10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 13
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,752 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1997 Ford Escort:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #35

May 261999

Escort

  • 25,000 miles
The air bag burned the vehicles dash. This occurred prior to the consumer receiving the recall notification (recall number 02V-323000).

- Waterflow, NM, USA

problem #34

Apr 232003

(reported on)

Escort

  • 80,000 miles
Consumer was proceeding through a green light when another car traveling about 40 mph hit the consumers vehicle. The consumers car went into a spin. None of the airbags deployed.

- Salem , AL, USA

problem #33

Apr 092003

Escort

  • miles
The consumer vehicle experienced symptoms of recall 02-V-323-000 which referenced the air bag monitor. The dealer refused to repair the problem because the vehicle mileage was high.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #32

Feb 222003

Escort

  • 70,000 miles
The vehicle was involved in an accident and the air bags did not deploy.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #31

Feb 242003

(reported on)

Escort

  • miles
The vehicle was involved in side collision, and the air bags failed to deploy.

- Alief, TX, USA

problem #30

Oct 152002

Escort

  • miles
While driving the vehicle the airbag light would come on. Dealer notified.

- Los Gatos, CA, USA

problem #29

Oct 022002

Escort

  • miles
While driving the vehicle the airbag light would appear. Dealer notified.

- Los Gatos, CA, USA

problem #28

Jan 152002

Escort

  • miles
Upon replacement of my horn assembly, the driver side air bag light on the dashboard flashes. Air bag has not deployed and should have following a minor incident in which I struck a vehicle in front of me. Concerned that air bag will not deploy in a serious crash.

- Belton, MO, USA

problem #27

Oct 092002

Escort

  • miles
Consumer states that was in a collision and air bags did not deploy. Please add more details.

- Juliet, IL, USA

problem #26

Aug 202002

(reported on)

Escort

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer stated the airbag light was flickering.

- St Paul, MN, USA

problem #25

Jan 012000

Escort

  • miles
Ford just recently informed me that the defective horn reported just a few weeks out of warranty. Also involves the airbag. Robin marshall of Ford headquarters customer relations informed of this safety risk a couple of weeks ago: (313)845-5831. Ford never informed us of the additional airbag safety risk until this time. I reported the horn malfunction (as it was setting in the garage the horn suddenly sounded at around 2 a.M.). Ford refuses to fix the problem without the payment of at least $300 and only recently agreed to even inspect the vehicle at their expense. As a result of this inspection (apparently) we were told of the airbag defect which, remember, has existed for years now.

- Palm Springs, CA, USA

problem #24

Aug 292002

(reported on)

Escort

  • miles
Consumer notice fog coming fromair conditioner vent while air was running. Vehicle caught on fire under dashboard. Dealer was contacted, technician noticed air bag module was the problem.

- Wawaka, IN, USA

problem #23

Aug 222002

(reported on)

Escort

  • miles
In August 2001the air conditioner started making a noise and then the air bag light and chime started. We took the car to the brandon Ford dealership. They fixed the air conditioner. But they said it would be at least $1000 to just look at the air bag. We do not have that kind of money to waste on air bags. I was eight months pregnant at the time and we asked the dealership if the air bags would deploy. They said the air bags would not deploy. Now I read an article stating that the air bags in the same type of vehicle have deployed for no reason. So, my husband, my unborn child and myself were at risk and we were under the impression everything was fine. A year later the air conditioner stops working and my husband looked under the dash to see if he could figure out why it stopped working. He found the wires connecting to the air conditioner were all melted. This could have started a fire and again my husband, my son and myself were at risk because the real problem was never really fixed. I read in the article that fires also had occurred for no reason. I would like to know how we will be protected from these failures that have occurred. Thank you for your time.

- Brandon, FL, USA

problem #22

Jun 022002

Escort

  • miles
97 Escort was actually purchased for my daughter in 1998, with about 38000 miles on it. My son bought it from her in Dec. 01 after he wrecked his Ranger. He told me that his air bag indicator light on the dash had come on and wouldn't go off. I am in sales at a Ford dealership and asked a couple of service advisors and mechanics about the light and they said that 99% of the time it was usually just a clock spring. Figuring no big deal, I told my son to keep driving the car (this was about may,02). Later he told me that he kept smelling something burning periodically; I could smell it but thought the odor was almost negligible. Next thing I know, he told me the under side of the dash, behind the radio and on passenger side of the vehicle (inside the car) had caught fire and he used the kitchen fire extenguisher to put it out. I told him to also disconnect the battery. I have been selling Ford for 11 years and did some digging. There was a technical service bulletin article no. 98-15-20 (supercedes article no. 98-14-3) which addresses this problem and tells the service dept. To replace the module and install a watershield to keep this from recurring. This is eligible under bumper to bumper warranty coverage and safety restraint warranty coverage. Since my car has about 98000 miles on and was still running fine before this happened, am I out of luck at getting this car running again. Preliminary estimate from a mechanic was about $1100 in parts and who knows how much in labor. Would appreciate hearing your current case status with Ford Motor Co. On this. Thanks.

- Grapevine, TX, USA

problem #21

Jul 242002

Escort

  • miles
While driving at 40mph air bag light came on.then, air bag department caught on fire, causing consumer to pull over. Dealer notified.

- Holland, MA, USA

problem #20

Jul 032002

Escort

  • miles
Heater core leaked onto air bag sensor and module causing air bag warning light to come on. Had to replace heater core, air bag sensor and module.

- West Valley, UT, USA

problem #19

Jul 012002

Escort

  • miles
Air bag warning light is flashing. Vehicle was checked by dealer, who advised consumer of air bags replacement.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #18

Aug 012002

(reported on)

Escort

  • miles
Smoke was coming from air conditioner after starting vehicle. Vehicle was towed to dealer, technician stated air bag module was on fire.

- Westlake, LA, USA

problem #17

Jun 162002

Escort

  • miles
Heater core failure resulted in failure of airbag system due to placement of airbag computer without moisture shield.

- Valencia, CA, USA

problem #16

Jun 102001

Escort

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Horn does not blow. Was told by a mechanic that problem was a defective air bag.

- Emeryville, CA, USA

Read the next 15 complaints »