IllustrationCONSUMER 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
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, TURN SIGNALS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE GIVES NO PRIOR WARNING. WHEN USING TURN SIGNAS, BOTH LIGHTS WILL BLINK ON DASH, BUT ONE WILL BLINK ON OUTSIDE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE FLASHER, AND FLASHER WAS REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER FILED A C…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, TURN SIGNALS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE GIVES NO PRIOR WARNING. WHEN USING TURN SIGNAS, BOTH LIGHTS WILL BLINK ON DASH, BUT ONE WILL BLINK ON OUTSIDE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE FLASHER, AND FLASHER WAS REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT AROUND MARCH. *AK *SLC
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
HORN STUCK, DOES NOT TURN OFF. TO REPLACE, DEALER MUST REPLACE AIRBAG ALSO. SAYS AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION BECAUSE HORN MALFUNCTIONED. ABOUT 7 SIMILAR PROBLEMS ARE LISTED ON THIS WEB SITE. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE AND A MALFUNCTION IN THE HORN SHOULDN'T CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE AIRBAG. PLUS, IT'S NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM THAT'S W…
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HORN STUCK, DOES NOT TURN OFF. TO REPLACE, DEALER MUST REPLACE AIRBAG ALSO. SAYS AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION BECAUSE HORN MALFUNCTIONED. ABOUT 7 SIMILAR PROBLEMS ARE LISTED ON THIS WEB SITE. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE AND A MALFUNCTION IN THE HORN SHOULDN'T CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE AIRBAG. PLUS, IT'S NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM THAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HORN WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER DID NOT CATCH THIS PROBLEM WITH THE HORN/AIRBAG. ISN'T THIS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD PUT PASSENGERS AT RISK. WHO WOULD GUESS THAT A PROBLEM WITH THE HORN MAY LEAD TO A DEPLOYMENT PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG?*AK
REQUEST FOR RESTITUTION OF LOSSES RESULTING FROM A VEHICLE FIRE. *MR THE PASSENGER AREA TRANS EQUIPMENT/ELECTRICAL WIRE) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED RESTITUTION. *SCC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE MANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB
VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING DUE TO ELECTRICAL FIRE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 28-3088-664. *SLC
KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE INTERGRATED CONTROL MODULE. *AK *SLC
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP, THE SHOP ASKED CONSUMER TO BRING VEHICLE BACK IN 2-3 DAYS, HOWEVER A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE CENTER MODULE LOCATED IN THE CONSOLE, CLAIM 28-3088-664. *SLC
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
BRAKE PADS WERE WEARING OUT QUICKER THEN NORMALLY. THERE WERE ALSO CLIPS THAT HAVE BROKEN BECAUSE CONSUMER HAS HAD ROTORS CHANGED, AND PADS CHANGED SOON AFTER VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*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.