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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 30
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,868 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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1997 Ford Escort Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #34

Sep 202006

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,500 miles

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

: 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.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #33

Feb 242005

Escort

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles
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.

- Freeport, IL, USA

problem #32

Aug 182004

Escort 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,000 miles
Car stalled try to restart car caught on fire, now total loss.

- Warren, MI, USA

problem #31

Feb 102003

Escort 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 98,000 miles

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

Wiring harness break in wagon hatch causing all elec. Components to malfunction, lso engine unable to shut off(with key removed from ignition).

- Windham, ME, USA

problem #30

Dec 292003

(reported on)

Escort

  • miles
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.

- Springville, AL, USA

problem #29

Nov 232002

Escort

  • miles
Problems with wiring harness resulting in vehicle fire. 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.

- Randolph, NJ, USA

problem #28

Sep 042000

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

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

While driving, consumer noticed something burning and pulled over, there was a short with a wire in the dash and this caused a fire, claim 60-C180-623.

- Scarborough, 00, USA

problem #27

Apr 242001

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While vehicle was parked, the alarm went off, according to one dealership the wiring shorted out the horn and caused the airbags to need replacement, however another dealership stated that the wiring burned into the horn, claim 40-2507-626.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #26

Sep 302001

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving to the store, vehicle caught on fire due to a loose wire, one person was injured, claim 40-2555-468.

- Beaufort, SC, USA

problem #25

Jan 082002

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Dash was on fire and all wiring was burned, claim 31-3120-259.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #24

Sep 042000

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

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

While driving, consumer noticed that something was burning and pulled over, there was a short with a wire in the dash, causing a fire in the passenger compartment, claim 60-C180-623.

- Scarborough, 00, USA

problem #23

Jul 212001

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Vehicle burned from the inside, possibly electrical, fire started from underneath the dashboard by the floorboard on the passenger side, claim 04-1295-042.

- Monroe, LA, USA

problem #22

Feb 192001

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Vehicle experienced passenger compartment fire at dash panel, claim 18-0486-942.

- Mandeville, LA, USA

problem #21

Apr 242001

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was parked when alarm sounded, dealership stated that the wiring shorted out the horn, another dealership stated that the wiring burned into the horn, claim 40-2507-626.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #20

Aug 162001

(reported on)

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Air bag light illuminated and vehicle was taken to a shop, the shop asked consumer to bring vehicle back in 2-3 days, however a fire occurred in the center module located in the console, claim 28-3088-664.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #19

Sep 302001

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving, vehicle caught on fire from a loose wire, one person was injured, claim 40-2555-468.

- Beaufort, SC, USA

problem #18

Jan 082002

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Fire started in the dash area, all the wiring was burned, claim 31-3120-259.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #17

Aug 042001

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Vehicle quit running due to electrical fire in passenger compartment, claim 28-3088-664.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #16

Feb 142001

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Consumer came to vehicle after a day of work and interior was smokey, dashboard and interior were burned, electrical fire from the instrument panel, claim 05-4593-366.

- Burlingame, CA, USA

problem #15

Sep 042000

Escort

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving, consumer noticed something burning and pulled over, there was a short with a wire in the dash and this caused a fire, claim 60-C180-623.

- Scarborough, 00, USA

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