1996 Ford Aspire recalls & problems
The 1996 Ford Aspire has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 33 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (9 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1996 Ford Aspire.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1996 Ford Aspire 4-DR.
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Aspire
| City / highway | 29 / 38 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,050/year to fuel
Aspire
| City / highway | 25 / 31 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components; Foundation components › Disc | 9 | — |
| Air bags Frontal | 6 | — |
| Electrical system Ignition; Wiring › Front underhood | 6 | — |
| Power train Automatic transmission | 4 | — |
| Visibility Defroster/defogger/hvac system; Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages | 3 | — |
| Suspension Front | 3 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline Delivery › Fuel pump | 3 | — |
| Seat belts Front › Retractor; Rear/other | 2 | — |
| Steering Linkages | 2 | — |
| Tires | 1 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline | 1 | — |
| Wheels Rim | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Jan 11, 2006 · 83,000 miles · crashService brakes, hydraulic
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED, WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A BRICK WALL AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. ALSO, AT 14,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. AT 55,000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND… - Jun 20, 2003Seat belts › Rear/other
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT REAR SAFETY BELT DOES NOT STAY SECURELY FASTENED, A CHILD CAN EASILY PULL BELT TO RELEASE.*AK - May 23, 2003 · crashAir bags › Frontal
THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE RIGHT WHEEL HIT A GRAVEL PATCH AND SLID INTO A EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *NLM - Jun 15, 2001Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON JANUARY 4, 1999. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. KEY WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. - Sep 1, 2001Air bags
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING, NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK - Feb 18, 2001Power train › Automatic transmission
TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETLY AS DRIVER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. *AK - Oct 10, 2000Electrical system › Ignition
MY ASPIRE EXHIBITED A NUMBER OF COMPONENT FAILURES, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THEM. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, THE DISTRIUBUTOR FAILURE OCCURRED AS I ENTERED AN INTERSECTION, AND AS A RESULT THE CAR STALLED AT THE LIGHT NOT IN THE TRAFFIC LANE. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE STEERING COMPONENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION BUT I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. IN THE THIRD INSTANCE, THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO START, BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE PART COULD HAVE FAILED DURING OPERATION AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A STALL. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY. DISAPPOINTED IN THE ASPIRE, BUT… - Aug 5, 2000Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
NO SUMMARY
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- PE98040 · opened Jul 15, 1998 · closed Nov 16, 1998FUEL VAPOR VALVE LEAKS
There is no summary currently available