VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford Escort brakes problems

The 1997 Ford Escort has 46 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 6% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

46

Brakes complaints

6%

Share of year

10

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Escort brakes complaints by model year46 complaints1983: 2 complaints1984: 1 complaints1985: 1 complaints1986: 1 complaints1988: 4 complaints1989: 5 complaints1990: 5 complaints1991: 9 complaints1992: 19 complaints1993: 38 complaints1994: 26 complaints1995: 33 complaints1996: 13 complaints1997: 46 complaints1998: 37 complaints1999: 28 complaints2000: 11 complaints2001: 5 complaints2002: 5 complaints2003: 2 complaints
Escort brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“OWNER STATES THAT BRAKES DO NOT GRAB AND THAT ONCE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR . NO ABS BRAKES, THEY ARE STANDARD POWER BRAKES. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1997 Ford Escort have?

NHTSA has 46 complaints about the 1997 Ford Escort brakes — 6% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.