FORD ASPIRE · model year

1995 FORD ASPIRE

92 NHTSA complaints, 25 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995FORDASPIRE carries 92 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 25 crashes, 2 fires, 22 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1995 ASPIRE is air bags:frontal with 17 filings, followed by visibility:windshield (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1995 ASPIRE, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

92
Complaints
25
Crashes
2
Fires
22
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

92 filings

Crashes Reported

25 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL17
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION5
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION4
AIR BAGS3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
SEATS2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE2
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.2
POWER TRAIN2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1
STRUCTURE:BODY1

Recent Complaints

20110328STEERING

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

Mileage: 50,485

20080602STRUCTURE

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

Mileage: 101,847

20080602POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

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

Mileage: 101,847

20031012EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

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

20030525POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY

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

Mileage: 66,400

20030522CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

Mileage: 157,000

20021202WHEELS

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

20020320ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020320VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020130ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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

20011231POWER TRAIN

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

20010821SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

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

20010821POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

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

20010815CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20010807CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

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

20010604STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

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

20010403VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

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

20010226CrashFireAIR BAGS

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

20010124CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20010118ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

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

Compare 1995FORDASPIRE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 FORD ASPIRE have?
The 1995 FORD ASPIRE has 92 NHTSA complaints, 25 crashes, 2 fires, 22 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 FORD ASPIRE?
The most-complained component for the 1995 FORD ASPIRE is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 17 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1995 FORD ASPIRE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.