1997 Ford Escort Tires Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 2%of 543 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 27,585miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the tires of the 1997 Ford Escort, 2% of the 543 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 27,585 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Failure of america discount tire co. To honor tire warranty. Side wall of tires have prematurely developed cracks surrounding the bead area. Based on comments by that companies representative, the tires are likened/compared to a time bomb ready to go off.”
NHTSA complaint #10214948, filed 2008-01, 92,000 miles“Daughter was driving car, had a tire blow out, and car suddenly accelerated out of control. She tried shifting gears, using brakes, and pulling parking brake to no avail. She crashed into parked cars after traveling about 200 yards uphill. Witnesses say she was going about 30 to 40 MPH. After the blowout, which happened as she was leaving a stop. Car will not be repaired, will be junked. It is too dangerous for anyone to drive.”
NHTSA complaint #10144374, filed 2005-12, 40 miles“If my car wasn't sitting still when this part came lose I could have been in an accident. This should have never happened with this car. It shredded the belt that was attatched to this and came to rest on my timing belt and it had to be replaced. I know that the warenty is up and there is nothing that the dealership can do but I feel as though the car should be recalled before this happens again!”
NHTSA complaint #731317, filed 2000-09“The original equipment tires on my 1997 Ford Escort station wagon are cracking on the inside sidewall or have cracked through to expose the steel cord. I have contacted the dealership who said that they do not warranty the tires and there was nothing they could do. I have contacted the local authorized goodyear dealer where they inspected the tires and indicated that the failure looked like a manufacturing defect. …”
NHTSA complaint #743668, filed 2001-04“While having a routine maintenance performed, consumer was informed that 2 of the 4 tires were coming apart, one of the tires was replaced with the spare tire, the consumer was shown in 3 places on the interior of the sidewall of the tire the outer rubber layer had separated, or was about to separate from another layer.(goodyear conquest gl p185/65r14)”
NHTSA complaint #564490, filed 2002-02Tires: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 | 10% |
| 2002 | 3 | 9% |
| 2001 | 2 | 3% |
| 2000 | 4 | 4% |
| 1999 | 14 | 4% |
| 1998 | 6 | 2% |
| 1997 | 12 | 2% |
| 1996 | 4 | 2% |
| 1995 | 9 | 2% |
| 1994 | 6 | 2% |
| 1993 | 9 | 2% |
| 1992 | 3 | 2% |
| 1991 | 4 | 1% |
| 1990 | 2 | 2% |
| 1988 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Escort
152 complaintsElectrical system
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 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford Escort
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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