IllustrationTHE IGNITION SYSTEM INSIDE THE DESTRIBUTOR HAS GONE OUT ON MY CAR 4 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
60 reportsI 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…
Read full complaint
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
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING THE GEARS TO LOCK UP WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *YC
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES, AND THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO,AIR BAG LIGHT/ ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ARE ON. *AK
WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE WHEN DRVING, THE DOOR OPENS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DOOR HINGE. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED "LOOSE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WHERE THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE GEARS. ALSO, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND DEALER REPLACED IT, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IN ADDITION, KEY BREAKS IN THE DOOR LOCKS/ VEHICLE IDLES AND STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY/DRIVER'S SEAT IS VERY LOOSE, DEALER TIGHTENED THE SEAT,BUT PROBLE…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED "LOOSE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WHERE THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE GEARS. ALSO, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND DEALER REPLACED IT, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IN ADDITION, KEY BREAKS IN THE DOOR LOCKS/ VEHICLE IDLES AND STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY/DRIVER'S SEAT IS VERY LOOSE, DEALER TIGHTENED THE SEAT,BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING/, AND ALL DOORS WERE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. OCCUPANT NEEDED TO SLAM THE DOOR AND CUT HER FINGER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING GAS FUME IN CABIN OF VEHICLE. NLM
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT BLINKS REPEATEDLY DESPITE FOUR REPAIR ATTEMPTS. *AK
RADIATOR CAP FAILED.
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