1997 Chevrolet Cavalier vs 1997 Ford Escort
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1997 Ford Escort |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 540 | 543 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 94 | 150 |
| Investigations | 4 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 70 | 67 |
| Fire reports | 25 | 83 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–26 | 26–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 84,649 mi | 78,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Cavalier | Ford Escort |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 78 | 152 |
| Electrical System | 107 | 114 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 106 | 66 |
| Steering | 83 | 22 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 58 | 39 |
| Suspension | 27 | 67 |
| Visibility | 40 | 31 |
| Power Train | 26 | 29 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 51 | 33 |
| Steering problems | 15 | 0 |
| Overheating | 12 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 7 |
| Vibration / shaking | 10 | 9 |
| Rust / corrosion | 9 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
1997 Ford Escort
Compare all Chevrolet Cavalier vs Ford Escort years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.