Problems · NHTSA complaints

1997 Ford Escort problems

Owners filed 559 complaints about the 1997 Ford Escort with NHTSA between Feb 1996 and Jul 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (150).

Complaints
559
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
66
Reported by owners
Fires
85
Reported by owners
Injuries
67
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags150
  2. Electrical system115
  3. Engine and engine cooling70
  4. Suspension69
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic39
  6. Visibility31
  7. Power train30
  8. Vehicle speed control27
  9. Steering24
  10. Fuel system, gasoline13
  11. Tires13
  12. Exterior lighting12
  13. Seat belts12
  14. Equipment11

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19964
199733
199843
199983
200062
200157
200278
2003103
200444
200522
20063
20076
20086
20092
20103
20110
20122
20132
20142
20150
20162
20170
20180
20191
20200
20210
20220
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

150 reports45 crashes23 fires1 related recall
“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. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/ESCORT/1997/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/COMMUNICATIONS-HORN_ASSEMBLY.SHTML”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2016Air bagsODI 10904225

Electrical system

115 reports2 crashes60 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES AND FUSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 26, 2016Electrical systemODI 10822374

Engine and engine cooling

70 reports4 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10456933

Suspension

69 reports1 crash
“I TOOK MY ESCORT IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN AGAIN THE FIRST TIME THEY BROKE THE DEALER REPLACED THEM AND SAID HE THOUGHT A RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED BECAUSE FORD NEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM NOW ONCE AGAIN THEY ARE BROKEN AND THERE IS STILL NO RECALL IF SOMEONE KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM WHY AREN'T THEY CORRECTING THE PROBLEM AND DO WE THE CONSUMERS HAVE TO KEEP SHELLING OUT OUR HARD EARNED MONEY FOR REPAIRS. THIS CAR IS A 1997 FORD ESCORT AND REAR SPRINGS WERE REPLACED TWICE JUST NOT FAIR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2008Suspension, EquipmentODI 10241830

Service brakes, hydraulic

39 reports7 crashes1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, AND FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT SHE DOES NOT TRUST THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS CURRENTLY WORKING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 06-03/08. *LJ THE TIE ROD END, REAR SPRING, WINDSHIELD, UPPER BALL JOINT, ODOMETER KNOB, REAL PASSENGER SEAL WERE ALL REPLACED. UPDATED 05/30/08”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2008Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Visibility, Electrical systemODI 10226312

Visibility

31 reports7 fires
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE, NHTSA # 02V323000, CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SENSOR. HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE WINDOWS FOGGING UP AND OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. WHILE INSIDE LOOKING AT THE GAUGES THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THIS PINNED THE TECHNICIAN BETWEEN THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL. THE DEPLOYMENT CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. UPON INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATED IN THE RECALL. THERE WAS WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. *NM UPDATED 3/1/2006 - THE CONSUMER STILL HAS THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN HER POSSESSION. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2006Visibility, Air bagsODI 10147714
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.