1997 Ford ASPIRE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10014147 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
MY TWO TEENAGE SONS ARE SUFFERING FROM INJURIES CAUSED BY THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAGS IN OUR 1997 FORD ASPIRE. MY OLDEST SON, THE DRIVER IS SUFFERING FROM A BROKEN RIB, AND MY YOUNGER SON, THE PASSENGER HAS 2ND - 3RD DEGREE BURNS AND SEVERE BRUISING TO HIS FACE, AS WELL AS HIS EYE. THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS WAS ABLE TO SEE THE IMPRINT OF THE BAG ON HIS CORNEA. THEIR AGES ARE 17 AND 15, THEY ARE BOTH 5'11" AND WEIGH 168 LBS. THEY ARE NOT SMALL CHILDREN. THEY WERE BOTH PROPERLY RESTRAINED WITH LAP AND SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE CAR SLID INT…
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018380 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO WHIRR LOUDLY. NEEDLE BEGAN TO GYRATE, THEN SURGE TO 100 MPH. NEEDLE THEN BROKE OFF AND FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PLASTIC LENS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 85,464 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050619 · 2003-12-16 (December 16, 2003)
AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES CODE 32 ALL THE TIME. WILL STOP ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. HAVE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR AND SEEMS TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070184 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
DURING A CRASH INTO A LIGHT POLE AT 25 MPH THE AIR BAGS IN OUR 1997 FORD ASPIRE EXPLODED INTO THE FACE OF MY 15 YEAR WHO WAS FULLY RESTRAINED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HE IS 5'11" AND 168 LBS. HE IS SUFFERING FROM "BURNS" BRUISING, SEVER MOUTH LACERATIONS (HE HAS BRACES). HE IS ALSO UNABLE TO SEE IN THE EYE THAT WAS HIT, DUE TO THE IMPRINT OF THE BAG SCORED INTO HIS CORNEA. THE 17 YEAR OLD DRIVER HAS A CRACKED RIB.
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117393 · 2005-04-04 (April 4, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR WHEEL HUBS, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL HUB WERE CRACKED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE .*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186732 · 2007-04-02 (April 2, 2007)
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 TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 293,212 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199825 · 2007-08-16 (August 16, 2007)
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND FLASHES FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. DOES IT MEAN AIR BAGS ARE OUT OF SERVICE, MALFUNCTIONING? THE VEHICLE HAD NO ACCIDENTS, AND IN GOOD MAINTAINED CONDITION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199825 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.