IllustrationTHE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE CRACKED. *MR *NLM
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. TS
THE BACK SEAT BELTS WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN USED TO JUST RECENT TO NOT RETRACT. YOU PUT THEM ON AND CAN NOT MOVE. FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS EXPENSE SINCE IT IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I BOUGHT THE CAR OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. THE SEAT BELTS ARE ON SO TIGHT YO…
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THE BACK SEAT BELTS WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN USED TO JUST RECENT TO NOT RETRACT. YOU PUT THEM ON AND CAN NOT MOVE. FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS EXPENSE SINCE IT IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I BOUGHT THE CAR OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. THE SEAT BELTS ARE ON SO TIGHT YOU CAN'T BREATHE. THESE WERE PROBABLY DEFECTIVE FROM THE BEGINNING. WE USUALLY DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND JUST DISCOVERED IT. I WOULD LIKE IT FIXED SINCE IF SOMEONE IS BACK THERE THEY WILL NOT WHERE THE SEAT BELT SINCE YOU CAN NOT BREATHE. THEY WANT OVER $400.00 TO CHANGE THE RETRACTOR. I BELIEVE IT WAS DEFECTIVE SINCE IT IS ON BOTH SIDES AND IF NO ONE IS BACK THERE HOW WOULD WE KNOW IT WAS DEFECTIVE. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT COVERED. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WAS IN A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE ADD MORE DETAILS. MR
CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WITHIN THE SAME WEEK THE VEHICLE DEMONSTRATED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE IS OF NO SERVICE TO HER. *JG
CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. NLM
HEATER CORE IS LEAKING CAUSING FLUID TO GET INTO AIR BAG SENSOR AND AS A RESULT THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES OFF/ON, THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER, SOME ELECTRICAL WIRE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE.*AK *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A FINE MIST COMING OUT OF RIGHT CLIMATE VENT, DEVELOPING FILM ON OUTSIDE OF WINDSHIELD, POSSIBLE HEATER CORE, A/C LEAK OR A/C CONDENSTATION. ALSO GETTING A NOISE WHEN BLOWER MOTOR IS RUNNING. HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER MOTOR, AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER RESISTOR, AND BLOWER MOTOR WIRING HARNESS HAVE BEEN…
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CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A FINE MIST COMING OUT OF RIGHT CLIMATE VENT, DEVELOPING FILM ON OUTSIDE OF WINDSHIELD, POSSIBLE HEATER CORE, A/C LEAK OR A/C CONDENSTATION. ALSO GETTING A NOISE WHEN BLOWER MOTOR IS RUNNING. HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER MOTOR, AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER RESISTOR, AND BLOWER MOTOR WIRING HARNESS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DISODORIZED. *TT
FORD JUST RECENTLY INFORMED ME THAT THE DEFECTIVE HORN REPORTED JUST A FEW WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY. ALSO INVOLVES THE AIRBAG. ROBIN MARSHALL OF FORD HEADQUARTERS CUSTOMER RELATIONS INFORMED OF THIS SAFETY RISK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO: (313)845-5831. FORD NEVER INFORMED US OF THE ADDITIONAL AIRBAG SAFETY RISK UNTIL THIS TIME. I REPOR…
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FORD JUST RECENTLY INFORMED ME THAT THE DEFECTIVE HORN REPORTED JUST A FEW WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY. ALSO INVOLVES THE AIRBAG. ROBIN MARSHALL OF FORD HEADQUARTERS CUSTOMER RELATIONS INFORMED OF THIS SAFETY RISK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO: (313)845-5831. FORD NEVER INFORMED US OF THE ADDITIONAL AIRBAG SAFETY RISK UNTIL THIS TIME. I REPORTED THE HORN MALFUNCTION (AS IT WAS SETTING IN THE GARAGE THE HORN SUDDENLY SOUNDED AT AROUND 2 A.M.). FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF AT LEAST $300 AND ONLY RECENTLY AGREED TO EVEN INSPECT THE VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE. AS A RESULT OF THIS INSPECTION (APPARENTLY) WE WERE TOLD OF THE AIRBAG DEFECT WHICH, REMEMBER, HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS NOW.*AK
VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *YH
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.