U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Ford ASPIRE: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

60 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

96,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 6 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 60 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	5	8.3%
Electrical and battery issues	4	6.7%
Fuel system concerns	4	6.7%
Transmission and shifting	3	5.0%
Steering behavior	3	5.0%
Engine operation	2	3.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System:Ignition

Fuel System, Gasoline

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Air Bags	8
Air Bags:Frontal	4
Electrical System:Ignition	4
Fuel System, Gasoline	4
Unknown Or Other	4
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	3
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control	3

Air Bags: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 54 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2007

2008

1997: 4; 1998: 6; 1999: 8; 2000: 20; 2001: 8; 2002: 5; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10004450 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004450 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10014147 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)

MY TWO TEENAGE SONS ARE SUFFERING FROM INJURIES CAUSED BY THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAGS IN OUR 1997 FORD ASPIRE. MY OLDEST SON, THE DRIVER IS SUFFERING FROM A BROKEN RIB, AND MY YOUNGER SON, THE PASSENGER HAS 2ND - 3RD DEGREE BURNS AND SEVERE BRUISING TO HIS FACE, AS WELL AS HIS EYE. THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS WAS ABLE TO SEE THE IMPRINT OF THE BAG ON HIS CORNEA. THEIR AGES ARE 17 AND 15, THEY ARE BOTH 5'11" AND WEIGH 168 LBS. THEY ARE NOT SMALL CHILDREN. THEY WERE BOTH PROPERLY RESTRAINED WITH LAP AND SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE CAR SLID INT…

Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014147 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018380 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)

SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO WHIRR LOUDLY. NEEDLE BEGAN TO GYRATE, THEN SURGE TO 100 MPH. NEEDLE THEN BROKE OFF AND FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PLASTIC LENS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 85,464 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018380 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050619 · 2003-12-16 (December 16, 2003)

AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES CODE 32 ALL THE TIME. WILL STOP ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. HAVE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR AND SEEMS TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050619 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10070184 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

DURING A CRASH INTO A LIGHT POLE AT 25 MPH THE AIR BAGS IN OUR 1997 FORD ASPIRE EXPLODED INTO THE FACE OF MY 15 YEAR WHO WAS FULLY RESTRAINED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HE IS 5'11" AND 168 LBS. HE IS SUFFERING FROM "BURNS" BRUISING, SEVER MOUTH LACERATIONS (HE HAS BRACES). HE IS ALSO UNABLE TO SEE IN THE EYE THAT WAS HIT, DUE TO THE IMPRINT OF THE BAG SCORED INTO HIS CORNEA. THE 17 YEAR OLD DRIVER HAS A CRACKED RIB.

Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070184 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10117393 · 2005-04-04 (April 4, 2005)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR WHEEL HUBS, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL HUB WERE CRACKED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE .*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117393 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10186732 · 2007-04-02 (April 2, 2007)

I OWN A 1997 FORD ASPIRE AND I WAS DRIVING THE OTHER DAY AND I STOPPED AT THE STORE. WHEN I LEFT THE STORE AND GOT IN MY CAR TO CRANK IT UP THE CAR SPUTTERED AND SHOOK THEN STOPPED RUNNING. I LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS POURING OUT GAS. I CALLED A MECHANIC TO COME AND FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH COST ME 300 DOLLARS. WHEN I TOLD THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM, HE SAID THAT THIS WAS RECALLED ON THE 1994 MODEL YEAR OF THIS CAR, BUT MY CAR IS A 1997, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED ON FUTURE CARS. I THINK THAT TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 293,212 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186732 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10199825 · 2007-08-16 (August 16, 2007)

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND FLASHES FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. DOES IT MEAN AIR BAGS ARE OUT OF SERVICE, MALFUNCTIONING? THE VEHICLE HAD NO ACCIDENTS, AND IN GOOD MAINTAINED CONDITION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199825 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

60 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

10.0%Usable mileage6 / 60 records

78.3%Valid incident date47 / 60 records

100.0%Valid filing date60 / 60 records

78.3%Ordered incident and filing dates47 / 60 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1987	1994	1995	1996	1997
Air Bags:Frontal	1100.0% ODI 545120 NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION. MJS Look up ODI 545120 at NHTSA ↗	1425.9% ODI 723302 AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH A FRONT END COLLISION WITH DEER AT @40MPH. *AK Look up ODI 723302 at NHTSA ↗	1218.8% ODI 10020349 · 157,000 mi THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB Look up ODI 10020349 at NHTSA ↗	39.1% ODI 10020509 THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE RIGHT WHEEL HIT A GRAVEL PATCH AND SLID INTO A EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *NLM Look up ODI 10020509 at NHTSA ↗	46.7% ODI 10014147 · 101,000 mi MY TWO TEENAGE SONS ARE SUFFERING FROM INJURIES CAUSED BY THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAGS IN OUR 1997 FORD ASPIRE. MY OLDEST SON, THE DRIVER IS SUFFERING FROM A BROKEN RIB, AND MY YOUNGER SON, THE PASSENGER HAS 2ND - 3RD DEGREE BURNS AND SEVERE BRUISING TO HIS FACE, AS WELL AS HIS EYE. THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS WAS ABLE TO SEE THE IMPRINT OF THE BAG ON HIS CORNEA. THEIR AGES ARE 17 AND 15, THEY ARE BOTH 5'11" AND WEIGH 168 LBS. THEY ARE NOT SMALL CHILDREN. THEY WERE BOTH PROPERLY RESTRAINED WITH LAP AND SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE CAR SLID INT… Look up ODI 10014147 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	11.9% ODI 514287 DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS VIOLENT, CAUSING SUSTAINED FRACTURED EYE SOCKET , DISLOCATED RETINA AND SEVERAL DISLOCATED BONES. Look up ODI 514287 at NHTSA ↗	34.7% ODI 507795 FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF SWITCH FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AFTER ACCIDENT, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO START WITHOUT ACTIVATING SWITCH. Look up ODI 507795 at NHTSA ↗	39.1% ODI 533555 FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER (BACK, CHEST, NECK , ARMS, SHOULDERS, FACE). Look up ODI 533555 at NHTSA ↗	813.3% ODI 10070184 · 101,000 mi DURING A CRASH INTO A LIGHT POLE AT 25 MPH THE AIR BAGS IN OUR 1997 FORD ASPIRE EXPLODED INTO THE FACE OF MY 15 YEAR WHO WAS FULLY RESTRAINED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HE IS 5'11" AND 168 LBS. HE IS SUFFERING FROM "BURNS" BRUISING, SEVER MOUTH LACERATIONS (HE HAS BRACES). HE IS ALSO UNABLE TO SEE IN THE EYE THAT WAS HIT, DUE TO THE IMPRINT OF THE BAG SCORED INTO HIS CORNEA. THE 17 YEAR OLD DRIVER HAS A CRACKED RIB. Look up ODI 10070184 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Ignition	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	23.7% ODI 508818 THROTTLE POSTION SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, ALSO REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR/BROKEN WINDOW/BATTERY/SPEEDOMETERAND ODOMETER. *AK Look up ODI 508818 at NHTSA ↗	46.3% ODI 533102 DISTRIBUTOR SHORTS OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN. *AK Look up ODI 533102 at NHTSA ↗	39.1% ODI 728724 NO SUMMARY Look up ODI 728724 at NHTSA ↗	46.7% ODI 542667 DISTRIBUTOR CAP FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. Look up ODI 542667 at NHTSA ↗
Visibility:Windshield	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	47.4% ODI 508818 THROTTLE POSTION SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, ALSO REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR/BROKEN WINDOW/BATTERY/SPEEDOMETERAND ODOMETER. *AK Look up ODI 508818 at NHTSA ↗	57.8% ODI 516093 LIGHTS DIM WHEN USING DEFROSTER. Look up ODI 516093 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	23.3% ODI 763581 DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS IMPLODED TWO TIMES. VEHICLE WAS NOT OCCUPIED. FIRST IMPLOSION WAS AUGUST OF 1999 AND SECOND IMPLOSION WAS JUNE OF 2002. COST TO REPLACE WAS COVERED FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY. COST TO REPLACE SECOND TIME WAS $276.00 AND WAS NOT COVERED BY FORD. SEVERAL INTERNET WEBSITES INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.THANKFUL THIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED AT EACH OCCURRENCE. *AK Look up ODI 763581 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	23.7% ODI 734971 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 A… Look up ODI 734971 at NHTSA ↗	11.6% ODI 522206 TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING NOISE IN LOW GEAR. Look up ODI 522206 at NHTSA ↗	412.1% ODI 10150215 · 83,000 mi 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 40,0… Look up ODI 10150215 at NHTSA ↗	35.0% ODI 754272 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. Look up ODI 754272 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	11.9% ODI 566199 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 Look up ODI 566199 at NHTSA ↗	57.8% ODI 516093 LIGHTS DIM WHEN USING DEFROSTER. Look up ODI 516093 at NHTSA ↗	13.0% ODI 837995 ENGINE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DRIVER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE NOW. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK Look up ODI 837995 at NHTSA ↗	23.3% ODI 718521 NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 718521 at NHTSA ↗
Exterior Lighting:Headlights	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	611.1% ODI 534107 HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. Look up ODI 534107 at NHTSA ↗	11.6% ODI 516093 LIGHTS DIM WHEN USING DEFROSTER. Look up ODI 516093 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Fuel System, Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	11.6% ODI 980859 THE CONSUMER SMELLED A VERY BAD GAS ODOR/FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 980859 at NHTSA ↗	26.1% ODI 830515 THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A GAS SMELL AND VAPOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE IFIT IS A SOURCE OF IGNITION. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK Look up ODI 830515 at NHTSA ↗	46.7% ODI 810417 VAPOR SEPARATOR FOR FUEL SYSTEM IS EMITTING ODOR. *AK Look up ODI 810417 at NHTSA ↗

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Air Bags	Too few reports for a range	65,500 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10070184 · 101,000 mi DURING A CRASH INTO A LIGHT POLE AT 25 MPH THE AIR BAGS IN OUR 1997 FORD ASPIRE EXPLODED INTO THE FACE OF MY 15 YEAR WHO WAS FULLY RESTRAINED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HE IS 5'11" AND 168 LBS. HE IS SUFFERING FROM "BURNS" BRUISING, SEVER MOUTH LACERATIONS (HE HAS BRACES). HE IS ALSO UNABLE TO SEE IN THE EYE THAT WAS HIT, DUE TO THE IMPRINT OF THE BAG SCORED INTO HIS CORNEA. THE 17 YEAR OLD DRIVER HAS A CRACKED RIB. Look up ODI 10070184 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10199825 · 30,000 mi AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND FLASHES FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. DOES IT MEAN AIR BAGS ARE OUT OF SERVICE, MALFUNCTIONING? THE VEHICLE HAD NO ACCIDENTS, AND IN GOOD MAINTAINED CONDITION. *JB Look up ODI 10199825 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags:Frontal	Too few reports for a range	101,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10014147 · 101,000 mi MY TWO TEENAGE SONS ARE SUFFERING FROM INJURIES CAUSED BY THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAGS IN OUR 1997 FORD ASPIRE. MY OLDEST SON, THE DRIVER IS SUFFERING FROM A BROKEN RIB, AND MY YOUNGER SON, THE PASSENGER HAS 2ND - 3RD DEGREE BURNS AND SEVERE BRUISING TO HIS FACE, AS WELL AS HIS EYE. THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS WAS ABLE TO SEE THE IMPRINT OF THE BAG ON HIS CORNEA. THEIR AGES ARE 17 AND 15, THEY ARE BOTH 5'11" AND WEIGH 168 LBS. THEY ARE NOT SMALL CHILDREN. THEY WERE BOTH PROPERLY RESTRAINED WITH LAP AND SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE CAR SLID INT… Look up ODI 10014147 at NHTSA ↗
Unknown Or Other	Too few reports for a range	85,464 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10018380 · 85,464 mi SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO WHIRR LOUDLY. NEEDLE BEGAN TO GYRATE, THEN SURGE TO 100 MPH. NEEDLE THEN BROKE OFF AND FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PLASTIC LENS. *JB Look up ODI 10018380 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1996: 16 complaints · 1997: 25 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1996	3	7	16
1997	7	15	25

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1996	22	10	1
1997	46	13	1

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Air Bags	Air Bags:Frontal	Electrical System:Ignition	Fuel System, Gasoline	Unknown Or Other	Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
Air Bags	—	0	0	0	1 ODI 849193 WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES, AND THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO,AIR BAG LIGHT/ ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ARE ON. *AK Look up ODI 849193 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 728712 HAVE HAD PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THIS CAR, CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS.. AM NOW LEAKING OIL AND LOSING COOLANT Look up ODI 728712 at NHTSA ↗	0	1 ODI 568115 THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *SCC Look up ODI 568115 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags:Frontal	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Ignition	0	0	—	0	0	1 ODI 737525 DISTRIBUTOR SHORTED OUT/ MULTI FUCTION SWITCH MALFUCTIONED/ ALTERNATOR MALFUCTION ALTENATOR BROKE OFF HOUSING. *AK Look up ODI 737525 at NHTSA ↗	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline	0	0	0	—	1 ODI 892533 THERE IS A FUEL SMELL COMING FOM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAMES ON. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK Look up ODI 892533 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 824229 FUEL VAPORS, ARE NOTICEABLE WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED. DEALERS HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS, INCLUDING FUEL VAPOR CANISTER. PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK Look up ODI 824229 at NHTSA ↗
Unknown Or Other	1 ODI 849193 WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES, AND THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO,AIR BAG LIGHT/ ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ARE ON. *AK Look up ODI 849193 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 892533 THERE IS A FUEL SMELL COMING FOM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAMES ON. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK Look up ODI 892533 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	1 ODI 728712 HAVE HAD PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THIS CAR, CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS.. AM NOW LEAKING OIL AND LOSING COOLANT Look up ODI 728712 at NHTSA ↗	0	1 ODI 737525 DISTRIBUTOR SHORTED OUT/ MULTI FUCTION SWITCH MALFUCTIONED/ ALTERNATOR MALFUCTION ALTENATOR BROKE OFF HOUSING. *AK Look up ODI 737525 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	—	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control	1 ODI 568115 THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *SCC Look up ODI 568115 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 824229 FUEL VAPORS, ARE NOTICEABLE WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED. DEALERS HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS, INCLUDING FUEL VAPOR CANISTER. PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK Look up ODI 824229 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

4 patterns with matching reports.

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

3 mentions · 5.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 30,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10199825 · 30,000 mi

Look up ODI 10199825 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 706897

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT BLINKS REPEATEDLY DESPITE FOUR REPAIR ATTEMPTS. *AK

Look up ODI 706897 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 816373

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS OFF FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS, OWNER NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON , ON 26 OF AUG OF 97. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER ON THE 26 TH OF AUG. 97 TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS THE SENSOR, AND THAT IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. *AK

Look up ODI 816373 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b

Stalling or loss of power

2 mentions · 3.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 823704

THE ENGINE STALLS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE OFF AFTER STOPS DUE TO A FAULTY DISTRIBUTOR CAP. DEALER SAYS THERE IS A BACK ORDER ON THIS PART. *AK

Look up ODI 823704 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 843214

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. *AK

Look up ODI 843214 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Steering assistance concerns

2 mentions · 3.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 729340

WHEN TURNING LEFT, STEERING LOCKED IN LEFT TURN. TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE FAR RIGHT DID NOT CORRECT LEFT TURN CONDITION. ACCIDENT RESULTED IN CAR OVERTURNING - DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY

Look up ODI 729340 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 848383

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Look up ODI 848383 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b

Fuel smell or leak mentions

1 mentions · 1.7% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 874632

WHILE TRAVELING SMELLED FUEL IN SIDE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEAE PFROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Look up ODI 874632 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b