Problems · by component
1997 Ford Escort suspension problems
69 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Escort cite suspension, 12% of all 559 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
69
12% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the suspension
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“1997FORD ESCORT WAGON. HAVING HAD THIS CAR FOR EIGHT YEARS, WHERE I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REARS SPRING ONCE, I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF SCHEDULING TO REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS A SECOND TIME TO THE AMOUNT OF $700.00. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND FROM MECHANICS AND FROM THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A 'COMMON PROBLEM" WITH FORD. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPEN A SECOND TIME, FOR ME I FEEL I SHOULD GET SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM FORD FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE SUSPENSION. THIS SUSPENSION PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM FORD. *TR”
“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”
“1997 FORD ESCORT HAD REAR SPRINGS PROBLEMS. **CC BOTH REAR SPRINGS ON THE VEHICLE BROKE. THE BREAKS WERE IDENTICAL, THE LOWER COILS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND INDICATED THAT THEY SHOWED LACK OF INTEREST. *NM”
“WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK THIS IS THE CONSUMER'S THIRD FORD ESCORT WITH BROKE REAR SPRINGS (1991, 1993 AND 1997). *NM”
“VEHICLE BEING SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME LOCATION. NO INDICATION FROM DRIVE OF VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD BY TECHNICIAN THAT SPRING COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH TIRE THUS CAUSING A BLOW-OUT.”
Showing 6 of 69 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.