1997 Ford Escort Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 152about this part
- Share
- 28%of 543 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 89,542miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 152 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Ford Escort, 28% of the 543 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 89,542 miles. 45 of these say a crash was involved and 23 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Air bag control diagnostic module shorted out due to ruptured heater core. When I spoke with the local dealership they told me to contact a local junk yard. There is a recall on this item. I never received a recall notice.”
NHTSA complaint #10372042, filed 2010-12, 233,000 miles“Recall #02v323000 - Ford Escort. Last may 2003 I had the my car recalled for the above. This week my air bag monitor light was blinking - blink code 5-2. The integrated air bag monitor(iabm) failed - blink code 5-2. Within 12 months and 12,000 miles of the recall my iabm fails, and the recall doesn't cover the iabm, but just a shield and grease. Shouldn't the recall cover the failing integrated air bag monitor.”
NHTSA complaint #10064397, filed 2004-04, 97,000 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!”
NHTSA complaint #10086117, filed 2004-08, 84,440 miles“Last thursday my husbands 1997 Ford Escort caught fire, and we think it was because of a faulty air bag sensor. It had been previously recalled, and we took it to the local Ford dealer and had the problem corrected. But everything that happened fell in exactly with what the recall letter said would happen if we didn't get it fixed. We would like this matter further investigated because we feel that the Ford dealership only installed another faulty air bag sensor into our car instead of fixing it like they were supposed to. …”
NHTSA complaint #10070836, filed 2004-01, 124,000 miles“Nhtsa campaign id number: 02v323000 when I received the letter from Ford it said that the recall was for the air bag module. It did not say anything about just putting a plastic covering over the module. The module in my car was already shorted out and is no good. I made a complaint about his in early 2002. I spoke with an NHTSA investigator about this problem and months later is when the recall happened. But it not even a recall for a fix to the problem I already had. Keeping the water out of a bad module is not helping me at all. I was under the impression that the module would be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #10060656, filed 2004-03, 66,000 milesRelated recalls
- 02V323000Dec 9, 2002On certain passenger vehicles, the integrated air bag monitor (iabm) can be contaminated with water or other liquids and could experience internal electrical…Covers: Ford Escort 1997, Mercury Tracer 1997
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 | 10% |
| 2002 | 2 | 6% |
| 2001 | 9 | 13% |
| 2000 | 18 | 18% |
| 1999 | 66 | 20% |
| 1998 | 75 | 20% |
| 1997 | 152 | 28% |
| 1996 | 18 | 9% |
| 1995 | 67 | 12% |
| 1994 | 54 | 19% |
| 1993 | 2 | 1% |
| 1991 | 1 | 0% |
| 1985 | 1 | 4% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Escort
114 complaintsSuspension
67 complaintsEngine cooling
66 complaintsBrakes
42 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
31 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
29 complaintsVehicle speed control
28 complaintsOther or unknown
22 complaintsSteering
22 complaintsFuel system
16 complaintsExterior lighting
12 complaintsSeat belts
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford Escort
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology