FaultScore report
Owners have filed 92 complaints about the 1995 Ford Aspire with NHTSA between 1995 and 2011. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 4 worst.
FaultScore 62/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford Aspire.
How this is worked out92
Complaints
25
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
18
Injuries reported
101,847 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 0 fires
2 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 101,847 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 50,485 mi
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN LOCKUP
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10020349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR 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.
NHTSA complaint #894439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR 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
NHTSA complaint #893700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR 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.
NHTSA complaint #740953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONT CRASH AT 35 MPH, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #878918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #842633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
STEERING
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
NHTSA complaint #10393081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER 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.
NHTSA complaint #10229674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10229674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR 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.
NHTSA complaint #10041681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER 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
NHTSA complaint #10019256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10020349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
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
NHTSA complaint #8023565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #759524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #759524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE 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.
NHTSA complaint #757427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER 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.
NHTSA complaint #8001257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
BALL JOINT BROKE WHEN TURNING AT 15 MPH WHICH TORE OUT THE CV JOINT.
NHTSA complaint #750705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
BALL JOINT BROKE WHEN TURNING AT 15 MPH WHICH TORE OUT THE CV JOINT.
NHTSA complaint #750705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR 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.
NHTSA complaint #894439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR 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
NHTSA complaint #893700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: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.
NHTSA complaint #746224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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
NHTSA complaint #742855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR 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.
NHTSA complaint #740953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONT CRASH AT 35 MPH, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #878918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE 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.
NHTSA complaint #739296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
NHTSA complaint #556234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #726191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
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.
NHTSA complaint #726191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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"?
NHTSA complaint #725390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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"?
NHTSA complaint #725390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.