SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1996 Ford Aspire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Ford Aspire do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 54.

About this comparison →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 54

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
54
199464
199533
199660
1997
Compare all Aspire years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Air Bags
6Electrical System
5Power Train
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3
All reported categories
Suspension
3Visibility
3Seat Belts
2Steering
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Tires
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 33 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

8 reports
Clear category filter
83,000 miles · Feb 14, 2006
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrash

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…

Read full complaint

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 THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT A FINAL TIME AT 65,000 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10150215

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels

FRONT WHEELS VIBRATE ON HIGHWAY, DUE TO POSSIBLE FAULTY RIMS. YH

NHTSA ODI #547846

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES. FORD TURNED THE ROTORS, AND STATED ASPIRES HAVE BAD BRAKES. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS I HAVE OWNED 4 OF THESE CARS.

NHTSA ODI #705433

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires

ROTORS AND PADS EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE WEAR, ROTORS WERE WARPED.

NHTSA ODI #542635

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AT 800 MILES, THE FRONT ROTORS WARPED. THEY HAD TO BE REMACHINED. AT 13,000 MILES THE FRONT ROTORS WARPED AGAIN. THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AT 55 MILES AN HOUR THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES MORE. AT HIGHWAY DRIVING, WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN OR C…

Read full complaint

AT 800 MILES, THE FRONT ROTORS WARPED. THEY HAD TO BE REMACHINED. AT 13,000 MILES THE FRONT ROTORS WARPED AGAIN. THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AT 55 MILES AN HOUR THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES MORE. AT HIGHWAY DRIVING, WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN OR CHANGE LANES, THE STEERING IS HARD TO CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #700461

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & TOLD THAT ROTORS & PADS WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY. THEY NEEDED REPLACING. PASSENGER FRONT WAS WORSE. THE OTHER 3 WERE WARPED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828989

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.

NHTSA ODI #537883

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE DESIGN OF THE ADJUSTMENT/THRUST ROD CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES AND SLOW BRAKE ENGAGEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #532967

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE98040 · Fuel Vapor Valve Leaks

Opened Jul 15, 1998 · Closed Nov 16, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available