1997 Ford AEROSTAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
99,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 35 complaints (11.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 22.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 11.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Wheels:Rim | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Wheels:Rim: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 24 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 9; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10070676 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
MY TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A BAD LEAK IN THE FRONT SEAL. I PAID TO HAVE THE TRANSAXLE REMOVED AND THE SEAL REPLACED. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED AS WELL AS THE FILTER AND THEN SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE CARS OVERDRIVE STOPPED WORKING. IT WILL SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE BUT IT WILL SHIFT RIGHT BACK OUT WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS EVEN THE LEAST LITTLE BIT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND YESTERDAY I WAS DOING ABOUT 60 AND THE CAR SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR FOR NO REASON AND THEN RIGHT BACK INTO THRID. THEN ABO…
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 554544 · 2000-09-12 (September 12, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT SPINDLE ASSEMBLY, BRAKE ROTOR, CALIPER AND BALL JOINTS. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 554544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129732 · 2005-07-22 (July 22, 2005)
MY 1997 FORD AERO STAR VAN PRODUCED A PUFF OF SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE IGNITION SWITCH. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHOM CHECKED THE RECALL NOTICES AND FOUND ONE RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD SHORT CIRCUIT AND OVERHEATING IN THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF IT SUBSIDES. SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS NOT WORKED AND BLEW ALL FUSES, THE FUEL PUMP DOES NOT TURN ON WITH THE KEY AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS IT ENGAGES SOME TIMES. THE FORD DEALER DID THE RECALL WORK BUT DID NOT FIX OR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222447 · 2008-03-27 (March 27, 2008)
NEED TO KNOW WERE TO START TO GET ALL THE PROBLEMS ON MY VAN TAKEN CARE OF ALL THE RECALLS, OF POWER TRAIN THE ELECTRICAL AND WHATEVER ELSE WAS REPORTED TO ME ON MY REPORT OF THE RECALLS ON THIS 1997 AREOSTAR VAN THANK YOU MARYJEAN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10222447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720605 · 2000-03-26 (March 26, 2000)
CRUISE CONTROL SET AT APPROX 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 75 NORTH OF ATLANTA. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELARATED OUT OF CONTROL TO APPROXIMATELY 90 MPH AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO DEACTIVATE CONTROL BY BRAKE, OR CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL VEHICLE WHILE THE THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN AND BRAKES FIRMLY APPLIED FOR SEVERAL MILE TO FIND SAFE PLACE TO ATTEMPT STOPPING IT WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP BY COMBINATION OF BRAKING, DOWNSHIFTING, AND FINALLY TURNING OFF IGNITION SWITCH ON AN EXIT RAMP. ONCE STOPPED EXAMINATION OF ACCELATO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350538 · 2010-08-19 (August 19, 2010)
NOTE: I WISH I HAD FOUND THIS SITE YEARS AGO. I COULD NOT GET PAST FORDS "BRICK WALL" TO SPEAK TO AN ENGINEER! 1. 1997 AEROSTAR - ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED DOWN QUICKLY TO PASS (2 LANE HIGHWAY). 2. NOW IN THE LEFT LANE, NOT FAR AHEAD OF PASSED THE CAR - I EXPERRIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER - HARD RIGHT OVER TO SOFT SHOULDER - AVOIDED AN ONCOMING HEAD ON COLLISION - L JUST MISSED THE CAR BEING PASSED BY INCHES AND STOPPED. THE CRIMPED END OF CABLE TO THE CARBURATOR HAD RELEASED FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. 3. I CLAMPED THE CABLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744550 · 2001-04-25 (April 25, 2001)
WHEN IT RAINS/UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR LOCK FROM PASSENGER SIDE; UNEXPLAINED STALL CHECK/ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON/STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 893379 · 2001-08-03 (August 3, 2001)
VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN GOING 35-45MPH IN THE RIGHT SLOW LANE. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, VEHICLE PICKED UP MORE SPEED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE RAN INTO ONE OF THE BEAMS UNDER UNDERPASS OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER'S FACE HIT STEERING. CONSUMER HAD 16 STICHES IN BOTTOM LIP. CONSUMER HAD A CASE, AND WAS NOT ALLOWED TO CONTACT DEALER AT THIS TIME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 893379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 743850 · 2001-04-10 (April 10, 2001)
FUEL PUMP USUALLY DOES NOT COME ON UNTIL REPEATEDLY TURNING IGNITION ON AND OFF, VEHICLE DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL FUEL PUMP CAME ON, SMELLS LIKE VEHICLE OVERHEATING WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BE, SAME PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED IN FORD PRESS RELEASE REGARDING RECALL 99 S 02, TAKEN TO (DIFFERENT) DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, DENIES PROBLEM IS RECALL RELATED
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 743850 at NHTSA ↗