IllustrationDISTRIBUTOR CAP FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
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 reportsFUEL VAPOR ODORS ARE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR. BEFORE THE DRIVER HIT OTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT OTHER VEHICLE. *AK
FUEL VAPORS, ARE NOTICEABLE WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED. DEALERS HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS, INCLUDING FUEL VAPOR CANISTER. PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK
THE ENGINE STALLS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE OFF AFTER STOPS DUE TO A FAULTY DISTRIBUTOR CAP. DEALER SAYS THERE IS A BACK ORDER ON THIS PART. *AK
WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO SMALL ROCK HITTING IT. 2ND TIME A CINDER HIT WINDSHIELD, BROKE AGAIN. DEALER SAID THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN WEAKER GLASS DUE TO THE ECOMONY. THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT INIJURIES. *AK
DOORS LEAK WATER THROUGH MIRRORS ONTO SPEAKERS IN DOORS, SHORTING THEM OUT STEREO. OWNER RENTED AN IDENTICAL MAKE AND MODEL AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS.
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS OFF FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS, OWNER NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON , ON 26 OF AUG OF 97. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER ON THE 26 TH OF AUG. 97 TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS THE SENSOR, AND THAT IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. T…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS OFF FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS, OWNER NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON , ON 26 OF AUG OF 97. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER ON THE 26 TH OF AUG. 97 TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS THE SENSOR, AND THAT IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. *AK
THIS IS A RENTAL VEHICLE AND WHILE GOING 40MPH THE HOOD FLEW UP, HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN FLEW OFF THE CAR. THE HOOD WAS MAKING A POPPING NOISE PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. *AK
VAPOR SEPARATOR FOR FUEL SYSTEM IS EMITTING ODOR. *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