1997 Ford ASPIRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
96,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 42 complaints (11.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 9.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 9.5% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
Air Bags: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 36 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2000: 20; 2001: 8; 2002: 5; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 732035 · 2000-09-20 (September 20, 2000)
HAD BATTERY, FUEL PUMP, AND EVEN STARTER REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNCOOPERATIVE, WORRIED MORE ABOUT MONEY THAN SOLVING PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 732035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8021176 · 2002-10-18 (October 18, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RIMS ON HER VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR. CONSUMER WAS INFOMRED A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8021176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004450 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 716736 · 2000-01-02 (January 2, 2000)
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 R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 716736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 568351 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 568351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728967 · 2000-08-24 (August 24, 2000)
HAVE HAD RECENT OIL LEAK AND AS OF 08/24/00 WHITE SMOKE BLOWING OUT OF EXHAUST ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES ON.. I HAVE HAD AIRCONDITIONING LEAKING INTO PASSANGER SIDE SO IT CANT BE USED, I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR AT EVERY 3 MONTHS.. THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED FIRST MONTH I OWED CAR AND ONLY WHEN IT RAINED WHICH CAUSED A WRECK ON 09/99 DUE TO NO BRAKES AT THAT TIME. HAVE HAD FRONT BREAKS REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID HE COULDNT SEE ANY WEAR ON THEM BUT NEED REPLACED.. MY TURN SIGNALS FUSES REPLACED ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES , 3 WKS AGO HAD THEM REPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 729340 · 2000-08-28 (August 28, 2000)
WHEN TURNING LEFT, STEERING LOCKED IN LEFT TURN. TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE FAR RIGHT DID NOT CORRECT LEFT TURN CONDITION. ACCIDENT RESULTED IN CAR OVERTURNING - DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 729340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 785467 · 2001-09-12 (September 12, 2001)
THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKS AND JAMS, THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN LOOSE TO BE ABLE TO TURN CAR ON OR TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 785467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 754272 · 2001-11-08 (November 8, 2001)
1997 FORD ASPIRE.50 MPH ON MAJOR ROUTE IN DENVER WHEN CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL GEARS. 55,400 MILES ON CAR, I AM NOT A SPEEDRACER, NOR WAS PREVIOUS OWNER, TORQUE CONVERTER THOROUGHLY RUINED, $1000 TO FIX, POSSIBLY MORE IF WHOLE TRANNY IS SHOT. NARROWLY ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY OF ANY KIND. CAR NOT DRIVABLE AS IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO GEAR SELECTION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 754272 at NHTSA ↗