IllustrationWAS 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
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Aspire years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
33 reportsWHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTED IT SHATTERED THE WINDOW , CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
BRAKES EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER (BACK, CHEST, NECK , ARMS, SHOULDERS, FACE).
WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE PIVOT ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO FAIL 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. *AK
BRAKE DESIGN OF THE ADJUSTMENT/THRUST ROD CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES AND SLOW BRAKE ENGAGEMENT.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 30-35 MPH THE CONSUMER HIT A VEHICLE THAT WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF HER VEHICLE, SHE HIT THE FRONT OF THE OTHER VEHICLE, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, NEITHER OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY DID NOT TELL CONSUMER WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT D…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 30-35 MPH THE CONSUMER HIT A VEHICLE THAT WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF HER VEHICLE, SHE HIT THE FRONT OF THE OTHER VEHICLE, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, NEITHER OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY DID NOT TELL CONSUMER WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT. DRIVER CANNOT CONTROL THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT AND THAT WAS IN 1996. DEALER SAID THAT THE CASTER IS NOT ADJUSTABLE TO THE VEHICLE SO THEY CANNOT FIX THE VEHICLE.. *AK
STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AROUND CORNERS. DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED. *AK
WHI8LE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO DRIVER . *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
1PE98040 · 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