1997 Ford Aspire recalls & problems
The 1997 Ford Aspire has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 60 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (14 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1997 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
1997 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 | 24 / 29 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/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* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system Ignition; Wiring › Front underhood | 14 | — |
| Air bags Frontal; Side/window | 14 | 101,000 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling Exhaust system › Emission control; Engine › Gasoline | 12 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline Delivery › Fuel pump; Storage › Tank assembly | 11 | — |
| Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl) | 7 | — |
| Wheels Rim; Hub | 5 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc | 4 | — |
| Unknown or other | 4 | — |
| Structure Body › Hood › Hinge and attachments; Body › Door | 3 | — |
| Steering Steering wheel/handle bar; Column locking › Anti-theft device | 3 | — |
| Visibility Windshield | 2 | — |
| Tires | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Sep 7, 2008 · 92,000 milesTires
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 - Mar 1, 2001 · 30,000 milesAir 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 - Mar 31, 2007 · 293,212 milesFuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
I OWN A 1997 FORD ASPIRE AND I WAS DRIVING THE OTHER DAY AND I STOPPED AT THE STORE. WHEN I LEFT THE STORE AND GOT IN MY CAR TO CRANK IT UP THE CAR SPUTTERED AND SHOOK THEN STOPPED RUNNING. I LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS POURING OUT GAS. I CALLED A MECHANIC TO COME AND FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH COST ME 300 DOLLARS. WHEN I TOLD THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM, HE SAID THAT THIS WAS RECALLED ON THE 1994 MODEL YEAR OF THIS CAR, BUT MY CAR IS A 1997, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED ON FUTURE CARS. I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED SINCE IT WAS RECALLED ON A EARLIER MODEL, BUT I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN A LATER MODEL CAR. *JB - Jan 5, 2005Wheels › Hub
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR WHEEL HUBS, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL HUB WERE CRACKED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE .*AK - Apr 15, 2003 · 101,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags
DURING A CRASH INTO A LIGHT POLE AT 25 MPH THE AIR BAGS IN OUR 1997 FORD ASPIRE EXPLODED INTO THE FACE OF MY 15 YEAR WHO WAS FULLY RESTRAINED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HE IS 5'11" AND 168 LBS. HE IS SUFFERING FROM "BURNS" BRUISING, SEVER MOUTH LACERATIONS (HE HAS BRACES). HE IS ALSO UNABLE TO SEE IN THE EYE THAT WAS HIT, DUE TO THE IMPRINT OF THE BAG SCORED INTO HIS CORNEA. THE 17 YEAR OLD DRIVER HAS A CRACKED RIB. - May 3, 2002Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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 - Dec 2, 2002 · 85,464 milesUnknown or other
SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO WHIRR LOUDLY. NEEDLE BEGAN TO GYRATE, THEN SURGE TO 100 MPH. NEEDLE THEN BROKE OFF AND FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PLASTIC LENS. *JB - Apr 5, 2003 · 101,000 miles · crash · 2 injuriesAir bags › Frontal
MY TWO TEENAGE SONS ARE SUFFERING FROM INJURIES CAUSED BY THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAGS IN OUR 1997 FORD ASPIRE. MY OLDEST SON, THE DRIVER IS SUFFERING FROM A BROKEN RIB, AND MY YOUNGER SON, THE PASSENGER HAS 2ND - 3RD DEGREE BURNS AND SEVERE BRUISING TO HIS FACE, AS WELL AS HIS EYE. THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS WAS ABLE TO SEE THE IMPRINT OF THE BAG ON HIS CORNEA. THEIR AGES ARE 17 AND 15, THEY ARE BOTH 5'11" AND WEIGH 168 LBS. THEY ARE NOT SMALL CHILDREN. THEY WERE BOTH PROPERLY RESTRAINED WITH LAP AND SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE CAR SLID INTO A LIGHT POLE AT ABOUT 25 MPH DURING A RAINSTORM. *NLM
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