1997 Ford Aspire

CAR SUDDENLY STARTED VIBRATING VIOLENTLY. CAUSE WAS A SIX INCH SECTION OF TREAD APPEARED TO HAVE SEPARATED INTERNALLY. STOPPED BEFORE TIRE FAILED COMPLETELY. 30,000 MILES ON A TIRE GUARANTEED FOR 75,000 MILES. DEALER SAID 62% OF WEAR HAD OCCURRED. *TR

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

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 THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED SINCE IT WAS RECALLED ON A EARLIER MODEL, BUT I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN A LATER MODEL CAR. *JB

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

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.

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

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

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 INTO A LIGHT POLE AT ABOUT 25 MPH DURING A RAINSTORM. *NLM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED.*JB

AIR BAG LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATING AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DUE TO POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING. *SCC...*AK

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

VEHICLE HAS HAD (3) TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED WITH ONE OF THE TRANSMISSIONS LOSING A PIN, RESULTING IN SYSTEM HAVING POWER FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS IMPLODED TWO TIMES. VEHICLE WAS NOT OCCUPIED. FIRST IMPLOSION WAS AUGUST OF 1999 AND SECOND IMPLOSION WAS JUNE OF 2002. COST TO REPLACE WAS COVERED FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY. COST TO REPLACE SECOND TIME WAS $276.00 AND WAS NOT COVERED BY FORD. SEVERAL INTERNET WEBSITES INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.THANKFUL THIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED AT EACH OCCURRENCE. *AK

BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART, THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION SYSTEM LEAKED GASOLINE FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND HAD APPARENTLY DONE SO SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. THE DEALER REP. STATED THAT THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST WITH 2 OR 3 OTHERS.

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.

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

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR A DEER CROSSING DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THERE IS A FUEL SMELL COMING FOM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAMES ON. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

SRS/ AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING RADIO, AND ALL ELECTRICAL POWERED UNITS WENT OUT. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AND THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER HOOD THAT APPEARED TO START NEAR WIRE HARNESS. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY FIRE DEPARTMENT. FORD HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR A ENGINE CHECK LIGHT 4 TIMES IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS. EACH TIME, THE MECHANICS CLAIMED A DIFFERENT CAUSE FOR THE CODES IN MEMORY. THE PROBLEM IS, IF IT IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT 58481 MILES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR IT TO CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED AGAIN YET, BUT THE LAST VISIT, NOTHING WAS CHANGED TO REMEDY ANY UNDERLYING PROBLEM. I THINK FOUR TIMES FOR A PROBLEM IS A BIT OUT OF LINE, AND WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM SINCE IT OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY SUPPOSEDLY ENDED. FULL DETAILS OF THE CASE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, FINANCIAL FRAUD DIVISION IN OREGON.

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *MJS

DISTRIBUTOR SHORTED OUT/ MULTI FUCTION SWITCH MALFUCTIONED/ ALTERNATOR MALFUCTION ALTENATOR BROKE OFF HOUSING. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING SMELLED FUEL IN SIDE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEAE PFROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL IS BROKEN

HAD BATTERY, FUEL PUMP, AND EVEN STARTER REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNCOOPERATIVE, WORRIED MORE ABOUT MONEY THAN SOLVING PROBLEM.

CAR WILL NOT STAY IN 2ND GEAR WHEN TEMPERATURE IS LESS THAN 20 DEGREES..IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHEN PULLING OUT OF INTERSECTIONS. HAS DONE THIS SINCE NEW AND DEALER SAYS SORRY.

NO SUMMARY.

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

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 REPLACED AND NOW HAVE NO TURN SIGNALS. ..( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16570/13 )

HAVE HAD PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THIS CAR, CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS.. AM NOW LEAKING OIL AND LOSING COOLANT

AFTER FRED FIRST MECHANIC REPAIRED TRANSAXLE, I EXAMINED THE FOUR SPIDER GEARS FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. THEY WERE WORN COMPLETELY, AS IF FROM SEVERE ABUSE. HOWEVER, I AM THE SOLE DRIVER AND I KNOW THERE WAS NO ABUSE. EVEN THE MECHANIC COMMENTED THAT WHEN HE SEES ABUSE, SOME OTHER PARTS IN THE TRANSAXLE WILL ALSO SHOW ABUSE. HE SAID THAT ALL OF THE OTHER GEARS IN THE TRANSAXLE WERE VIRTUALLY PERFECT. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE DIFFERENTIAL. HOWEVER, FORD(DETROIT) MADE ME PAY A $305 WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT FEE BECAUSE I WAS 3000 MILES PAST WARRANTY. I SAVED ABOUT $400 DOLLARS. I FEEL THAT THE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *AK

AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES EXTREME NOISE IN THE LOW END CAUSED ME TO PULL INTO LYTHIA FORD OF BOISE, ID. THE ENGINE CONTAINED SUFFICIENT OIL AND THE SOIL PRESSURE INDICATOR WAS IN THE NORMAL RANGE. LYTHIA FORD INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND AFTER PERFORMING TESTS DECIDE THAT I NEED A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. THEY INDICATEDED THAT THE PREVIOUS ENGINE HAD ROD BEARINGS WITH EXCESSIVE PLAY.I BELIEVE THAT HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE THAT THE ENGINE COULD HAVE LOCKED UP CREATING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYY.*AK

RIGHT FRONT , LEFT FRONT SEAT BROKE BOTH OF THEM. *AK

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS FILLED WITH GASOLINE FUMES! FIRE HAZARD/ HEALTH RISK/ CANCER RISK!!! FORD IS AWARE THAT THE PART IS DEFECTIVE BUT HAS REFUSED TO RECALL. FORD HAS A REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE AT NO CHARGE. REFER TO FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ARTICLE 97-13-6 FOR EVIDENCE THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM! EVIDENCE THAT FORD KNOWS THE WELDS ON THE VAPOR VENT WELD ARE DEFECTIVE AND FORD HAS A REPLACEMENT PART #F4BZ-9B593-A. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CAN LEAD TO SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR FORD IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS EITHER INJURED OR KILLED. NHTSA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING A RECALL WHERE A DANGEROUS SITUATION EXISTS TO THE CITIZENS WHO DRIVE THESE VEHICLES AND A SIMPLE REPLACEMENT SOLUTION DOES EXIST!!! ALSO, NHTSA IS CURRENTLY AWARE THAT THIS HAZARD EXISTS, BUT DO YOU EXPECT FORD TO REPLACE THESE PARTS VOLUNTARILY? NOT!!!! I WOULD APPRECIATE ACTION ON THE PART OF NHTSA OR SHOULD I TAKE THIS ISSUE TO THE MEDIA AND LET THEIR CONSUMER ADVOCATES HAVE FUN PUTTING FORD AND THE NHTSA ON THE HOT SEAT IN FRONT OF MILLIONS OF VIEWERS? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR AT 15 MPH OR LESS ABS LIGHT & AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. ALSO, RADIO WENT DEAD AND VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. NOTICED SMOKE FROM HOOD. TOWED TO DEALER ,AND WAS INFORMED OF AN ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY HEARD ALOT OF LOUD NOISE AND CLUNKING. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY AND GAVE CONSUMER ANOTHER 12,000 MILES OF WARRANTY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 33,000 MILES. CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT. *AK

FRONT LEFT WHEEL HAS CRACKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. DEALER CAN'T FIX IT. *AK

THE IGNITION SYSTEM INSIDE THE DESTRIBUTOR HAS GONE OUT ON MY CAR 4 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

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

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE WHEN DRVING, THE DOOR OPENS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DOOR HINGE. *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

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.