IllustrationDEFECTIVE HORN PAD SWITCH CAUSED HORN TO BE INOPERATIVE WHICH IS NEEDED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. *AK *ML
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 reportsMOVING AT 70MPH MOTOR SPUTTERED AND DIED. UNABLE TO RESTART FOR APROX 20 MIN. BOTH TIMES OUT ON THE OPEN ROAD AND OUTSIDE TEMP OVER 100. ENGINE TEMP NORMAL. FUEL BETTER THAN HALF A TANK. *AK
EVERYTIME WHEN IN PARK CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE SHIFT LEVER GEAR. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT TELLS CONSUMER WHICH SCREWDRIVER TO USE IN ORDER TO RELEASE OVERDRIVE. *AK
REAR SPRING LEAF ON THE REAR SHOCKS CRACKED IN HALF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO WOBBLE. THE PART HAS BEEN ORDERED. HOWEVER, IT IS ON BACK ORDER. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND WHEN CONSUMER CAME TO HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED IT WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE AND THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, CLAIM 30-V210-873. *SLC
ONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AND MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN A BUS VEERED INTO HER VEHICLE, AND HIT VEHICLE FROM THE BACK. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND RAN INTO A UTILITY POLE,AND NEITHER DRIVER'S NOR PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CONTINUALLY BLINKED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE MALFUNCTION MAY BE DUE TO A BAD CLOCK SPRING, AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND DIE OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND LINKED THE FIRE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AND FORCED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR AT 22 MPH IMPACT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
CONSUMER IS 4FT 8IN AND IS CONCERN WITH THE AIR BAGS BECAUSE SHE SIT CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. NLM
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.