Complaints
729
Crashes
78
Fires
133
Injuries
74
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Ford Escort Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#163 complaints
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Avg mileage:94,386 mi
Crash-related:33
Fires:2
#255 complaints
AIR BAGS
Avg mileage:97,635 mi
Crash-related:11
Fires:13
#351 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Avg mileage:107,083 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:40
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Ford Escort.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 63 | 33 | 2 | 94,386 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 55 | 11 | 13 | 97,635 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 51 | 1 | 40 | 107,083 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 34 | — | 30 | 92,375 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 30 | — | 8 | 108,018 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 28 | — | 2 | 54,406 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 24 | — | — | 52,700 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 24 | 4 | — | 45,180 mi | |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 24 | — | 12 | 95,528 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS | 23 | — | — | 77,676 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 21 | — | 1 | — | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 21 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 18 | — | 1 | 79,500 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 17 | 1 | 13 | 76,356 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 13 | 4 | — | 115,000 mi | |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 11 | — | — | 59,281 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | 10 | — | — | — | |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 9 | — | — | 50,118 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 8 | — | — | 51,000 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 8 | — | 1 | 100,000 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 7 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 6 | — | 1 | 66,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 6 | — | 5 | 119,500 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 6 | — | 1 | 104,598 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 6 | — | — | — | |
| SUSPENSION | 6 | — | — | 66,624 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 6 | — | — | 71,500 mi | |
| TIRES | 6 | 1 | — | 13,812 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 5 | — | — | 75,000 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 5 | — | — | — |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
63
complaints
Crashes
33
Fires
2
Avg Miles
94,386
AIR BAGS
55
complaints
Crashes
11
Fires
13
Avg Miles
97,635
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
51
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
40
Avg Miles
107,083
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
34
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
30
Avg Miles
92,375
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
30
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
8
Avg Miles
108,018
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
28
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
54,406
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
52,700
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
24
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
45,180
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
12
Avg Miles
95,528
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS
23
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
77,676
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
21
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
21
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
79,500
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
13
Avg Miles
76,356
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
13
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
115,000
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
59,281
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,118
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
51,000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
100,000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
66,000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
119,500
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
104,598
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
SUSPENSION
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,624
SUSPENSION:REAR
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
71,500
TIRES
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
13,812
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
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