Six problems related to underhood wiring have been reported for the 1997 Ford Escort. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
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.
After parking the vehicle for a few seconds vehicle caught on fire from under the hood near the firewall. Local fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. Dealer was not notified.
While traveling and without any indication vehicle stalled. Consumer had vehicle towed, and technician noticed that electrical wiring harness was burned out.
My late son's (robert d. Lawrence iii) 1997 Ford Escort caught fire while sitting parked, with the engine turned off, on voters road in slidell, la. Mechanic advised fire started around the air conditioner. Contacted Ford dealer and the Ford company, but received no information or advice. Both ignored his complaintand stonewalled him. . Robert iii's insurance company (safeway)paid off a total loss to Ford and left my late son with over $4,000 still due. Ford motor credit sued him for the balance just before he died on July 16, 2002. The vehicle is sitting in my yard if investigators from the NHTSA would like to see it in connection with the current investigation into sudden fires in 1997 Ford Escorts. Ford should, at least, drop their lawsuit. They should have given the boy another car when that one caught fire.
Electrical fire due to faulty wires.
While driving vehicle caught on fire under the hood, cause unknown. .