Total Complaints
41 filings
FORD ASPIRE · model year
1996 FORD ASPIRE
41 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996FORDASPIRE carries 41 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 2 fires, 3 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 1996 ASPIRE is power train:automatic transmission with 4 filings, followed by suspension:front (3) and air bags:frontal (3). 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 1996 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.
41
Complaints
5
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060214CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED, WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A BRICK WALL AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. ALSO, AT 14,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. AT 55,000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT A FINAL TIME AT 65,000 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION.
Mileage: 83,000
20060214CrashSTEERING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED, WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A BRICK WALL AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. ALSO, AT 14,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. AT 55,000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT A FINAL TIME AT 65,000 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION.
Mileage: 83,000
20060214CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED, WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A BRICK WALL AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. ALSO, AT 14,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. AT 55,000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT A FINAL TIME AT 65,000 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION.
Mileage: 83,000
20030620SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT REAR SAFETY BELT DOES NOT STAY SECURELY FASTENED, A CHILD CAN EASILY PULL BELT TO RELEASE.*AK
20030523CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE RIGHT WHEEL HIT A GRAVEL PATCH AND SLID INTO A EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *NLM
20010924AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING, NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK
20010924ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON JANUARY 4, 1999. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. KEY WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION.
20010314POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETLY AS DRIVER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. *AK
20001213ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY ASPIRE EXHIBITED A NUMBER OF COMPONENT FAILURES, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THEM. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, THE DISTRIUBUTOR FAILURE OCCURRED AS I ENTERED AN INTERSECTION, AND AS A RESULT THE CAR STALLED AT THE LIGHT NOT IN THE TRAFFIC LANE. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE STEERING COMPONENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION BUT I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. IN THE THIRD INSTANCE, THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO START, BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE PART COULD HAVE FAILED DURING OPERATION AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A STALL. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY. DISAPPOINTED IN THE ASPIRE, BUT LUCKY. *AK
20001213STEERING:LINKAGES
MY ASPIRE EXHIBITED A NUMBER OF COMPONENT FAILURES, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THEM. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, THE DISTRIUBUTOR FAILURE OCCURRED AS I ENTERED AN INTERSECTION, AND AS A RESULT THE CAR STALLED AT THE LIGHT NOT IN THE TRAFFIC LANE. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE STEERING COMPONENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION BUT I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. IN THE THIRD INSTANCE, THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO START, BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE PART COULD HAVE FAILED DURING OPERATION AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A STALL. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY. DISAPPOINTED IN THE ASPIRE, BUT LUCKY. *AK
20000905ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY
20000905ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
NO SUMMARY
20000905ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY
19991216POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I'VE EXPERIENCED THREE TRANSMISSION FAILURES SINCE I'VE OWNED THE FORD ASPIRE. WITHIN ONE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE WITHIN MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. THIS YEAR (99), IT FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME. IT WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT WENT OUT. THIS CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT WILL CAUSE POTENTIAL ROAD INJURY TO MYSELF AND/OR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND OTHER MOTORISTS. IT HAS GONE OUT WHILE MERGING WITH TRAFFIC, SO FAR GOD HAS SPARED OUR LIVES FROM A FATAL ACCIDENT THAT IS WAITING TO HAPPEN. FORD REFUSES TO WRITE THIS CAR OFF AS A LEMON AND/OR SAFETY HAZARD; INSTEAD, THEY WANT TO PUT ME IN ANOTHER USED CAR AND ABSORB THE COST OF THE FORD ASPIRE, PLUS PUT AT LEAST $2,000.00 DOWN. THEY ARE NOT IMPROVING MY SITUATION BY BURYING ME DEEPER INTO ANOTHER USED CAR THAT WILL TAKE ME ANOTHER FOUR YEARS TO PAY OFF, BEFORE I CAN GET OUT OF IT. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT TRYING TO REESTABLISH MY CREDIT, I HAD NO PROBLEM KEEPING THE ASPIRE UNTIL IT BECAME A LIFE-TH
19990921WHEELS:RIM
FRONT WHEELS VIBRATE ON HIGHWAY, DUE TO POSSIBLE FAULTY RIMS. YH
19990921SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES MAKE NOISE WHEN STOPPING. YH
19990914POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON BUSY ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE STOPPED, NO WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
19990903AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19990607VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WHILE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN IT EXPLODED. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED PRIOR TO THIS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990517FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DRIVER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE NOW. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
Compare 1996FORDASPIRE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 FORD ASPIRE have?▼
The 1996 FORD ASPIRE has 41 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 FORD ASPIRE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 FORD ASPIRE is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1996 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.