Home / Vehicle Problems / 1997 Ford Escort

1997 Ford Escort — Problems, Recalls & Complaints

Aggregated from NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints. Data updated daily from federal databases.

2
Open Recalls
559
Owner Complaints
67
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths
67
Good
Reliability Score (0–100)
Declining -100%
Complaint Trend
0 last 24mo vs 1 prior

Own a 1997 Ford Escort? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

1997 Ford Escort Safety Recalls (2)

02V32300009/12/2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM) CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND COULD EXPERIENCE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORTING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE SHIELD OVER THE IABM AND APPLY NYOGEL GREASE TO THE CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

04E04800012/07/2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT

CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT A NO-LOCK CONDITION WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.

Remedy: TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.

Most Common Problems Reported for 1997 Ford Escort

AIR BAGS
116
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
80
SUSPENSION
54
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
44
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
30
POWER TRAIN
24
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
19
VISIBILITY
17

Based on 559 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Safety Incident Summary

67
Crash-Involved Complaints
67
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Check a Specific 1997 Ford Escort VIN

Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer records, legal actions, and 30+ intelligence signals.

Run a Free VIN Report →