One problem related to loud engine noise has been reported for the 1997 Ford Aspire. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
After driving approximately 500 miles extreme noise in the low end caused me to pull into lythia Ford of boise, id. The engine contained sufficient oil and the soil pressure indicator was in the normal range. Lythia Ford inspected the engine and after performing tests decide that I need a remanufactured engine. They indicateded that the previous engine had rod bearings with excessive play. I believe that had I been traveling at the time of the engine failure that the engine could have locked up creating a serious accident on the interstate highwayy.