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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
DT: WHEN IT RAINS CAR GETS MOLDY, AND A FUNGUS SMELL. IT ACTUALLY CAUSES BREATHING PROBLEMS. ALSO, MY HORN IS GOING OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AND IT DOESN'T STOP UNTIL CONSUMER HITS THE STEERING WHEEL. HORN WAS REPLACED, BUT IT IS STILL AUTOMATICALLY GOES OFF. THE HORN EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING . THE REASON SHE HAD TO HAVE IT R…
Read full complaint
DT: WHEN IT RAINS CAR GETS MOLDY, AND A FUNGUS SMELL. IT ACTUALLY CAUSES BREATHING PROBLEMS. ALSO, MY HORN IS GOING OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AND IT DOESN'T STOP UNTIL CONSUMER HITS THE STEERING WHEEL. HORN WAS REPLACED, BUT IT IS STILL AUTOMATICALLY GOES OFF. THE HORN EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING . THE REASON SHE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED THE FIRST TIME WAS BECAUSE THE HORN BLEW SO MUCH IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10123773
96,755 miles · May 30, 2005
Suspension
VEHICLE BEING SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME LOCATION. NO INDICATION FROM DRIVE OF VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD BY TECHNICIAN THAT SPRING COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH TIRE THUS CAUSING A BLOW-OUT.
NHTSA ODI #10122449
12,500 miles · May 26, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAMSHAFT CRACK IN HALF DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSE THAT TOO HAPPEN
NHTSA ODI #10122191
66,000 miles · May 23, 2005
Suspension
DT: A PROBLEM WITH SPRINGS. A BROKEN REAR SPRING; THEY FIXED IT, AND INSTALLED NEW SPRINGS. CONSUMER LATER FOUND OUT FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE FRONT SPRINGS; BUT HE WAS HAVING A REAR SPRING PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10121864
17,000 miles · Apr 19, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
UNINTENDED ACCELLERATION. WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, ON APPROXIMATELY 6 OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE PLACED IMMEDIATELY INTO NEUTRAL AND THE IDLE SPEED WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY FLOORMATS OR INADVERTANT PRESSING OF THE GAS PEDAL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10118119
107,000 miles · Mar 29, 2005
Exterior Lighting
BOTH REAR BRAKE STOP LAMPS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN STOPPING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BECOME INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO INFORM…
Read full complaint
BOTH REAR BRAKE STOP LAMPS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN STOPPING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BECOME INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE'S PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10117038
32,000 miles · Mar 28, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension
WHILE DRIVING , THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *JB CONSUMER FEELS THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE'S REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT 16219 MILES. THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AT 16279 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANT…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING , THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *JB CONSUMER FEELS THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE'S REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT 16219 MILES. THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AT 16279 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING NOISE. *BF *NM
NHTSA ODI #10092438
78,000 miles · Mar 10, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE PARKED ON DEALER 'S PROPERTY FOR REPAIRS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. CONSUMER STATED SHE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR THREE WEEKS, AND DEALER CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10114947
140,000 miles · Mar 9, 2005
Air BagsElectrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER. WHILE TALKING TO A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE VIA PHONE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE LESS THEN 15 MINUTES WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER. WHILE TALKING TO A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE VIA PHONE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE LESS THEN 15 MINUTES WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL.*AK
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
2
EA02008 · 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.
1997 Ford Escort Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration