Ford AEROSTAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,222 owner complaints analyzed
23 distinct recall campaigns
128,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 to 2000 model years. Data snapshot: . 107 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 117 of 1,222 complaints (9.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 158 | 12.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 112 | 9.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 94 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 89 | 7.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 79 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 27 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 117 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 76 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 56 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 50 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 48 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 44 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 43 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 43 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 117; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 76; Vehicle Speed Control: 56; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 50; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 48; Air Bags:Frontal: 44; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 43; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 43
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 45 |
| 150,000 and above | 35 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 45; 150,000 and above: 35
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 1,115 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 | 316 |
| 1996 | 321 |
| 2000 | 202 |
| 2001 | 131 |
| 2002 | 84 |
| 2003 | 53 |
| 2004 | 45 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
1995: 316; 1996: 321; 2000: 202; 2001: 131; 2002: 84; 2003: 53; 2004: 45; 2005: 21; 2006: 16; 2007: 6; 2008: 7; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2017: 4; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 158 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 112 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 94 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 958756 · 1995-01-17 (January 17, 1995)
AUTO-TRAN: WHILE PARKED, SHIFTED TO REVERSE; ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN; VEHICLE TOOK OFF; BRAKES APPLIED; VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO HOUSE ACROSS STREET. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958756 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 980604 · 1996-03-12 (March 12, 1996)
PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE, HEARD A LOUD NOISE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AREA WAS ON FIRE NEAR THE DASH. POSSIBLY ELECTRICAL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 983287 · 1996-04-22 (April 22, 1996)
WHILE PARKED NOTICE A FIRE COMING FROME THE DASH AREA, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484729 · 1995-08-09 (August 9, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 883658 · 2001-03-21 (March 21, 2001)
TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT 3 YEARS AGO AT FORD DEALER, THEN, IN OCT 2000 WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 883658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 987121 · 1996-07-19 (July 19, 1996)
TRUCK WAS PARKED AND THE STEERING AND SEAT WERE BURNING , PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 987121 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 10980287 · 2017-04-24 (April 24, 2017)
THE GROMMET IN THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING. FUEL IS ESCAPING FROM THE TANK AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE. THERE IS A CONSTANT ESCAPE OF FUEL MOVING OR STATIONARY. THEREFORE THIS SYSTEM WILL NOT PASS SMOG BECAUSE WHEN PRESSURIZED, IT WILL NOT HOLD AIR. THIS IS A CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENT. IT IS ALSO MOST DANGEROUS. FORD MOTOR CO. WILL NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE 9 RECALLS FOR THIS MODEL IS ON YOUR SYSTEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 300,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504972 · 1996-05-24 (May 24, 1996)
FAILED FUEL INJECTOR CAUSED ENGINE FIRE. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504972 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 ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 7 |
| 1987 | 4 |
| 1988 | 4 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1990 | 6 |
| 1991 | 3 |
| 1992 | 3 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 3 |
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
1986: 7; 1987: 4; 1988: 4; 1989: 5; 1990: 6; 1991: 3; 1992: 3; 1993: 2; 1994: 3; 1995: 5; 1996: 4; 1997: 3; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0