON, IT CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND STAY ON. THE SECOND TIME IT DIDN'T WORK BUT IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO STICK ON 0 …
Read full complaint
THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING/WORKED 5 TIMES DURING THE WEEKEND OF NOV 11, 2002. THE FIRST TIME IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE ERRATIC AND THEN IT STARTED WORKING. FROM THE SECOND TIME ON, IT CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND STAY ON. THE SECOND TIME IT DIDN'T WORK BUT IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO STICK ON 0 AND THE ODOMETER TO STOP WORKING. THE 3RD TIME IT ALSO DIDN'T WORK, BUT IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO PEG OUT OVER 120 MPH AND THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING. I HAD DECIDED AT THAT POINT TO NOT TRY THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN. THE 4TH TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL SEEMED TO KICK IN BY ITSELF FOR A FEW SECONDS, IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE ERRATIC, AND THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE 5TH TIME WAS THE SCARRIEST. IT AGAIN TRY TO KICK IN BY ITSELF, AND THIS TIME IT DISABLED THE GAS PEDAL. DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME I WAS DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MPH. I'VE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR FOR RIGHT NOW. THE CRUISE CONTROL SEEMS TO BE TOO ERRATIC AND I DON'T WANT TO GET IN A ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. DT
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.