1988 Ford AEROSTAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
132,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 106 complaints (15.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 19 | 17.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 16 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 15 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 16; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 15; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 4; Electrical System: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 98 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 | 27 |
| 1996 | 47 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 4 |
1995: 27; 1996: 47; 2000: 15; 2001: 5; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 4
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 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 10001083 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
NHTSA#8767-98-V-190-000 FUEL TANK CRACKS: CONSUMER STATES CAN SMELL STRONG CHEMICAL FUMES THROUGHOUT OUT THE VEHICLE. MR HERRERA. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE THROUGH MARCH 31, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033973 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 386,118 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044531 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
GAS TANK DEFECT STATED IN RECALL 98V190000 OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 117,814 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046079 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK LEAKING AFTER RECALL 98V190000 REPAIRS WERE DONE. CONSUMER SMELLS GAS FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE . *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046164 · 2003-11-03 (November 3, 2003)
TRUCK EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. AS A RESULT THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN TWO HOURS AFTER BEING PARKED. THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD. ALL THE UNDER HOOD ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE MELTED. THE HEAT ALSO CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 36,520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048534 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
THE VAN WAS UNABLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO A GAS LEAK FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THERE WAS A FUEL TANK CRACK RECALL, BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *JB *MR *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048663 · 2003-11-25 (November 25, 2003)
THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE # 98V190000. THE RECALL WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK CRACKING. THE DEALER STATED THIS RECALL EXPIRED ON MARCH 31/02 AND WILL NOW COST $700.00 TO FIX IT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 187,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070532 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK AND THAT I COULD GET IN IT AND DRIVE TO FLORIDA RIGHT NOW. WELL IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK AND SO FAR THE SHOCK MOUNT IS BUSTED (WAS BROKE BEFORE I EVEN BOUGHT THE TRUCK) VALVE COVER GASKETS ARE LEAKING, POWER STEERING BOX BLEW OUT AND THE FLOOR OF THE TRUCK IN THE CAB IS ALL ROTTTED AWAY. THERE IS A HUGE HOLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE TO WHERE I COULD PUT BOTH MY LEGS THROUGH AND HE WOULDN'T GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK FOR THE VEHICLE. I TOOK PHOTOS OF ALL THIS TO PROVE MY DEFECTS O…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070532 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗91V136000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut
Reported: 1991-08-19 (August 19, 1991)
SOME LIFTGATE GAS CYLINDER-TO-BODY ATTACHMENT BALL STUDS MAY FRACTURE IN EITHER THE OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION.
Consequence: IF A BALL STUD FRACTURES, THE LIFTGATE WILL NOT REMAIN INTHE OPEN POSITION. BODILY INJURY COULD RESULT IF THE LIFTGATE DROPS WHILESOMEONE IS UNDER IT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE GAS CYLINDER-TO-BODY ATTACHMENT BALL STUDS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V190000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1998-08-11 (August 11, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA (10 SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF LOS ANGELES, ORANGE, SAN BERNADINO, SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE, VENTURA, SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, IMPERIAL, AND KERN), FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA (CLARK COUNTY), OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TEXAS, AND IN THE U.S. TERRITORIES COVERED BY THE FEDERAL STATUTES. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK CAN DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO VERY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. FUEL VAPOR OR LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR AT THESE CRACKS.
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2002. THIS COVERAGE WILL ONLY BE FOR STRUCTURAL CRACKS AT THE TOP OF THE TANK AND WILL NOT INCLUDE OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT OR ROAD DEBRIS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗