IllustrationWHEN VEHICLE REACHES SPEEDS OF 35 MPH AND OVER THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THE FRONT END VIBRATES. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *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 reportsFALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING 10 MPH (TAP) OF A GUARDRAIL, RESULTING IN INJURY TO EYES.
TEN TRANSMISSION FAILURES. QCAW
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH; HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE, PULLED VEHICLE OVER, AND NOTICED ENGINE PULLEY DISCONNECTED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE AT THE COST TO THE CONSUMER. *AK
VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS/PADS REPLACED. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY MAKE SQUEAKING NOISE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSION. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER MADE REPAIRS FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, HOWEVER NOW THE ENGINE OVERHEATS. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH CONSUMER'S SON PULLED OUT THE SHOULDER BELT. BUT WHEN SEAT BELT RETRACTED, THEY COULDN'T TAKE IT OFF HIS NECK AND THEY HAD TO CUT THE BELT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT THAT CRACKED THE RIM, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK
DURING REAR IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
WHEN STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON, AND ENGINE STARTS RACING. CAUSING UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *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.