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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
28,805 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Ford Escort seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1997 Ford Escort Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #30

Nov 012007

Escort 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 146,808 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Escort. The contact smelled a strong burning odor while driving 60 mph. The dealer stated that the part would be ordered and replaced under NHTSA campaign id number 02V323000 (air bags:frontal:sensor/control module). The contact smelled the odor again the following day and the vehicle shut down. The vehicle was towed to a Chrysler dealer. Chrysler notified Ford and informed them that the air bag monitor burned and caused the vehicle to shut off. Ford stated that the failure was not related to the air bag monitor. Ford also advised Chrysler to have the vehicle towed to them, but any additional damage would not be repaired. The manufacturer filed a report and stated that it would be sent to the legal department and a response would be received in writing. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 146,808.

- Twenty Nine Alms, CA, USA

problem #29

Jun 042007

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 157,097 miles
I am the service manager at C.H.urness motor co in the dalles, or, I purchased a 1997 Ford Escort for my daughter on 06/02/2007, then on 06/04/2007, the car had a fire under the dash, upon inspection we found an open recall "02S44"for this exact failure, I contacted the local Ford dealer(ray schultens Ford and was told they could not help me because the airbag module was no longer available!. I then contacted Ford Motor Co. Customer relations(case # 1433871927).on 07/23/07 I received a letter stating "Ford Motor Co. Was unable to offer any assistance at this time"the customer service rep told me over the phone that I should make the dealer I bought the car at "buy it back, after all you work for them"this car has an unrepaired recall and is unable to be repaired due to no parts available, what is my next step in this process?

- The Dalles, OR, USA

problem #28

Jan 132006

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles
: 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. Updated 3/1/2006 - the consumer still has the defective parts in her possession.

- Tabor City, NC, USA

problem #27

Mar 032003

Escort

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The consumer does not want the air bags in her vehicle because she has to sit close to the steering wheel and there was a recent recall regarding the air bags.

- Ashland, OH, USA

problem #26

Nov 112004

Escort

  • miles
Air bag light illuminated. Consumer had the problem before. Contacted the Ford dealer, but problem recurred.

- Manteca, CA, USA

problem #25

Jun 202004

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Last May 23rd 2003 I had the my car recalled for the recall #02V323000. This week my air bag monitor light was blinking. Diagnostic code 52. The integrated airbag monitor(iabm) failed. Only one year later, the 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.

- Champaign, IL, USA

problem #24

Apr 122004

(reported on)

Escort

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer didn't want to leave his vehicle for two-three days to have recall work performed. (recall #023V23000)

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA

problem #23

Mar 312004

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,000 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.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #22

Mar 082004

Escort

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Air bag warning indicator illuminated, and vehicle was taken to the dealer. Mechanic determined that water got into the air bag system, and damaged it and wiring harness. Dealer informed consumer that vehicle was under recall 02V323000, but the damaged parts were not covered under this recall. Consumer indicated he never received a recall notice from the manufacturer.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #21

Aug 182001

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 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. How can the dealer see that the air bag module is shorted out and just put a plastic covering on it and give it back to us with the air bag light still on?

- Brandon, FL, USA

problem #20

Dec 022003

Escort

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Prior to having recall# 02V323000 performed for the air bag monitor, while driving on the interstate flames started coming from underneath the dashboard. The fire burned the entire dashboard and it's components.

- Neches, TX, USA

problem #19

Sep 212003

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
My 1997 Escort not only had defective airbag deployment but caught on fire. My vehicle is a total loss. How rare is this occurance? Ford is only willing to give me the trade in value for my vehicle not the replacement cost. Seems like the consumer is the loser again. I was never notified of this recall. My daughter was driving the car and could have been killed when the bags deployed and the dash was already on fire. The fire was so severe it shattered the windshield and melted the entire dash.

- Watertown, NY, USA

problem #18

Sep 022003

(reported on)

Escort

  • miles
The dealer and various Ford officers were unwilling to perform recall 02S44.

- Carson, CA, USA

problem #17

Sep 062003

Escort 4-cyl

  • miles
I purchased a new 1997 Ford Escort in September 1996. After driving the car for about a week the anti-lock brake light came on and the car was losing brake fluid. This happened a couple of times. I took the car back to the dealer and was advised that the brake fitting was missing some threads. Dealer fixed problem. This past January I got a letter from Ford about the recall for the air bag monitor/sensor problem and had to take it to the local dealer to have that problem corrected. Now the car has a slow coolant leak. I took it to a repair shop and was advised that the head gasket is leaking. The car only has about 62,850 miles on it and has been very well maintained. It will cost approximately $800 - $1000 to replace the head gasket. I feel this head gasket failure is premature and Ford should pay for it. This was the first Ford vehicle I ever purchased and it will probably be the last. I want to know why they cannot put a $14,000 car together correctly and assure its quality to last. I looked at some of the service bulletins and previous complaints on the NHTSA web site regarding the 1997 Ford Escort and they are distressing to say the least. My next vehicle will be a GM product.

- Niagara Falls, NY, USA

problem #16

Mar 182003

Escort

  • miles
Consumer requesting restitution for a house fire that was caused by a vehicle fire.. prior to the fire the vehicle also experienced a problem with the alternator and the brakes squeaking.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

problem #15

Mar 182003

Escort

  • miles
The consumer requested a follow up to a letter which was sent regarding a vehicle fire.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

problem #14

Jun 162003

(reported on)

Escort

  • miles
Explosion sound heard under dashboard of vehicle, consumer suspected problems with air bags. The explosion was heard on two separate occasions. Dealer stated was not authorized to open the air bag compartment. Five years later, consumer received a recall notice regarding the air bags.

- Somerset, NJ, USA

problem #13

Jun 172003

Escort

  • miles
Air bag light illuminated. Owner received recall notice 02V323000 concerning integrated air bag monitor contamination. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs on 6/17/2003. When the owner received the vehicle air bag light illuminated. The dealer stated a diagnostic test has to be done at the owners expense. Consumer requested a call from the investigating officer.

- Sparks, NV, USA

problem #12

Jun 102003

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,239 miles
Consumer had recall 02V323000 remedied in 03/03. The airbag warning light illuminated again and the consumer was very concerned for her safety. The air bag light came on while driving. The air bag light stayed on for two days. The dealer stated they were unable to do anything about it unless it had come back on. The power window failed to roll down.

- Pahrump, NV, USA

problem #11

May 082003

Escort

  • miles
The consumer took the vehicle for recall repairs on the air bag module on 5/5/2003 to the dealer. The dealer refused to do the repairs without an explanation. On 5/8/2003 the air bag module short circuited and caught on fire. The vehicle exploded. Recall # 02V323000.

- Baytown, TX, USA

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