Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Ford Escort owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I bought a 1997 Ford Escort wagon new and love it and has only 30000 miles on it. Recently I had a problem with steering the vehicle so I had it checked out at an auto repair shop. The mechanic told me I needed new tie rod ends and both rear coil springs were broken. As I do not drive this vehicle hard and do not haul anything except my puppy and groceries, I had a hard time believing this. So I took it to another garage and another mechanic told me the same thing and showed it to me. I am no longer driving this vehicle as it is unsafe and this vehicle should be placed on a recall list and fixed by Ford free of charge. Neither me or my husband have ever had this happen and we feel that definitely this has to be a factory defect. …
Tl contact owns a 1997 Ford Escort. When making a right turn at various speeds, the contact heard a clunking sound coming from the front end ball joints. The dealer stated that the brake pads, rotors, drums, and front wheel bearing on the passenger side needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the odometer and speedometer have both been replaced three times, but she does not trust that the speedometer is currently working properly. The failure mileage was 115,000. Updated 06-03/08. The tie rod end, rear spring, windshield, upper ball joint, odometer knob, real passenger seal were all replaced. Updated 05/30/08
While driving , the steering wheel felt loose and made a loud noise. The dealer replaced the tie rod at owner's expense. Consumer feels that she should be reimbursed for the cost of repairs. The vehicle's rear coil springs broke at 16219 miles. The front coil spring broke at 16279 miles and was replaced under warranty. Catalytic converter failed causing noise.
Rear coil springs are cracked - both sides. Vehicle only 5 years old. Used in primarily in city, running errands - for retired couple. Also: left outer tie rod end is worn out and has to be replaced. This causes a vibration at highway speeds and also rattles when going over small bumps (<1") at low speeds (<10 MPH).
Went in for repair to bad spot on tire. Mechanic found that all 4 gas struts and both sets of coil springs were broken, and had to be replaced, along with a tie rod, and all 4 tires. I had not struck anything at all to cause this, and all of these defective parts would cause a major accident if they failed at highway speed. $ 1136.48 in repairs after only 30K miles is completely unconscionable!!
While getting an oil change technician informed consumer that both rear springs were broken. Dealer and manufacturer were not notified at this time. The rear spring and top mount failed and was replaced. The rear coil springs failed and was replaced. Both tie rods failed and was replaced.
Front left tie rod was replaced by dealership because component was experiencing excessive wear, and were very noisy while the vehicle was in operation. Left outer tie rod end assembly was replaced.
Gas gauge doesn't show the correct amount of gas once it reaches 1/4 of a tank. The vehicle also stalls on highways. The anti-theft alarm goes on for unknown reason. The horn malrunctions too.
While driving at 10mph on flat surface power steering went out, and consumer lost control of vehicle. Dealer notified.*akthere was a loud grinding noise and burning smell and smoke from the belts.
Consumer was enterning the expressway when vehicle lost control. Took consumer across three lanes before hitting concrete divider. One injury was sustained. Dealer was not notified at the time.
Steering complaints in other Escort years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1997 Ford Escort?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the steering of the 1997 Ford Escort, 4% of the model year's 543 complaints. The component named most often is linkages › tie rod assembly (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Ford Escort steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 1997 Ford Escort, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford Escort steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.