at 94,000 miles
Shoreline, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FLASHING AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT IN A "51" PATTERN.
NHTSA complaint #11171999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1997 Ford Escort electrical problems
151 of the 729 complaints about the 1997 Ford Escort are about the electrical system — 21% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 84,805 miles.
151
Complaints
2
Crashes
91
Fires
4
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Electrical System
51
33.8%
Wiring
34
22.5%
Horn
24
15.9%
Interior/Under Dash
17
11.3%
Front Underhood
6
4.0%
Ignition
6
4.0%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers
6
4.0%
12V/24V/48V Battery
2
1.3%
Module
2
1.3%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator
2
1.3%
Electrical System across every Ford Escort year
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
Detroit, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES AND FUSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10822374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,500 miles
Oxford, NY
Crash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I TURNED RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT AND SLOWLY TURNED RIGHT AGAIN INTO A PARKING SPACE. WHILE I WAS BRAKING, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT A BUILDING.
NHTSA complaint #10567436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 233,000 miles
MT. Airy, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 miles
Rice Lake, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, AND FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT SHE DOES NOT TRUST THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS CURRENTLY WORKING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 06-03/08. *LJ THE TIE ROD END, REAR SPRING, WINDSHIELD, UPPER BALL JOINT, ODOMETER KNOB, REAL PASSENGER SEAL WERE ALL REPLACED. UPDATED 05/30/08
NHTSA complaint #10226312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 73,500 miles
Jacksonville, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE PARKED HORN WENT OFF ON ITS OWN. OWNER HAD TAKEN FUSE OUT TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING. SPOKE TO DEALER & INFORMED SMALL PLASTIC PIECE HAD WORN AWAY BETWEEN HORN & AIR BAG MODULE. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS OBVIOUSLY A HAZARD (COULD POSSIBLY PREMATURELY ACTIVATE OR FAIL TO ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG). NO SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESS BY THE MANUFATURE TO MY KNOWLEDGE! OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS NOT A FACTOR AT ALL, OCCURS ON HOT, COLD OR RAINY DAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10195671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 94,500 miles
LAS Vegas, NV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN IDLE POSITION A SMELL OF SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. UPON INSPECTION, THE ENGINE FUSE BOX WAS FOUND TO BE BURNT. BEFORE THE SMOKE ERUPTED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN BLINKED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CONDENSATION FROM THE EVAPORATOR CASE MAY HAVE DRIPPED ONTO THE AIRBAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR OR WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM A SECOND REMEDY REPAIR UNDER RECALL # 02S44. THE MANUFACURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER THEY CONFIRMED THE DEALER'S CONSENSUS.
NHTSA complaint #10169258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 94,500 miles
LAS Vegas, NV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN IDLE POSITION A SMELL OF SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. UPON INSPECTION, THE ENGINE FUSE BOX WAS FOUND TO BE BURNT. BEFORE THE SMOKE ERUPTED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN BLINKED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CONDENSATION FROM THE EVAPORATOR CASE MAY HAVE DRIPPED ONTO THE AIRBAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR OR WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM A SECOND REMEDY REPAIR UNDER RECALL # 02S44. THE MANUFACURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER THEY CONFIRMED THE DEALER'S CONSENSUS.
NHTSA complaint #10169258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 miles
Lancaster, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND BURNED UP ALL OF THE WIRING. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #10126469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Hampton, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
DT: WHEN IT RAINS CAR GETS MOLDY, AND A FUNGUS SMELL. IT ACTUALLY CAUSES BREATHING PROBLEMS. ALSO, MY HORN IS GOING OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AND IT DOESN'T STOP UNTIL CONSUMER HITS THE STEERING WHEEL. HORN WAS REPLACED, BUT IT IS STILL AUTOMATICALLY GOES OFF. THE HORN EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING . THE REASON SHE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED THE FIRST TIME WAS BECAUSE THE HORN BLEW SO MUCH IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10123773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 miles
Freeport, IL
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE PARKED ON DEALER 'S PROPERTY FOR REPAIRS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. CONSUMER STATED SHE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR THREE WEEKS, AND DEALER CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10114947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 miles
Port Arthur, TX
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER. WHILE TALKING TO A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE VIA PHONE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE LESS THEN 15 MINUTES WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL.
NHTSA complaint #10113814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,610 miles
Avon, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INITIAL PROBLEM WAS THAT HEATER BLOWER WOULD NOT OPERATE. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ELECTRICAL MELT-DOWN ON A COMPONENT AND STATED THAT WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD NOT HAD A FIRE. THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE MOTOR RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE WHEN I CHECKED FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING ESCORTS, THERE WERE MANY OTHERS THAT DID HAVE FIRES DUE TO WIRING/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10098670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,000 miles
Kutztown, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN STUCK WHEN IN USE. CONSUMER HAD TO UNHOOK THE HORN FROM THE BATTERY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10094604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warren, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON IT STALLED . TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND IT BLEW UP, BURNING COMPLETELY TO THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10089859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,458 miles
Omaha, NE
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH CONSUMER TURNED THE HEATHER ON TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES AND HEAVY SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10089893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 99,000 miles
Warren, MI
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW SECONDS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE FIREWALL. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10089826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 99,000 miles
Warren, MI
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CAR STALLED TRY TO RESTART CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, NOW TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10088496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 98,000 miles
Windham, ME
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING HARNESS BREAK IN WAGON HATCH CAUSING ALL ELEC. COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION, LSO ENGINE UNABLE TO SHUT OFF(WITH KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION).
NHTSA complaint #10086113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,000 miles
Onalaska, WI
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHIC EVENTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL, AND STARTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint #10080085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springville, AL
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND LATER WENT OFF. ON DECEMBER 22, 2003, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON UPON STARTING , AND THEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE DASH. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED FIRE WAS DUE TO A SHORT IN A WIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10052039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Watertown, NY
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A LOCAL GARAGE.*MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF THE REMAINED ON. CONSUMER ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL AFTER SMELLING SMOKE. A TROOPER RECOMMENDED HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL GARAGE LOCKED UP WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED DUE TO THE HOT TEMPERATURE. THE FIRE DEPT. FOUND THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS.
NHTSA complaint #10050222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norfolk, VA
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REQUEST FOR RESTITUTION OF LOSSES RESULTING FROM A VEHICLE FIRE. *MR THE PASSENGER AREA TRANS EQUIPMENT/ELECTRICAL WIRE) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED RESTITUTION. *SCC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE MANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10040403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,000 miles
Saddle Brook, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN ACTIVATED ON ITS OWN AND STUCK ON. EVENTUALLY BOTH HORNS FAILED. PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE HORN PAD SWITCH WHICH IS PART OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG. REPLACING THE HORNS AND AIR BAG COSTS IN EXCESS OF $800.
NHTSA complaint #10033304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 miles
Gainesville, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY ONE TOUCHING THE MECHANISM.*AK *PH
NHTSA complaint #10034420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,697 miles
Mesa, AZ
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
HEATER CORE LEAKED ONTO THE AIRBAG MONITOR WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SHORT CIRCUITED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10033955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 miles
Houston, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN MALFUNCTIOED, ,DOES NOT STOP,HAD TO PULL FUSE OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10031169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newport, VT
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATES HIGHWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. SHE SMELLED SMOKE, AND LOOKED DOWN, AND THERE WERE FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. DASH BURNED UP. SHE HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, BUT HE DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, JUST SAID IT WAS THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10032318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norfolk, VA
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CONSUMER REQUESTING RESTITUTION FOR A HOUSE FIRE THAT WAS CAUSED BY A VEHICLE FIRE.*MR *TS. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10029630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Randolph, NJ
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
PROBLEMS WITH WIRING HARNESS RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *MR WHILE THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED THROUGH A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACT ERRATICALLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT LATER CAUGHT FIRE AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THIS FAILURE BUT THE CONSUMER DIDN'T RECEIVED THE NOTICED PRIOR TO THE FIRE (RECALL # 02V323000). THE CONSUMER ALSO REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SCC *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10026603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.