One problem related to automatic transmission gear indicator has been reported for the 1997 Ford Escort. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I was driving my 1997 Ford Escort at 70mph down interstate 75 when all of a sudden the wheels locked up. Here to find out the transmission was what locked up the gears just locked up tight causing the wheels to lock. I am 48 years old and have a cdl drivers license. I drive a 40ft. Bookmobile everyday for a living. My complaint is Ford needs to look into this because a less experianced driver would have rolled the car or been run over by other traffic. I had the transmission replaced with a used one at a cost of 887. 24. I contacted Ford 2 times and they do not care. Just told me there was no recall so the problem was all mine.