10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
33 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
35 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,986 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.

problem #63

Aug 162010

Escort

  • 81,152 miles
TL-the contact owns a 1997 Ford Escort. As a passenger in the vehicle been driven 5 mph in a driveway both frontal air bags deployed. She stated the driver was knocked unconscionus and the other passenger had a injury to the face. The vehicle crashed into a tree and a branch hit the windshield. The vehicle has not been taken to a dealer or mechanic. The failure and current mileage was 81,152. Vwb

- Gaithersburg , MD, USA

problem #62

Jan 282003

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,500 miles
While parked horn went off on its own. Owner had taken fuse out to stop horn from blowing. Spoke to dealer & informed small plastic piece had worn away between horn & air bag module. It needed to be replaced. Seems to be a very common problem and was obviously a hazard (could possibly prematurely activate or fail to activate the airbag). No solution for this problem has been address by the manufature to my knowledge! outside temperature is not a factor at all, occurs on hot, cold or rainy days.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #61

Mar 062005

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles
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.

- Port Arthur, TX, USA

problem #60

Nov 022004

Escort

  • miles
While driving and stopping at a stop sign air bag deployed. Vehicle started to smoke, and the heater coil went out. There was anti freeze all over the floor of the vehicle, and the air bag busted the front windshield. Ford will not do anything to help the consumer.

- Swanton, OH, USA

problem #59

Oct 022004

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 10 mph both frontal air bags deployed inadvertently. This caused the driver to sustain minor injuries. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the air bag module needed to be replaced.

- Swanton, OH, USA

problem #58

Oct 092004

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles
The vehicle accelerated and lurched forward while pulling into a parking space, causing the vehicle to hit a brick wall. Upon impact, both frontal air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained minor injuries, and was transported to the local hospital. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified.

- Gary, IN, USA

problem #57

Oct 042004

Escort

  • Automatic transmission
  • 111,000 miles
The air bag deployed inadvertently.

- Elgin, IL, USA

problem #56

Aug 182004

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Dealership 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.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #55

Aug 012004

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,440 miles
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!

- Lancaster, SC, USA

problem #54

Jan 152004

Escort

  • miles
While driving 35 mph the vehicle in front of the consumer suddenly came to a complete stop. As a result the driver rear ended the vehicle. The consumer stated that neither of the frontal air bags deployed which resulted in some injuries. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer.

- Port Orchard, WA, USA

problem #53

Dec 232003

Escort

  • 100,000 miles
While attempting to start the vehicle passenger's side air bag deployed. As a result, consumer sustained facial injuries. One week later consumer received a recall notice from the manufacturer.

- Davis, CA, USA

problem #52

Aug 082003

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When the consumer applied the brakes to avoid hitting a dog, the air bag deployed. The vehicle filled with smoke and the air bag hit the consumer in the chest and bruised other areas.

- Byhalia, MS, USA

problem #51

Jul 032003

Escort

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The vehicle was hit in the passenger side door, which casued the frontal air bags deploy. According to the owners the manual the air bags were not suppose to deploy unless there was severe impact to the front of the vehicle.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #50

Mar 012003

Escort

  • miles
Frontal air bags deployed without warning while driving.

- Gardner, KS, USA

problem #49

Apr 302003

(reported on)

Escort

  • miles
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and the air bags deployed 3 to 4 minutes later, and then smoke emitted from the air bags.

- North Hollywood, CA, USA

problem #48

Mar 132003

Escort

  • miles
While driving 30 mph the consumers vehicle slid on ice and collided with another car. Neither the front driver nor passenger air bags deployed.

- Rutland, VT, USA

problem #47

Dec 232002

Escort 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 120,000 miles
I was burned on my right hand (3 fingers and thumb) due to both air bags had deployed. No one was in the passenger seat.

- Hackettstown, NJ, USA

problem #46

Feb 212003

Escort

  • miles
Consumer was involved in a frontal collision, the air bags deployed, however the air bags damaged the front windshield and side window.

- Eubank, KY, USA

problem #45

Feb 212003

(reported on)

Escort

  • miles
The air bags deployed without impact to the vehicle.

- Gardner, KS, USA

problem #44

Nov 182002

Escort

  • miles
Consumer states that while driving air bag light illuminated. Contacted dealer to bring vehicle in for diagnostic. The next day while driving, vehicle began smoking from the steering column and then stalled. Related safety investigation EA02008/water ingestion into the air bag monitor

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »