Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 152 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 152, in the owner's own words
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. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/ESCORT/1997/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/COMMUNICATIONS-HORN_ASSEMBLY.SHTML
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 CHEEKBONES, AND CHIN, ALSO MY RIGHT EYE WAS SWOLLEN SHUT THE NEXT DAY. I WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE THE POLICE OFFICER INFORMED MY MOTHER THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. HE SAID THE AIRBAGS WERE SO SENSITIVE THAT HE COULD HAVE KICKED THE BUMPER AND THEY WOULD HAVE WENT OFF. MY MOTHER ONLY RECEIVED A BROKEN FINGER FROM WHERE HER HANDS WERE RESTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *JS
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 PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V323000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) AND PLANNED ON CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
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. *TR
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. AS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE BEEN DRIVEN 5 MPH IN A DRIVEWAY BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SHE STATED THE DRIVER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIONUS AND THE OTHER PASSENGER HAD A INJURY TO THE FACE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND A BRANCH HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,152. VWB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WOULD BE ORDERED AND REPLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V323000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE CONTACT SMELLED THE ODOR AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALER. CHRYSLER NOTIFIED FORD AND INFORMED THEM THAT THE AIR BAG MONITOR BURNED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. FORD STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAG MONITOR. FORD ALSO ADVISED CHRYSLER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM, BUT ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED A REPORT AND STATED THAT IT WOULD BE SENT TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND A RESPONSE WOULD BE RECEIVED IN WRITING. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 146,808.
I AM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT C.H.URNESS MOTOR CO IN THE DALLES,OR, I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD ESCORT FOR MY DAUGHTER ON 06/02/2007,THEN ON 06/04/2007,THE CAR HAD A FIRE UNDER THE DASH,UPON INSPECTION WE FOUND AN OPEN RECALL "02S44"FOR THIS EXACT FAILURE,I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER(RAY SCHULTENS FORD AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MODULE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE!. I THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER RELATIONS(CASE # 1433871927).ON 07/23/07 I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING "FORD MOTOR CO. WAS UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AT THIS TIME"THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE THAT I SHOULD MAKE THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR AT "BUY IT BACK,AFTER ALL YOU WORK FOR THEM"THIS CAR HAS AN UNREPAIRED RECALL AND IS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO NO PARTS AVAILABLE,WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP IN THIS PROCESS? *JB
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. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE, NHTSA # 02V323000, CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SENSOR. HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE WINDOWS FOGGING UP AND OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. WHILE INSIDE LOOKING AT THE GAUGES THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THIS PINNED THE TECHNICIAN BETWEEN THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL. THE DEPLOYMENT CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. UPON INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATED IN THE RECALL. THERE WAS WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. *NM UPDATED 3/1/2006 - THE CONSUMER STILL HAS THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN HER POSSESSION. *NM
DT: HAVE A RECALL LETTER FOR AIR BAG LIGHT, AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE NUMBER ON THE RECALL WAS 02S44, THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT, BUT WENT, AND GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AGAIN. HADN'T EVEN LEFT THE LOT. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE CONSUMER TO HAVE IT HOOKED UP TO A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE . *AK
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.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE. CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
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. *AK
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.*AK
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. *AK
THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. *JB
DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WONT HONORING THE NHTSA 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. *AK
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. *AK
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!*AK
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.*AK
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.*AK
CONSUMER DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE HIS VEHICLE FOR TWO-THREE DAYS TO HAVE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. *PH (RECALL #023V23000) *JB
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. *JB
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. *AK
NHTSA 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 NHTSA 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? *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .