1997 Ford Escort Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 152 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 1997 Ford Escort, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 89,543 miles. The words owners use most often: “air bag” (49% of reports).
- 152air bags complaints
- 89,543median miles at failure
- 45mention a crash
- 36mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 29%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 74 of 152 complaints (49%)
- Bags deployed: mentioned in 33 of 152 complaints (22%)
- Caught fire: mentioned in 12 of 152 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 26 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 152 complaints, 45 mention a crash, 23 a fire, 36 an injury.
Ford Escort air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Escort | 1 | 10% | 12,000 |
| 2002 Escort | 2 | 6% | 61,946 |
| 2001 Escort | 9 | 13% | 60,000 |
| 2000 Escort | 18 | 18% | 82,192 |
| 1999 Escort | 66 | 20% | 99,000 |
| 1998 Escort | 75 | 20% | 90,000 |
| 1997 Escort | 152 | 28% | 89,543 |
| 1996 Escort | 18 | 9% | 106,359 |
| 1995 Escort | 67 | 12% | 150,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the integrated air bag monitor (iabm) can be contaminated with water or other liquids and could experience internal electrical shorting.
Risk: This may, in turn, cause the air bag readiness light to illuminate and in very rare occurrences, air bag deployment, melted wiring, or fire may occur.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Safety horn sticks and remains in on position creating a driving safety risk. Dealer explains that the horn switch is associated with the air bag. Based on all internet complaints and air bag problems, might be time to further investigate ford's commitment to safety and airbag performance…
My mother and i were driving to my grandparents house when she hit a baby deer going about 35 mph. I was 12 years old at the time and sitting in the front seat. The airbags deployed hitting me in right side of the face. My teeth went into my lip, and i had burn marks from the airbag on my…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford escort. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the air bag light illuminated and smoke emitted from under the dashboard. The contact maneuvered to the shoulder and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was then towed to the contact's home. While the vehicle was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 Ford Escorts have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 152 owner complaints about air bags for the 1997 Ford Escort (28% of the 543 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford Escort air bags?
Yes: 1 safety recall list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do air bags problems start?
The median reported mileage is 89,543 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the 1997 Ford Escort?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 74 of 152 complaints, followed by “bags deployed” (33).
Other 1997 Ford Escort problems
See all 1997 Ford Escort problems or air bags problems across all Escort years.