IllustrationDEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WONT HONORING THE NHTSA RECALL 02V323000. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM) CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND COULD EXPERIENCE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORT. *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 reportsCONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN IN REVERSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE. ANOTHER DEALER TOLD HER IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS. *AK
REPLACEMENT OF REAR SPRINGS ON 1997 FORD ESCORT.*MR THE CONSUMER WANTED AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY HER 2000 FORD TAURUS WAS RECALLED BUT NOT HER 1997 FOR ESCORT. *JB
CONSUMER RECEIVE RECALL NOTICE 02-S44 REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAGS . DEALER FAILED TO REPAIR THE RECALL. CONSUMER INFORMED MECHANIC THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LIGHT WAS NOT ON BEFORE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. SERVICE MANAGER TAMMY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH CONSUMER TURNED THE HEATHER ON TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES AND HEAVY SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK
UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON IT STALLED . TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND IT BLEW UP, BURNING COMPLETELY TO THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS. *AK
AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW SECONDS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE FIREWALL. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
CAR STALLED TRY TO RESTART CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, NOW TOTAL LOSS. *AK
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHIC EVENTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL, AND STARTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK *SC *JB
AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS BY FORD (NOTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF NOTICE AND REPAIR ARE IN OUR POSSESSION) RESULTING IN BURNS TO PASSENGER ON FOREARMS (DUE TO INFLATION OF BAG), BROKEN WINDSHIELD AND DASH IS MESSED UP. NO ACCIDENT OCURRED OR OBJECT HIT. CAR WAS MOVING AT 15 MPH (MAX) AT DEPLOYMENT. FORD DECLAR…
Read full complaint
AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS BY FORD (NOTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF NOTICE AND REPAIR ARE IN OUR POSSESSION) RESULTING IN BURNS TO PASSENGER ON FOREARMS (DUE TO INFLATION OF BAG), BROKEN WINDSHIELD AND DASH IS MESSED UP. NO ACCIDENT OCURRED OR OBJECT HIT. CAR WAS MOVING AT 15 MPH (MAX) AT DEPLOYMENT. FORD DECLARES "NO" RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO EXCESS MILEAGE (84,440). I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE IS A "MILEAGE LIMITATION" ON SAFETY!*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.