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.
1997 Ford Escort airbags complaints
Page 2 of 6: complaints 11 to 40 of 152, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Air bag light illuminated. Consumer had the problem before. Contacted the ford dealer, but problem recurred.
The vehicle accelerated and lurched forward while pulling into a parking space, causing the vehicle to hit a brick wall. Upon impact, both frontal air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained minor injuries, and was transported to the local hospital. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified.
While driving and stopping at a stop sign air bag deployed. Vehicle started to smoke, and the heater coil went out. There was anti freeze all over the floor of the vehicle, and the air bag busted the front windshield. Ford will not do anything to help the consumer.
While driving 10 MPH both frontal air bags deployed inadvertently. This caused the driver to sustain minor injuries. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the air bag module needed to be replaced.
The air bag deployed inadvertently.
Dealership and manufacturer wont honoring the federal safety agency recall 02v323000. Certain passenger vehicles, the integrated air bag monitor (iabm) can be contaminated with water or other liquids and could experience internal electrical short.
Consumer receive recall notice 02-s44 replacement of air bags . Dealer failed to repair the recall. Consumer informed mechanic that the SRS light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Consumer stated that the light was not on before recall repairs were done. Service manager tammy.
Airbag deployed after recall repairs by ford (notification and verification of notice and repair are in our possession) resulting in burns to passenger on forearms (due to inflation of bag), broken windshield and dash is messed up. No accident ocurred or object hit. Car was moving at 15 MPH (max) at deployment. Ford declares "no" responsibility due to excess mileage (84,440). I didn't realize there is a "mileage limitation" on safety!
My client, akruaria wright was driving her 1997 ford escort lx sedan south on ga hwy 300, when both the driver and passenger airbags spontaneously deployed. As noted in the police report, there was no contact or impact with any object or vehicle. The road that she was on is a major road; it is paved and in excellent condition. Upon deploying, the airbags forced the dash up and busted the windshield. The airbags, as they deployed, made contact with ms. Wright's face, arms, hands, and chest. On her face, arms , and hands she suffered minor burns from the contact. She also has suffered cervical and thoracic strain from the contact. At this time, the car is still waiting to be repaired. I have contacted the ford motor company in dearborn, mi, but as of now I have not had a response.
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.
Consumer didn't want to leave his vehicle for two-three days to have recall work performed. *ph (recall #023v23000)
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.
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.
The federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency 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?
While driving 35 MPH the vehicle in front of the consumer suddenly came to a complete stop. As a result the driver rear ended the vehicle. The consumer stated that neither of the frontal air bags deployed which resulted in some injuries. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer.
While attempting to start the vehicle passenger's side air bag deployed. As a result, consumer sustained facial injuries. One week later consumer received a recall notice from the manufacturer.
Last thursday my husbands 1997 ford escort caught fire, and we think it was because of a faulty air bag sensor. It had been previously recalled, and we took it to the local ford dealer and had the problem corrected. But everything that happened fell in exactly with what the recall letter said would happen if we didn't get it fixed. We would like this matter further investigated because we feel that the ford dealership only installed another faulty air bag sensor into our car instead of fixing it like they were supposed to. Neither my husband or I were injuried when the car caught fire, but that was only by the grace of god. If we can prevent this from happening to someone else then we should.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Vehicle fire involving 1997 ford escort.*mr after incident occurred a recall was issued advising a manufacturer defect in air bags and air bag modules. However the vehicle was unable to drive because of severe damages so the dealership voided the recall. The consumer felt that ford re -actions where unacceptable, and is requesting to be reimbursed for the loss due to manufacturer defect. The safety recall letter issued is (o2s44). Please investigate.
While driving at 50 MPH vehicle was involved in a head on collision, and air bags did not deploy. However, two weeks later while vehicle was parked, air bags deployed inadvertently.
When the consumer applied the brakes to avoid hitting a dog, the air bag deployed. *jb the vehicle filled with smoke and the air bag hit the consumer in the chest and bruised other areas. *scc
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 $800.00 - $1000.00 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 federal safety agency web site regarding the 1997 ford escort and they are distressing to say the least. My next vehicle will be a gm product.
The dealer and various ford officers were unwilling to perform recall 02s44. *ph *nlm
Consumer had recall 02v323000 remedied in 03/03. The airbag warning light illuminated again and the consumer was very concerned for her safety. *ak 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. *scc the power window failed to roll down.
The vehicle was hit in the passenger side door, which casued the frontal air bags deploy. According to the owners the manual the air bags were not suppose to deploy unless there was severe impact to the front of the vehicle. *ak *cb
Air bags deployed and fire melted dash.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1997 Ford Escort?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history