IllustrationFUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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
What owners actually said
543 reportsBOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. ACCORDING TO AUTO REPAIR SHOPS OPENIONS, COIL SPRING FAILURE WAS A COMMON OCCURRANCE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLES. ALSO, THE BROKEN PIECES COULD DAMAGE TIRES. *YH
THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN IT IS APPLIED, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE HORN SWITCH WAS STUCK ON PART OF THE AIR BAG, DEALER REPLACED HORN AND DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG. NLM
RADIATOR REPLACED, OLD RADIATOR LEAKING AT TANK SEAM SPLIT. CJ
BOTH REAR SPRINGS & RIGHT REAR OUTER TIE ROD BROKE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS SITTING INSIDE OF DRIVEWAY, CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING TIRES, AND NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES WERE SPLITTING IN SEAMS. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED AND WERE REPLACED . UNIROYAL AWP TIGER PAW, P185/65R14, DOT AP7JJKUU426. *AK 2 YEARS AFTER REPLACING TIRES, CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 4 MORE DUE TO SPLITTING AROUND TH…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS SITTING INSIDE OF DRIVEWAY, CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING TIRES, AND NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES WERE SPLITTING IN SEAMS. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED AND WERE REPLACED . UNIROYAL AWP TIGER PAW, P185/65R14, DOT AP7JJKUU426. *AK 2 YEARS AFTER REPLACING TIRES, CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 4 MORE DUE TO SPLITTING AROUND THE TREAD PART OF TH TIRE. *SLC
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSEPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT 27906 MILES, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF IS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK
BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES FURTHER DOWN THAN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH CAUSES ONE FOOT TO HIT BOTH PEDALS. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER DASHBOARD, CLAIM 53-C675-364. *SLC
IGNITION LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT UNLOCK UNTIL THE STERRING WHEEL IS PULLED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT SEVERAL TIMES. THE STERRING WHEEL AND COLUMN IS LOCKED UP AND THE IGNITION WILL NOT WORK. *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.