1986 Ford AEROSTAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
300,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 31 complaints (12.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 9.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 9.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 9.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.2% |
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 | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 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 | 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 | 1 |
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: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 30 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 | 10 |
| 1996 | 18 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 10; 1996: 18; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 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 484729 · 1995-08-09 (August 9, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489470 · 1995-04-14 (April 14, 1995)
VALVE COVER REPLACED DUE TO BEING BROKEN, ALSO VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501711 · 1996-02-11 (February 11, 1996)
SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN EVENFLO CHILD SAFETY SEAT, CAUSING THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO FLIP OVER DURING ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503618 · 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
VEHICLE FIRE. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504169 · 1996-05-07 (May 7, 1996)
IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504169 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 506239 · 1996-07-10 (July 10, 1996)
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506239 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
7 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
86V006000 · Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly
Reported: 1986-01-22 (January 22, 1986)
THERE MAY BE INADEQUATE WELDING IN SOME UNDERBODY STRUCTURAL AREAS, INCLUDING THOSE AT THE REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS, WHICH MAY CAUSE IT TO SEPARATE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS SHOULD SEPARATE FROM THE UNDERBODY DURING VEHICLE USE, THE AXLE COULD SHIFT DURING ACCELERATION OR BRAKING AND MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE STEERING CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REINFORCE SUSPECT WELD LOCATIONS AND MODIFY TO PREVENT WELD FAILURE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗86V123000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1986-09-02 (September 2, 1986)
FUEL TANKS MAY HAVE BEEN SCORED OR PENETRATED WHEN FLOOR PAN MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE PARTITIONS WERE DRILLED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE WOULD EXIST.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANKS AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1987-09-04 (September 4, 1987)
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗88V091000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 1988-06-06 (June 6, 1988)
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRAILER TOW PACKAGE HAVE A TRAILER TAILLIGHT RELAY ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS WIRES OF SMALLER GAUGE THAN THE FUSE LINK WHICH PROTECTS THE CIRCUIT.
Consequence: SHOULD A SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THE WIRING WITHIN THERELAY OR IF WATER INTRUSION OCCURS THE SMALLER GAUGE WIRE IN THE RELAY WILLFUNCTION AS A FUSE LINK AND OVERHEAT. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR A FIRE IF THEWIRES ARE EXPOSED TO COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.
Remedy: INSTALLATION OF A RELAY WITH WIRES OF GAUGE ADEQUATE TO PROTECT THE CIRCUIT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗88V145000 · Seats
Reported: 1988-09-02 (September 2, 1988)
WIRING FOR THE POWER LUMBAR SEAT SYSTEM WAS ROUTED DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SEAT CUSHION SPRINGS AND MAY BE ABRADED BY THE SPRINGS.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH MAY CREATESUFFICIENT HEAT TO START A FIRE IN THE SEAT CUSHION PAD AND/OR TRIM COVER.
Remedy: INSTALL A FUSE WITHIN THE POWER LUMBAR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V226000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1989-12-18 (December 18, 1989)
VANS WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT PLASTIC COVER DESIGNED TO COVER OUTBOARD SEAT BACK PIVOT HINGE ALLOWING WEBBING OF FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE SAFETY BELTS TO BECOME ABRADED OR CUT DUE TO CONTACT WITH EXPOSED HINGE.
Consequence: DAMAGE TO BELT WEBBING COULD WEAKEN BELTS TO POINT OFFAILURE INCREASING RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT OR A SUDDEN STOP.
Remedy: INSTALL PLASTIC PIVOT COVER; REPLACE BELTS AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V021000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
Reported: 1990-02-08 (February 8, 1990)
INSUFFICIENT INTERFERENCE FIT BETWEEN FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND GROMMET COULD RESULT IN AN INADEQUATE SEAL WHICH COULD ALLOW FUEL TO SEEP FROM THE JOINT.
Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: INSTALL A REVISED DESIGN GROMMET.
NHTSA campaign record ↗