no report yet
Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk. 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.
1997 Ford EscortProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 543 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford Escort, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 7, 2023. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1997 Ford Escort has problems
543 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
152Air bags78 crash/fire/injury
114Electrical system59 crash/fire/injury
67Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
66Engine and engine cooling4 crash/fire/injury
39Service brakes, hydraulic10 crash/fire/injury
31Visibility
29Power train
28Vehicle speed control
22Steering
9017 other systems18 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 152 | 78 |
| Electrical system | 114 | 59 |
| Suspension | 67 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 66 | 4 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 39 | 10 |
| Visibility | 31 | 8 |
| Power train | 29 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 28 | 8 |
| Steering | 22 | 1 |
| 17 other systems | 90 | 18 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
1997 Ford Escort recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
90kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 26 air bags complaints. 58% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 18% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
1under 30k miles15under 100k miles11100k miles or more
Best & worst years
1997 vs. every other Escort year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Escort median. How we score
'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
1997 Ford Escort safety ratings
1997 Ford Escort 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 1997 Ford Escort, and the recalls they led to.
- WATER INTRUSION INTO AIRBAG MONITORLed to recall 02V-323
- INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR WATERNo recall
In owners' words
What Escort owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
SAFETY HORN STICKS AND REMAINS IN ON POSITION CREATING A DRIVING SAFETY RISK. DEALER EXPLAINS THAT THE HORN SWITCH IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIR BAG. BASED ON ALL INTERNET COMPLAINTS AND AIR BAG PROBLEMS, MIGHT BE TIME TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE FORD'S COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND AIRBAG PERFORMANCE.…
MY MOTHER AND I WERE DRIVING TO MY GRANDPARENTS HOUSE WHEN SHE HIT A BABY DEER GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. I WAS 12 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HITTING ME IN RIGHT SIDE OF THE FACE. MY TEETH WENT INTO MY LIP, AND I HAD BURN MARKS FROM THE AIRBAG ON MY…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS…
Own a 1997 Escort?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.