1992 Ford AEROSTAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
138 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
147,841 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 138 complaints (9.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 19.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 8.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 13 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 6 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 13; Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch: 7; Air Bags: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 6
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 6
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 126 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 | 45 |
| 1996 | 31 |
| 2000 | 21 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
1995: 45; 1996: 31; 2000: 21; 2001: 17; 2002: 7; 2003: 6; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 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 10010714 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
FIRST STARTED OUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER OFF AND THEN BACK ON. I FIGURED IT WAS NOTHING. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER EVERY 30-60 SECONDS, CAN NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, HAVE ALREADY BEEN PULLED OVER BY POLICE BECAUSE OF IT. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015607 · 2003-04-10 (April 10, 2003)
THE HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THEN WENT OUT, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015607 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022873 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TIRES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032086 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING EHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER, AND IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK STARTED.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038132 · 2003-10-16 (October 16, 2003)
THE SHIFTING LEVER IN THE STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO SHIFT. PART# 2F0DC-7215 53. *AK THIS WAS DUE TO A MECHANICAL FAILURE AND MAY BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION/SHIFT ACTUATING TUBE. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 142,297 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045734 · 2003-11-08 (November 8, 2003)
MASTERCRAFT A/S IV P215/75R14 TIRE FAILED ON RIGHT REAR WHILE TRAVELLING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH ON INTERSTATE. TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE WHILE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED. TREAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO INTERIOR OF WHEEL WELL AND EXHAUST PIPE.*AK THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENCE ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME BRAND & MODEL TIRE AS THERE WAS A PREVIOUS FAILURE OF THE SAME TYPE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH SAME MODEL TIRE. PLEASE NOTE THAT UNDER TIRES YOUR WEB SITE DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT SIZE AS THERE ARE ONLY TWO CHOICES.
Owner-reported narrative. 269,709 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066979 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
CONSUMER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL. *PH RECALL IS IN REGARDS ON POWER TRAIN MODIFICATION. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073014 · 2004-05-23 (May 23, 2004)
SEAT BACK BOLTS SHEARED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. BOUGHT USED. BUT, NO REPORTED OF PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS. WE HAD NOTICED SOME 'LOOSENESS' IN THE SEAT BACK. BUT, ATTRIBUTED IT TO WEAR IN THE LATCH POSITIONING DEVICE. WHEN THE LAST BOLT SHEARED THE SEAT BACK GAVE WAY DROPPING THE DRIVER TO A RECLINING POSITION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 236,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073014 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
97V204000 · Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
Reported: 1997-11-13 (November 13, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER MINIVANS. THESE VEHICLES CAN DEVELOP POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT. THE POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR THE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT CAN RESULT IN STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSFER CASE. FLUID EXPLUSION, DRIVESHAFT SEPARATION OR LOSS OF VEHICLE DRIVE CAN RESULT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND, IF THE EXPELLED FLUID CONTACTS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSFER CASE REAR OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING AND AN ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT WILL BE INSTALLED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V029000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 1999-02-09 (February 9, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A HIGHER THAN SPECIFIED ELECTRICAL LOAD THROUGH THE ACCESSORY POWER FEED CIRCUIT. THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTACT BETWEEN THE B2 (BATTERY), A2 (ACCESSORY), AND P1 (PROOF) CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR, CREATING A SHORT CIRCUIT, ALLOWING CURRENT TO FLOW THROUGH THE GROUND WIRE.
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE OVER HEATING AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A JUMPER HARNESS WITH A RELAY WHICH WILL RE-ROUTE AND ACTIVATE ALL A2 ACCESSORIES THROUGH THE RELAY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V094000 · Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
Reported: 1999-04-28 (April 28, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER MINIVANS. (THIS INCLUDES ALL 1992 AWD AEROSTARS NOT PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN SAFETY RECALL 97V-204/97S83). THESE VEHICLES CAN DEVELOP POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT. THE POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR THE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT CAN RESULT IN STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSFER CASE. FLUID EXPLUSION, DRIVESHAFT SEPARATION OR LOSS OF VEHICLE DRIVE CAN RESULT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND, IF THE EXPELLED FLUID CONTACTS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSFER CASE REAR OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING AND AN ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT WILL BE INSTALLED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗