1996 Ford Aspire Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1996 Ford Aspire, and owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1996 Ford Aspire. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Ford Aspire have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 83,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 11 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 poli”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 14, 2006 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“Consumer states that the left rear safety belt does not stay securely fastened, a child can easily pull belt to release.*ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 20, 2003 · Seat belts
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Ford Aspire. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 28–33 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 25–29 / 31–38 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Aspire model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Aspire model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 Ford Aspire | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 Ford Aspire | 2 | 54 |
| 1995 Ford Aspire | 0 | 64 |
| 1996 Ford Aspire | 0 | 33 |
| 1997 Ford Aspire | 0 | 60 |
Checking a specific 1996 Ford Aspire
How do I know if my 1996 Ford Aspire has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.