1994 FORD ASPIRE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

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

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

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

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

Fire

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

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

Crash 1 injured

THE DEALER PUT COOPER COBRA TIRES (NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION MENTIONED) ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE TO SHAKE, THE DEALER PUT DEFECTIVE TIRES ON THE REAR AXLE, BUT THE CONDITION STILL EXISTED, FINALLY, THE CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER DEALER REPLACE THE COOPER COBRA TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND AND THE CONDITION WAS RESOLVED. *TT ALSO THE THERMOSTAT WAS INSTALLED, BECAUSE THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO THERMOSTAT. *JB THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. REFER TO RECALL #'S 9V141000 AND 9V186000. *SCC JB *CB

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

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

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.*AK

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!*AK

BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE DISCOLORED, AND DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LIGHTING,CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

WENT TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND IT FAILED DUE TO THE LENS COVERING. COLOR OF THE LENS DOESN'T ALLOW VISIBLE LIGHTING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *ML

I AM SENDING THIS WITH GREAT CONCERN OVER A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT I FEEL IS VERY DANGEROUS.THE SPOT WELDS ON THE HARNESS THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDALS BROKE AND CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO HANG UP ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP SAFELY AND NEARLY PUT THE CAR INTO A DITCH. I WAS APPALLED WHEN I REALIZED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE WHOLE HARNESS HAS STRESS FRACTURES AND FROM WHAT I CAN SEE HAS BROKEN ON AT LEAST TWO OF THE SPOT WELDS. HOW COULD A PART THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE SO MUCH WEAR AND TEAR AS THE BRAKE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY ONLY BE SPOT WELDED TOGETHER? LET ALONE BE MANUFACTURED OUT OF SUCH THIN METAL? IT WAS POORLY MANUFACTURED AND I BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE INSPECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. HAD THIS NOT BEEN A FIVE SPEED I WOULD HAVE HAD NO WAY TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND WOULD HAVE SURELY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM AFRAID OF THE CAR AND I HOPE FORD WILL ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT BECAUSE THIS IN NO WAY IS USER ERROR. IT IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT/ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW THAT NO CONSUMER SHOUD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. IT WAS A POOR CHOICE OF COST CUTTING TO ONLY SPOT WELD THIS PART TOGETHER . IT PLAINLY IS A DANGEROUS SAFELY ISSUE FOR ANYONE OPERATING ONE OF THESE CARS. I HOPE NO ONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT BECAUSE ANY MORE OF THESE WELDS BREAK AND CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE UNABLE TO STOP SAFELY. AS OF RIGHT NOW BOTH THE CLUTCH CABLE AND PEDAL DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL REPEATEDLY HITS THE STEERING COLUMN PREVENTING IT FROM BEING ABLE TO DEPRESS FAR ENOUGH TO FULLY STOP THE CAR. I PRAY I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM, BUT I FEEL THIS NEEDS PROMPT ATTENTION AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED BY ONE OF THESE CARS DUE TO THIS MECHANICAL ERROR. THIS ASSEMBLY NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN "GLUED" TOGETHER WITH AN OBVIOUSLY WEAK SPOT WELD.

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH A FRONT END COLLISION WITH DEER AT @40MPH. *AK

Crash

DURING HOT WEATHER AND WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVING A LONG TIME, ENGINE WILL NOT START AFTER IT'S BEEN SHUT OFF. HAVE TO KEEP TRYING BEFORE IT FINALLY ENGAGES. HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. IT'S NOT A DEAD BATTERY, THE ENGINE WILL NOT ENGAGE UNTIL SEVERAL TRIES ARE MADE.

THE PLASTIC COVERING OVER THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE FADED CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *MJS

THE PLASTIC COVERINGS OVER THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE FADED TO THE POINT WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS SHINE VERY DIM AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED APPROX 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY RECALLS FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE COST TO REPLACE THESE LAMPS ARE OUTRAGEOUS. *AK

NOTICED A LEAKAGE AT GASKET WHEN FILLING UP THE WATER RESERVOIR AND CHECKING ENGINE OIL DIP STICK. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN OR GOING UP A HILL AROUND A CURVE, THE DRIVER SIDE HAS A STRANGE RATTLING NOISE ON THE FRONT TIRE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 15MPH SWERVED TO AVOID A BYCICLIST AND HIT A LIGHT POLE HEAD-ON. DURING INFLATION OF THE AIR BAGS THEY BLEW OUT ON BOTH SIDE WINDOWS, SHATTERING THE WINDOWS INTO LITTLE PIECES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Crash 1 injured

THERE IS VERY LOUD RAMBLING NOISE WHICH GETS HIGHER AS THE VEHICLE PICKS UP SPEED. ALSO, CRASH BARRIERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR AND CONSUMER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Crash

INPUT SHAFTS AND REVERSE GEARS FAILED.

DIFFERENTIAL FAILED DUE TO 80-90 WEIGHT FLUID THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN THE SPECS CALL FOR 30 WEIGHT MERCON.

ENTIRE PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED UPON CLOSING THE DOOR. GLASS SHOWERED INSIDE THE CAR AS WELL AS IN THE DOOR AND ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE.

THE FLASHER SWITCH WOULD NOT KEEP DOWN, THERFORE HAD A DEAD BATTERIE AND HAD TO GET A WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN.

HEADLIGHTS BEAM REAL LOW EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ON, AND THEY ARE VERY DIM. *AK

LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT RUSTED AWAY AND FAILED, EXCESSSIVE BODY AND COMPONENT DAMAGE, LOSS OF CONTROL.

HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.

STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP, CAUSING IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. OWNER NOTES OF INVESTIGATION FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES FAILED.

LEFT FRONT WINDOW SHATTERED, SPRAING GLASS THROUGHOUT THE CAR. *AK

STEERING ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE. (1ST VEHICLE ON 602889)

MANUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR DEFECTIVE.

MARINA GARICA 5 FEET TALL, 250 POUNDS WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN LOW SPEED IN WHICH SHE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY, RESULTING IN CHEST TRAUMA AND A FATALITY WITH ALMOST NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SYSTEM PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. *AK

Crash 1 injured 1 deaths

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS VIOLENT, CAUSING SUSTAINED FRACTURED EYE SOCKET , DISLOCATED RETINA AND SEVERAL DISLOCATED BONES.

2 injured

FRIEND WAS HOLDING 22-MONTH OLD CHILD AND VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HITTING THE CHILD IN THE LOWER NECK AND CAUSING THE CHILD TO DIE RIGHT ON THE SEEN. *AK

Crash 1 deaths

VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED AT 6:00 POSITION WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND FORCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Crash 1 injured

THROTTLE POSTION SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, ALSO REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR/BROKEN WINDOW/BATTERY/SPEEDOMETERAND ODOMETER. *AK

AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CONSUMER HAS 1ST AND 2ND DEGREE BURNS ON FACE AND HANDS. *AK

1 injured

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IN THE OFF POSITION , CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BURNED AND CAUGHT FIRE.*AK *SLC

Fire

DURING HEAD-ON COLLISON, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Crash

FRONTAL COLLISION, HIT A DEER AT SPEED OF 30MPH, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Crash 1 injured