1997 Ford Aspire

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2002· AIR BAGS

  CONSUMER STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED.*JB

• 12/29/1997· STRUCTURE

  DOORS LEAK WATER THROUGH MIRRORS ONTO SPEAKERS IN DOORS, SHORTING THEM OUT STEREO. OWNER RENTED AN IDENTICAL MAKE AND MODEL AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS.

• 12/16/2003· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES CODE 32 ALL THE TIME. WILL STOP ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. HAVE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR AND SEEMS TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT.*AK

• 12/10/2001· STRUCTURE

  I FIXED THIS ONCE WITH GLUE AND REPLACED. THE ACTUATOR BROKE THE DOOR AGAIN. THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM CONSIDERING IF WILL MAKE WINDOW DEFROSTER NON FUNCTIONAL. *AK

• 12/10/2000· AIR BAGS

  FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *MJS

• 12/08/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DISTRIBUTOR SHORTED OUT/ MULTI FUCTION SWITCH MALFUCTIONED/ ALTERNATOR MALFUCTION ALTENATOR BROKE OFF HOUSING. *AK

• 11/27/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART, THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION SYSTEM LEAKED GASOLINE FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND HAD APPARENTLY DONE SO SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. THE DEALER REP. STATED THAT THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST WITH 2 OR 3 OTHERS.

• 11/18/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DISTRIBUTOR CAP FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

• 11/08/2001· POWER TRAIN

  1997 FORD ASPIRE.50 MPH ON MAJOR ROUTE IN DENVER WHEN CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL GEARS. 55,400 MILES ON CAR, I AM NOT A SPEEDRACER, NOR WAS PREVIOUS OWNER, TORQUE CONVERTER THOROUGHLY RUINED, $1000 TO FIX, POSSIBLY MORE IF WHOLE TRANNY IS SHOT. NARROWLY ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY OF ANY KIND. CAR NOT DRIVABLE AS IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO GEAR SELECTION.

• 11/08/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHILE TRAVELING SMELLED FUEL IN SIDE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEAE PFROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 11/04/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *SCC

• 11/04/1999· POWER TRAIN

  THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING THE GEARS TO LOCK UP WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *YC

• 10/27/1997· SUSPENSION

  SUSPENSION FAILED RESULTING IN TIRE WEAR.

• 10/22/1997· VISIBILITY

  REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. MJS

• 10/18/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS

  CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RIMS ON HER VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR. CONSUMER WAS INFOMRED A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON.*JB

• 10/14/2000· WHEELS

  RIGHT FRONT WHEEL IS BROKEN. *AK

• 10/11/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE REPLACEMENT/ I HAVE BEEN A FIRM BELIEVER IN FORD PRODUCTS AND STILL BELIEVE THAT FORD MAKES A GOOD PRODUCT...I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE POSITION I WAS PLACED IN LAST WEEK...I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY FORD TRUCK THE BEST THAT I COULD AND NEVER HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH IT FOR THE 6 YRS I HAVE OWNED MY TRUCK...I HAVE EXPERIENCED A FEW STALL OUTS A FEW TIMES BUT NOTHING THAT I TOOK TO SERIOUS, I FIGURED MAYBE A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM...THE FACT THAT MY ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT AT 86000 IS BEYOND ME. LOOKING INTO THE COMPLAIANCE INVETIGATIONS SUMMARY I REALIZED THAT I AM IN COMPANY WITH MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT...I FEEL THAT THIS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURES ENGINE AND THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECT ENGINE. MR

• 09/29/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES, AND THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO,AIR BAG LIGHT/ ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ARE ON. *AK

• 09/22/1999· STEERING

  WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 09/22/1999· STRUCTURE

  DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE WHEN DRVING, THE DOOR OPENS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DOOR HINGE. *AK

• 09/20/2000· SUSPENSION,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HAD BATTERY, FUEL PUMP, AND EVEN STARTER REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNCOOPERATIVE, WORRIED MORE ABOUT MONEY THAN SOLVING PROBLEM.

• 09/19/2000· TIRES

  THIS IS THE SECOND FIRESTONE TIRE IN A WEEK THAT HAS HAD THE TREAD COME OFF. WE HAVE OVER ONE HUNDRED OF THESE TIRES ON OUR FLEET AND NEED TO DECIDE IF WE SHOULD REMOVE THEM.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT225/75R1 )

• 09/15/2008· TIRES

  CAR SUDDENLY STARTED VIBRATING VIOLENTLY. CAUSE WAS A SIX INCH SECTION OF TREAD APPEARED TO HAVE SEPARATED INTERNALLY. STOPPED BEFORE TIRE FAILED COMPLETELY. 30,000 MILES ON A TIRE GUARANTEED FOR 75,000 MILES. DEALER SAID 62% OF WEAR HAD OCCURRED. *TR

• 09/15/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS OFF FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS, OWNER NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON , ON 26 OF AUG OF 97. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER ON THE 26 TH OF AUG. 97 TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS THE SENSOR, AND THAT IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. *AK

• 09/12/2001· STEERING

  THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKS AND JAMS, THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN LOOSE TO BE ABLE TO TURN CAR ON OR TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. NLM

• 09/04/2001· AIR BAGS

  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR A DEER CROSSING DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

• 09/01/2000· POWER TRAIN

  CAR WILL NOT STAY IN 2ND GEAR WHEN TEMPERATURE IS LESS THAN 20 DEGREES..IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHEN PULLING OUT OF INTERSECTIONS. HAS DONE THIS SINCE NEW AND DEALER SAYS SORRY.

• 08/30/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  NO SUMMARY.

• 08/28/2000· STEERINGCrash

  WHEN TURNING LEFT, STEERING LOCKED IN LEFT TURN. TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE FAR RIGHT DID NOT CORRECT LEFT TURN CONDITION. ACCIDENT RESULTED IN CAR OVERTURNING - DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY

• 08/28/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL VAPOR ODORS ARE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 08/25/1998· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED.

• 08/24/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,TIRESCrash

  HAVE HAD RECENT OIL LEAK AND AS OF 08/24/00 WHITE SMOKE BLOWING OUT OF EXHAUST ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES ON.. I HAVE HAD AIRCONDITIONING LEAKING INTO PASSANGER SIDE SO IT CANT BE USED, I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR AT EVERY 3 MONTHS.. THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED FIRST MONTH I OWED CAR AND ONLY WHEN IT RAINED WHICH CAUSED A WRECK ON 09/99 DUE TO NO BRAKES AT THAT TIME. HAVE HAD FRONT BREAKS REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID HE COULDNT SEE ANY WEAR ON THEM BUT NEED REPLACED.. MY TURN SIGNALS FUSES REPLACED ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES , 3 WKS AGO HAD THEM REPLACED AND NOW HAVE NO TURN SIGNALS. ..( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16570/13 )

• 08/22/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

  HAVE HAD PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THIS CAR, CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS.. AM NOW LEAKING OIL AND LOSING COOLANT

• 08/16/2007· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND FLASHES FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. DOES IT MEAN AIR BAGS ARE OUT OF SERVICE, MALFUNCTIONING? THE VEHICLE HAD NO ACCIDENTS, AND IN GOOD MAINTAINED CONDITION. *JB

• 08/14/2000· POWER TRAIN

  AFTER FRED FIRST MECHANIC REPAIRED TRANSAXLE, I EXAMINED THE FOUR SPIDER GEARS FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. THEY WERE WORN COMPLETELY, AS IF FROM SEVERE ABUSE. HOWEVER, I AM THE SOLE DRIVER AND I KNOW THERE WAS NO ABUSE. EVEN THE MECHANIC COMMENTED THAT WHEN HE SEES ABUSE, SOME OTHER PARTS IN THE TRANSAXLE WILL ALSO SHOW ABUSE. HE SAID THAT ALL OF THE OTHER GEARS IN THE TRANSAXLE WERE VIRTUALLY PERFECT. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE DIFFERENTIAL. HOWEVER, FORD(DETROIT) MADE ME PAY A $305 WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT FEE BECAUSE I WAS 3000 MILES PAST WARRANTY. I SAVED ABOUT $400 DOLLARS. I FEEL THAT THE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *AK

• 08/13/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES EXTREME NOISE IN THE LOW END CAUSED ME TO PULL INTO LYTHIA FORD OF BOISE, ID. THE ENGINE CONTAINED SUFFICIENT OIL AND THE SOIL PRESSURE INDICATOR WAS IN THE NORMAL RANGE. LYTHIA FORD INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND AFTER PERFORMING TESTS DECIDE THAT I NEED A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. THEY INDICATEDED THAT THE PREVIOUS ENGINE HAD ROD BEARINGS WITH EXCESSIVE PLAY.I BELIEVE THAT HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE THAT THE ENGINE COULD HAVE LOCKED UP CREATING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYY.*AK

• 07/28/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  PROBLEMS WITH RUBBER HOSE, RUST AND CORROSION TO THE METALLIC BRAKE LINES.*MR *CB

• 07/27/2005· STEERING

  DRIVER SIDE TIE-ROD SEPERATION '97 FORD EXPEDITION WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY. LOSE OF STEERING CONTROL. SERIOUS ACCIDENT AVOIDED ONLY BECAUSE OF EMERGENCY BRAKING.

• 07/23/2002· POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE HAS HAD (3) TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED WITH ONE OF THE TRANSMISSIONS LOSING A PIN, RESULTING IN SYSTEM HAVING POWER FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

• 07/23/1999· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED "LOOSE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WHERE THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE GEARS. ALSO, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND DEALER REPLACED IT, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IN ADDITION, KEY BREAKS IN THE DOOR LOCKS/ VEHICLE IDLES AND STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY/DRIVER'S SEAT IS VERY LOOSE, DEALER TIGHTENED THE SEAT,BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING/, AND ALL DOORS WERE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. OCCUPANT NEEDED TO SLAM THE DOOR AND CUT HER FINGER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 07/15/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR. BEFORE THE DRIVER HIT OTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT OTHER VEHICLE. *AK

• 07/11/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THERE IS A FUEL SMELL COMING FOM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAMES ON. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

• 07/07/1997· STRUCTURE

  THIS IS A RENTAL VEHICLE AND WHILE GOING 40MPH THE HOOD FLEW UP, HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN FLEW OFF THE CAR. THE HOOD WAS MAKING A POPPING NOISE PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. *AK

• 06/27/2002· VISIBILITY

  DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS IMPLODED TWO TIMES. VEHICLE WAS NOT OCCUPIED. FIRST IMPLOSION WAS AUGUST OF 1999 AND SECOND IMPLOSION WAS JUNE OF 2002. COST TO REPLACE WAS COVERED FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY. COST TO REPLACE SECOND TIME WAS $276.00 AND WAS NOT COVERED BY FORD. SEVERAL INTERNET WEBSITES INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.THANKFUL THIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED AT EACH OCCURRENCE. *AK

• 06/25/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL VAPORS, ARE NOTICEABLE WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED. DEALERS HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS, INCLUDING FUEL VAPOR CANISTER. PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK

• 06/09/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER EXPERIENCING GAS FUME IN CABIN OF VEHICLE. NLM

• 06/05/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INCIDENT LIKE MANY OTHERS I HAVE HAD MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION XLT BLOW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE AND TROUBLE FREE WHEN A POP FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A LOUD BANGING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP ; WHO IN TURN CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE REPLY WAS THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. MY LOCAL SERVICE TECH SAID THE REPAIR KIT ALONE WOULD COST $1,000,00. TO REPAIR IT HE SAID THAT FORD HAD ONLY USED 3 THREADS IN THE HEAD THAT FAILED, BUT ARE NOW REPLACING THEM WITH A 7 THREAD HEAD., THIS TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT ARE WILLING TO LEAVE THEIR CUSTOMERS OUT TO DRY.. I GUESS THE SCARY PART ABOUT THAT IS I STILL HAVE 4 MORE 3 THREAD SPARK PLUG HOLES TO WORRY ABOUT BLOWING OUT,.I ABSOLUTELY FEEL THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO IS LOOKING FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO BUY IT'S TRUCKS. DAMAGE RESULTING IT WILL COST ME AS LITTLE AS $2,500.00 TO REPAIR THE CURRENT PROBLEM ( AND NO GUARANTY IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN). OR UP TO $5,500.00 TO REPLACE THE BUILT TOUGH 5.4 TRITON ENGINE. *TR

• 05/28/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE ENGINE STALLS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE OFF AFTER STOPS DUE TO A FAULTY DISTRIBUTOR CAP. DEALER SAYS THERE IS A BACK ORDER ON THIS PART. *AK

• 05/26/1999· AIR BAGS

  THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT BLINKS REPEATEDLY DESPITE FOUR REPAIR ATTEMPTS. *AK

• 05/26/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VISIBILITY

  VENTILATION SYSTEM DRAWS EXHAUST FUMES INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.