Air Bag Light On problems of the 1997 Ford Escort

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.

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 .

Vehicle's air bags deployed and dashboard caught on fire while parked in a local garage. 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.

Nar 04/28/2003 mr the consumer recieved safety recall #(02s44) regarding air bag monitors. Prior to that the consumer experienced problems with the air bag light flashing on, the vehicle was taken to have repairs made and it cost over $500. 00 for a problem that may have already existed in reference to the recall.

Consumer states that while driving air bag light illuminated. Contacted dealer to bring vehicle in for diagnostic. The next day while driving, vehicle began smoking from the steering column and then stalled. Related safety investigation ea02008/water ingestion into the air bag monitor ts.

While driving the vehicle the airbag light would come on. Dealer notified.

While driving the vehicle the airbag light would appear. Dealer notified. Ts.

Consumer states air bag light is on. Flashing code 51. Air bag monitor assembly replaced.

While driving at 40mph air bag light came on. Then, air bag department caught on fire, causing consumer to pull over. Dealer notified.

97 Escort was actually purchased for my daughter in 1998, with about 38000 miles on it. My son bought it from her in Dec. 01 after he wrecked his ranger. He told me that his air bag indicator light on the dash had come on and wouldn't go off. I am in sales at a Ford dealership and asked a couple of service advisors and mechanics about the light and they said that 99% of the time it was usually just a clock spring. Figuring no big deal, I told my son to keep driving the car (this was about may,02). Later he told me that he kept smelling something burning periodically; I could smell it but thought the odor was almost negligible. Next thing I know, he told me the under side of the dash, behind the radio and on passenger side of the vehicle (inside the car) had caught fire and he used the kitchen fire extenguisher to put it out. I told him to also disconnect the battery. I have been selling Fords for 11 years and did some digging. There was a technical service bulletin article no. 98-15-20 (supercedes article no. 98-14-3) which addresses this problem and tells the service dept. To replace the module and install a watershield to keep this from recurring. This is eligible under bumper to bumper warranty coverage and safety restraint warranty coverage. Since my car has about 98000 miles on and was still running fine before this happened, am I out of luck at getting this car running again. Preliminary estimate from a mechanic was about $1100 in parts and who knows how much in labor. Would appreciate hearing your current case status with Ford motor CO. On this. Thanks.

Airbag light is flashing when vehicle is cool, not when vehicle is hot.

Consumer noticed that airbag light was flashing on the dash panel Wednesday night. Then, next day the light was still flashing, and vehicle started smoking. She had vehicle parked, then she got inside of vehicle. Turned vehicle on, and it started smoking. Had moved the panel, and noticed that fire was comming from there. Another vehicle had a fre extinguisher, and put fire out. Vehicle was taken to dealership. Mechanic told her that it would take $1300 75 to fix vehicle.

Air bag light has been on constantly. Consumer had received a recall which it stated that vehicle had to have a shell on top of the cable so that air bag light will not come on, but after she took the vehicle to get it fixed the problem was still there. Dealer will only fix it if the consumer pays for it.

Vehicle was at a standstill when both driver's side and passenger's side air bags deployed without a cause. Also, air bag light was illuminating on dashboard, and an odor appeared in the vehicle prior to air bag deployment. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Please provide any further details.

Consumer noticed a month after purchasing the vehicle air bag light flashed on and off. Consumer contacted the dealer several times. Dealer has not diagnosed the problem.

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.

Consumer stated the airbag light was flickering.