1987 Ford AEROSTAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
68 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 68 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 10.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 8.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 1.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 12 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut | 3 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 12; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 68 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 30 |
| 1996 | 25 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
1995: 30; 1996: 25; 2000: 5; 2001: 5; 2002: 2; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 481771 · 1995-02-19 (February 19, 1995)
WIRING TO ALTERNATOR SHORTED OUT DUE TO BEING ROUTED INCORRECTLY UP AGAINST ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING ALTERNATOR/DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER TO FAIL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503169 · 1996-03-26 (March 26, 1996)
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING WIRING TO MELT. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038500 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THREE TRANSMISSION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502661 · 1996-03-22 (March 22, 1996)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504563 · 1996-05-13 (May 13, 1996)
VEHICLE MISSES/STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, ALSO CAUGHT FIRE ONCE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 732476 · 2000-09-25 (September 25, 2000)
WE HAVE HAD THE CONTROL MODULE REPLACED A MINIMUM OF 5 TIME (RECEIPTS ON HAND), EACH TIME THE VAN STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR CRASHES AND MUCH FUSTRATION ONLY THE ALERTNESS THAT THE VAN STALLS PREVENTED ANY BODILY HARM. SEVERAL FORD DEALERSHIPS DENY ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL MODULE ON THIS VAN AND NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 732476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 896109 · 2001-09-10 (September 10, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. PULLED OVER AND LIFTED UP HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL WIRING. BEFORE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS IN FLAMES. FRONT OF VEHICLE/ INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 896109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 969863 · 1995-08-04 (August 4, 1995)
UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, THROUGH THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 969863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 986258 · 1996-06-27 (June 27, 1996)
PARKED VEHICLE FUNNY ODOR AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. *AK CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE AND SMELLED AN ODOR, SHE THOUGHT HER BRAKES WERE HOT, CONSUMER THEN PULLED TO THE CURB, WHILE CONSUMER WAS CALLING FOR A TOW TRUCK THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 968977 · 1995-07-18 (July 18, 1995)
UNDER BODY OF VEHICLE MUFFLER BLOWUP CAUSED A FIRE INSIDE OF VEHICLE, MELTING THE SENDING UNIT IN THE FUEL TANK AND CAUSING LEAK IN FUEL TANK. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968977 at NHTSA ↗