IllustrationCOMPUTER--FALSE WARNINGS.
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 reportsTHE POWER TRAIN FAILED.*ET
WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH LOST STEERING POWER & BRAKES. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE ALTERNATOR BELT BROKE. THE PULLEY HAD SHIFTED. THE DAMPER HAD FAILED & PUSHED THE PULLEY OVER & CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO BREAK. *AK
VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS CAUSED WAS BY WATER INTRUDING ON CIRCUIT BOARD MODULE LOCATED UNDER DRIVER SEAT. REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT WATER STILL KEPT ENTERING. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A/C CONDENSATION. DEALER NOTIFIED A…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS CAUSED WAS BY WATER INTRUDING ON CIRCUIT BOARD MODULE LOCATED UNDER DRIVER SEAT. REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT WATER STILL KEPT ENTERING. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A/C CONDENSATION. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM, KNOWING THIS CAN CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY AGAIN. SEEKING NHTSA HELP INTHIS MATTER. *AK
DUE TO MOISTURE IN AIRBAG MODULER , THE MODULER SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A FIRE.BECAUSE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP , IT SMOTHERED FIRE OUT. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HORN WENT OFF ON ITS OWN. OWNER HAD TAKEN FUSE OUT TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED SMALL PLASTIC PIECE HAD WORN AWAY BETWEEN HORN & AIR BAG MODULE. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
HORN AUTOMATICALLY SOUNDS BY ITSELF. IT SOUNDS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING PARKED AND IT HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN OUTSIDE TERMPERATURES ARE HIGH. THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF AIRBAG/HORN BUTTON IS VERY SENSITIVE. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
NO SUMMARY
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE MAKES A POPPING NOISE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE STOPPING ON A RED LIGHT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A REASON. *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.