RoadVitals

1994 Ford Aspire

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
54
Latest May 7, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Oct 4, 1994
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
18
14 injuries, 2 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 54 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Ford Aspire, most frequently naming the airbags, visibility and exterior lighting categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 47 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags1524.6%
  • Visibility711.5%
  • Exterior lighting69.8%
  • Engine58.2%
  • Steering58.2%
  • Electrical46.6%
  • Transmission46.6%
  • Brakes23.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
94V186000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

Oct 4, 1994
26,700 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FUEL SUPPLY, RETURN AND VAPOR HOSES OR LINES CAN CONTACT OR HAVE INADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH THE SURROUNDING COMPONENTS DUE TO IMPROPER POSITIONING DURING ASSEMBLY.
The risk: WEAR OF THE HOSE OR LINE CAN OCCUR, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: THE FUEL LINES WILL BE REPOSITIONED. ANY DAMAGED RUBBER HOSES WILL BE REPLACED. STEEL FUEL LINES WILL HAVE THE CORROSION PROTECTION REPAIRED IF NEEDED.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
94V141000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Aug 1, 1994
599 units potentially affected
The defect: THE DATES OF MANUFACTURE WERE OMITTED ON THE CERTIFICATION LABEL. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567, "CERTIFICATION."
The risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: INCOMPLETE CERTIFICATION LABEL DOES NOT PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: A COMPLETE CERTIFICATION LABEL WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE OWNER OR WILL BE INSTALLED FOR THE OWNER BY THE DEALER, IF NECESSARY.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE97037ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN LOCKUP

Opened Jul 28, 1997
Closed Nov 28, 1997

There is no summary currently available

STEERING

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 54
Filed May 7, 2003

AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD, GRINDING NOISE. THE NEEDLE SHOT UP TO A SPEED FAR HIGHER THAN THE SPEED OF THE CAR. THE NEEDLED VIBRATED, THEN BROKE OFF. WE WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS SPEEDOMETER FAILURE WAS ALMOST AN EXACT DUPLICATE OF THE SPEEDOMETER FAILURE ON OUR OTHER FORD ASPIRE (SEE CLAIM # 10018380). WE NOW HAVE TWO ASPIRES WITH NO SPEEDOMETERS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10018382
Incident
May 3, 2003
Mileage
83,750 mi
Engine
Filed May 7, 2003

ASPIRE IS RUNNING VERY BAD LIKE MISSING, SEEMS LIKE ITS NOT GETTING GAS. NEW THING IS NOW IT WILL NOT START UNLESS YOU BASICALLY FLOOD THE CAR BY PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL AND THAT INCLUDES WHILE ITS RUNNING. I TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR ACCORDING TO FREDERICK MOTOR COMPANY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10018378
Incident
Apr 1, 2003
Engine
Filed Sep 7, 2002

MY NAME IS [XXX], THE MOTHER OF [XXX]. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW. THE FAN FAILED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR I OWNED IT AND THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT. [XXX] HAS OWNED THE CAR FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW, AND THE FAN WENT OUT AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME THE RELAY TO THE FAN MELTED. IN CHECKING WITH THE HAYNES BOOK ON THIS CAR, IT STATES TO WATCH FOR BURN HOLES IN THE CARPET AND SMOKING WIRING UNDER THE DASH BECAUSE OF THIS. OUR FEAR IS AFTER GETTING IT FIXED IT WILL DO IT AGAIN AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO HELP US IN ANY WAY, AS THE WARRANTY IS UP AND THEY STATED THEY COULDN'T FIX IT PERMANENTLY ANYWAY. IT WOULD BE A LOST CAUSE. WE CAN FIX IT THROUGH FORD AND IF IT EVER IS RECALLED WE COULD BE REIMBURSED, BUT OUR FEAR IS THAT IT COULD CAUSE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD IN THE FUTURE, JUST AS IT DID NOW AND MOST PROBABLY WHEN IT WAS FIXED THE FIRST TIME. MY HUSBAND IS CHECKING WITH FORD TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A RECORD OF THE FIRST TIME THE FAN WAS REPLACED AND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT THEN, ALTHOUGH THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE SAME THEN AS NOW. IT SEEMS THE OLDER THE CAR IS THE BETTER CHANCE THERE IS OF THIS THING CATCHING FIRE. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT FOR US AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
766841
Incident
Feb 25, 1996
Engine
Filed Jun 24, 2002
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE ENTERED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION STARTED GIVING OUT IN 4TH AND 5TH GEARS, POSSIBLY ENGINE FAILURE OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT.#10-91-204 *SLC

NHTSA ID
566199
Incident
Apr 25, 2002
Seat belts
Filed Apr 22, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

FRONT-END COLLISION AT 30MPH. WEARING SAFETY BELT, AIR-BAG DEPLOYED. FACE STILL HIT STEERING WHEEL BREAKING FRONT OF JAW AND KNOCKING OUT TEETH. CAR WAS DECLARED TOTALLED.*AK

NHTSA ID
761041
Incident
Jul 24, 2001
EngineTires & wheels
Filed Feb 12, 2002

DEALER PUT COOPER COBRA TIRES (NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION MENTIONED) ON VEHICLE THAT WERE DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE TO SHAKE, DEALER PUT DEFECTIVE TIRES ON REAR AXLE, BUT CONDITION STILL EXISTED, FINALLY CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER DEALER REPLACE COOPER COBRA TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND AND NOW CONDITION IS RESOLVED. *TT

NHTSA ID
564244
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 27, 2001

THREADS ON THE JACK SCREW BOLTS ARE STRIPPED. JACK WON'T GO UP OR DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
891435
Incident
Jun 22, 2001
Visibility
Filed Dec 30, 2000

THE ABOVE DESCRIBED GLASS IS NOT SAFETY, BUT IS ONLY TEMPERED GLASS. IN AN ACCIDENT, THE LARGE VOLUME OF SLIVERS OF GLASS COULD HAVE DISASTROUS RESULTS. THIS WAS A STAIONARY EVENT AND, FORTUNATELY DID NOT.*AK

NHTSA ID
738524
Incident
Dec 7, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

03148

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT

02176

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ

01181

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB

01156

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

0015

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Aspire by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998000—
1997600143.9
1996330145.4
1995640148.4
1994Viewing542163.6
1987100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.