1989 Ford AEROSTAR: complaints, problems and recalls

WE OWE A 1989 FORD AEROSTAR MINI-VAN THE LONG EDITION. WE HAVE HAD IT A LITTLE OVER YEAR. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VECHICLE STALLING WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO AND FROM WORK. IT HAPPENS A LOT MORE OFTEN WHEN IT IS COLD AS OPPOSED TO WHEN IT IS WARMER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008358 at NHTSA ↗

THE MANUFACTURER WAS REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL 98V190000 FOR FUEL TANK CRACKS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046209 at NHTSA ↗

NHTSA RECALL 98V190000 CONCERNING FUEL SYSTEM STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY: CONSUMER INTERMITTENTLY SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. T CONSUMER EXAMINED THE GAS TANK AND FOUND THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK WHEN IT WAS FULL. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 175,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063044 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BACK IN 1998 SHE HAD A ACCIDENT WITH HER FORD AEROSTAR. SHE STATED THAT WHEN SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND HIT THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND HIT A BUILDING. SHE SAID SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY IDLE AIR CONTROL. SHE SAID IT WAS REPAIRED AND SHE TOOK THE PART AND SENT IT TO THE MANUFACTURER. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS COME UP AGAIN AND SHE WAS ASKED TO BE A WITNESS, BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS KILLED, WHEN THEIR VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING. *JB …

Owner-reported narrative. 102,371 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097085 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 96V071000 CONCERNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN HE CONTACTED FORD, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE VIN. THIS STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THE SWITCH STARTED TO COME APART, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. HE REPAIRED IT HIMSELF, AND IT IS CURRENTLY WORKING.*AK UPDATED 12/27/2005. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 208,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140845 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKE LINE NEXT TO GAS TANK FAILED ON HIGHWAY, BRAKING ABILITY WAS GREATLY REDUCED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 244,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164625 at NHTSA ↗

MY FORD AEROSTAR CAUGHT FIRE LAST NIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. MY DAUGHTER HAD RETURNED FROM SCHOOL AND PARKED IT IN THE DRIVEWAY. APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS LATER, A NEIGHBOR RANG THE DOOR BELL AND FRANTICALLY SAID "YOUR VAN IS ON FIRE". WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE WITHIN 3 MINUTES TO PUT IT OUT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169816 at NHTSA ↗

BROMITE AT GAS TANK FILLER NECK BROKEN, CAUSING GAS TO LEAK WHEN TANK IS FULL. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480666 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1990-08-06 (August 6, 1990)

THE SECOND ROW RIGHT HAND SEAT ASSEMBLY HAS A TILT FORWARD FUNCTION. A LATCH RETAINS THE SEAT IN THE NORMAL RIDE POSTION, AND THIS LATCH MAY RELEASE UNDER SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT CONDITIONS, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO PIVOT FORWARD.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT COULD PIVOTFORWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: REPLACE SEAT PAWL ASSEMBLY WITH A REVISED DESIGN ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 1991-09-20 (September 20, 1991)

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.

Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.

Remedy: REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.

Reported: 1991-11-04 (November 4, 1991)

WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ABUT OR ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.

Consequence: DRIVER MAY BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFELY ENGAGED IN PARKWHEN THE GEAR IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OFGEAR UNINTENTIONALLY, VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHEN PARKED ON A SLOPED SURFACE, ANDINADVERTENT MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW PARK PAWL.

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.

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.