30 of the
289 complaints filed about the Ford Aspire
are about the transmission —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
30
Complaints
10%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
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.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10150215 — 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.
VEHICLE HAS HAD (3) TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED WITH ONE OF THE TRANSMISSIONS LOSING A PIN, RESULTING IN SYSTEM HAVING POWER FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8014494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
NHTSA complaint #754272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS ENTERING THE OUTERBELT AT CLEVELAND AVENUE & I-270W, AND AS I STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR GOT UP TO ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP AND THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO SLOW. I HAD MY TWO CHILDREN, WHITNEY AGE 8 AND BRITTANY AGE 15 IN THE CAR WITH ME. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT, BUT I REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I SPENT ABOUT $1,600.00 ON A USED TRANSMISSION AND THE OWNER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT DEALERS MAKE THE TRANSMISSION TO ONLY LAST ABOUT 3 YEARS, SO THEY CAN EITHER CHARGE YOU TO REPLACE IT OR TAKE YOUR CAR FROM YOU IF IT IS FINANCED, BECAUSE FOR THE MOST PART IT IS DIFFICULT TO COME UP WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY ON SHORT NOTICE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE CAR WAS PAID OFF THE NEXT MONTH. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE TRANSMISSIONS. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE WINDSTAR IS NOT THE ONLY TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK AT ALL THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THE FORD CARS.
NHTSA complaint #737118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD A TRANSMISSION FAIL ON THIS CAR- THE THIRD IN A FORD VEHICLE I'VE OWNED. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WHO DRIVES A NEW ASPIRE AND HERS FAILED TOO. I TOOK IT TO GARAGES WHO REFUSED TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSIONS IN ASPIRES ARE APPARENTLY NOTORIOUSLY BAD. MY CAR STOPPED DEAD- ONCE ON A HIGHWAY, ONCE ON A BUSY METROPOLITAN STREET, BUT CLEARLY IT COULD HAVE STOPPED ANYWHERE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WERE VERY RUDE AND MADE NO ATTEMPT TO HELP. AND AT THIS STAGE IN THE GOODYEAR LITIGATION! PLEASE CONTACT ME AS I FEEL MY CAR IS DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE!
NHTSA complaint #734971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #729919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #727817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
NHTSA complaint #856284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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-THREATENING SITUATION. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GET OUT OF THE ASPIRE; EITHER THAT, OR CONTINUALLY MAKE PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT--AND THAT IS UNFAIR TO ME AS A CONSUMER TO CARRY THE BRUNT OF THIS CAR. FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND ITS CONSUMERS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE MY SAFETY IS BEING TAKEN LIGHTLY. THE FIRST TIME MY CAR WAS WORKED ON, A FORD REPRESENTATIVE ASSURED ME IT WAS FIXED--HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE LAST TWO PROBLEMS AFTER THAT? I HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN FULLY ASSISTED IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #716119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
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.
NHTSA complaint #843214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.