1995 Ford Aspire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ASPIRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND SHE WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING THE FAILURE DUE TO AGE. THE DEALER DID NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE NOR WAS A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,485 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,850. UPDATED 1/17/2012 *LN *TR

ON A 1995 FORD ASPIRE WITH 101,847 MILES, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS GETTING HARDER TO PUSH DOWN AND GETTING CLOSER TO THE FLOOR UPON RELEASE EVEN THOUGH A NEW CLUTCH WAS PUT IN A YEAR EARLIER. ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED TO MOVE AROUND SLIGHTLY. BOTH THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE ON THE SAME BRACKET. I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I THOUGHT THE CABLE HAD BROKEN BUT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE BRACKET HAD COME THROUGH THE FIREWALL. A NEW BRACKET HAD TO BE FABRICATED AND THE FIREWALL STRENGTHENED. *TR

1995 FORD ASPIRE- HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND REPAIR SHOP IS UNABLE TO OBTAIN A USED REPLACEMENT PART BECAUSE ALL OF THE ONES IT HAS OBTAINED ARE ALREADY BROKEN. COST OF NEW PART IS $400, WHICH IS PROBABLY MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. *LA

GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) WHILE DRIVING. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY DUE TO LIGHT TRAFFIC, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS OTHERWISE. *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT ARM HOLDING WHEEL WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED . TS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED INTO FORD DEALERSHIP TWICE, AFTER EXTENSIVE 2 AND 4 DAY TROUBLESHOOTING DIAGNOSTICS TESTS, WITH STILL NO FINDINGS AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS LAST FAILURE THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START, BUT TWO DAYS LATER IT STARTS AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. VEHICLE HAS STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC, WHILE IN PARK AND WHEN RETURNING FROM MULTIPLE DESTINATIONS. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BECOMING A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL FLAW IF NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE CAN BE DETECTED ANLONG WITH A MEANS OF CORRECTING THE MALFUNCTION.*AK

SPEEDOMETER CABLE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE; ONCE IN 1997, AND ONCE IN 1999. VEHICLE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTATCED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

BALL JOINT BROKE WHEN TURNING AT 15 MPH WHICH TORE OUT THE CV JOINT. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20-25MPH ON A DRY 2 LANE ROAD AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. AS THEY MET TOWARD THE CENTER OF INTERSECTION. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO HIT HEAD- ON OTHER VEHICLE. AT SAME TIME PASSENGER'S CAR HIT CONSUMER'S FRONT RIGHT SIDE, DAMAGING BUMPER/TIRE AND DOOR. BETWEEN THE 2 IMPACTS AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. CONSUMER DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT AN ISSUE OF THEIRS.CONSUMER APPEALED TO THE AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE. INSURANCE ADJUSTER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO INSPECT VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT, CAR HIT CURB, AND RAN INTO A BRICKWALL HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, DRIVER WAS PREVIOUSLY IN A CRASH, WHERE HE WAS REARENDED AND FORCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, THEN NEITHER OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN CHECKED.*AIK

WAS TOLD BY FORD I NEEDED TO SEARCH JUNK YARD FOR REPLACEMENT OF KNUCKLE, NO LONGER BEING MADE, I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON CAR. *AK

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

THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED ON HIS LEFT HAND/WRIST/FOREARM, THE CONTENTS OF THE AIR BAG WAS INHALED BY THE DRIVER AND LEFT THE DRIVER CHOKING AND HAS DEVELOPED BRONCHITIS. THE DRIVER HAS SEEN A DOCTOR AND WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE DOCTOR TO DOCUMENT THE SYMPTOMS. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE DOCTOR ARE NOT AWARE OF THE CHEMICALS USED TO DEPLOY THE SRS. THE DRIVERS SWEATER WAS BURNED AND MELTED, THE LONG-SLEEVE SHIRT WAS BURNED, AND THE BURN CONTINUED THROUGH TO THE SKIN. THE OFFICER RESPONDING TO THE ACCIDENT HAS NOT HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AS WELL AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK

FRONT CRASH AT 35 MPH, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS REPAIR ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES AND ONLY 6 YEARS. THE FORD REPAIR SHOP STATES IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT THE CONVERTER FAILED ON ITS OWN AND NOT DUE TO OWNER'S FAULT.*AK

THE RUBBER ON CONSUMER FIRESTONE TIRES PILED OFF, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES WER NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-005. NLM

THE THROW OUT BEARING STARTED TO GO OUT, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HAD TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. I HAD SHIFTED DOWN TO 4TH GEAR, AFTER I HAD DONE THAT, IT POPPED OUT OF 4TH GEAR TWICE NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ALMOST HOME, SO I PROCEEDED, AFTER A WHILE LONGER THE CAR HESITATED FOR A SPLIT SECOND THEN PROCEED FOR ABOUT A 1/4 MILE WHEN IT LOST ALL TRANSMISSION POWER. AFTER THIS OCCURED, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN FINE. MY CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP NEEDING A NEW CLUTCH & TRANSMISSION. THE SHOP SAYS THAT THE PLANETARY GEARS BROKE, INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION.

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH, CAR SWERVES AND IS HARD TO CONTROL. WHEN CAR IS PUT IN DRIVE, IT MOVES IN REVERSE. TOOK CAR BACK TO FORD SERVICE AND THEY SAY THIS IS "NORMAL"?*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON FRONTAL IMPACT, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY . PASSENGER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF PROBLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER HAS ALWAYS MADENOISE WHEN OPERATING NOW FAILING AT LOW SPEEDS CAPITAL FORD SAID NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT $1300 . SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC AT, TIMES CAUSING AN INACCURATE AND SHAKY READOUT. THE VIBRATION HAS NOW CAUSED THE NEEDLE TO BREAK OFF DASH HAS NEVER BEEN OPENED THAT I'M AWARE OF WE CAN NO LONGER TELL HOW FAST VEHICLE IS TRAVELING.

WINDOW WAS DOWN WHEN THE DOOR WAS SHUT AND THE WINDOW SHATTERED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN 5 MONTHS. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, REPLACED DIAGNOSTIC MODULE BUT FLASHING PERSIST.

WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE SHATTERED WHEN DOOR WAS CLOSED AND WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN AT THE TIME, WINDOW REPLACED AND INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME.

VEHICLE SMELLS OF GASOLINE VERY STRONGLY. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. WINDOWS UP OR DOWN THERE IS STILL A STRONG SMELL, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

CLUTCH CABLE BROKE, CAUSES VEHICLE ACCELERATE FORWARD WHENEVER CONSUMER LEFT OFF CLUTCH PEDAL. FOUND CRACKED BRACKET WHICH HELD CABLE AS THE CAUSE FOR THE CABLE BREAKING. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. REPAIR WOULD BE DONE AT COST TO CONSUMER. *AK *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE ENGINE SEIZED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER 6 TIMES, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

FRONT OF VEHICLE HIT BY PARTICAL BOARD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. IMPACT CAUSED VEHICLE HOOD TO FLIPPED UP, BLOCKING WINDSHIELD. HOOD COULD NOT BE LET DOWN TO ALLOW TO DRIVE OFF HIGHWAY.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON ACCIDENT WITH A TRUCK ON A NARROW ROAD FOR TWO-WAY TRAFFIC. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING NEAR ACCIDETS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE IGNITION FREEZES UP WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, CAUSING DIFFICULTY TURNING KEY TO START.

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED. *AK

DISTRIBUTOR SHORTS OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN. *AK

WHEEL BEARINGS ARE CONTINUOUSLY FAILING CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY GO OUT OF CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS.

TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF.

GEAR SHIFT LEVER DISENGAGED FROM THE PANEL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFT LEVER. *AK WHILE REPLACING, DEALER STATED THAT THE PART HAD BEEN REDESIGNED. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, THE FIRE WAS LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. *AK CONSUMER STATED HORN SHORTED AND ALERTED CONSUMER.*JB

BATTERY FAILED.

VEHICLE'S WINDOW WAS DOWN AND CONSUMER CLOSED THE DOOR AND THE WHOLE WINDOW SHATTERED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

DEFOGGER INOPERATIVE, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO FORM ICE ON THE INSIDE/POOR VISIBILITY.

INSIDE WINDSHIELD ICES UP.

THE HORN BUTTONS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK. *AK *SLC

PURCHASED CAR USED, CAR WAS REPAIRED BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT, NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

STRONG ODOR INSIDE OF VEHICLE, ODOR IS COMING FROM FUEL TANK THAT IS SITUATED TOO CLOSE TO DRIVER. *AK

DURING COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER.