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1997 Ford Aspire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Ford Aspire do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 54.

About this comparison →
60Owner 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

Air Bags
14Electrical System
12Engine And Engine Cooling
11Fuel System, Gasoline
11Power Train
7
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Unknown Or Other
4Wheels
4Steering
3Structure
3Exterior Lighting
2Tires
2Visibility
2Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1Suspension
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 6 of 60 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

11 reports
Clear category filter
293,212 miles · Apr 2, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10186732

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ODI #10004450

Mileage unknown · Nov 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.

NHTSA ODI #754981

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineUnknown 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

NHTSA ODI #892533

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

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

NHTSA ODI #874632

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2000
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineSuspension

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

NHTSA ODI #732035

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #728712

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

I OWN A 1997 FORD ASPIRE. THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT. THE CAR IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. I TOOK IT TO SOUTHBAY FORD IN HAWTHORNE, CA AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 1.200.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY COULDN'T HELP ME SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I OWNLY HAVE 51,434 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAV…

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I OWN A 1997 FORD ASPIRE. THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT. THE CAR IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. I TOOK IT TO SOUTHBAY FORD IN HAWTHORNE, CA AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 1.200.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY COULDN'T HELP ME SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I OWNLY HAVE 51,434 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT FORD CHARGING ASTRONOMICAL FIGURE ON THE ASPIRE. ESPECIALLY SICNCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER SOLD IN AMERICA. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A TUNE UP. FOR FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM THEN. PLEASE RESPOND BACK TO MY COMPLAINT. I FEEL THAT I AM BEING ROBBED BLIND FOR A SIMPLE FUEL PUMP REPAIR. THANK YOU CHRIS JOHNSON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716736

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

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

NHTSA ODI #827362

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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

NHTSA ODI #824229

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