1993 Ford AEROSTAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
188 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
145,335 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 188 complaints (10.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 21.3% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 10.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 6.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.6% |
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 | 20 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 8 |
| Tires | 7 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 20; Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Air Bags: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 8; Tires: 7
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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 170 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 | 42 |
| 1996 | 42 |
| 2000 | 35 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 42; 1996: 42; 2000: 35; 2001: 18; 2002: 18; 2003: 11; 2004: 9; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 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 10000660 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
THEY SAY "WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S FIRE" SO THAT'S WHY I CHECKED THE FIRE BUTTON ON THE FORM. JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE ACCELERATOR THE CARPET STARTED SMOKING. WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE CAUSE. BUT, EVERYTIME WE RUN THE CAR AN AWFUL SMELL RESULTS. WE NO LONGER DRIVE LONG DISTANCES. IT'S OUR ONLY CAR BUT I WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE GARAGE SOON. WITH HOLIDAY BILLS THIS COULDN'T HAVE COME AT A WORSE TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 243,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004109 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING COOLANT FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005029 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT POWER TRAIN SNAPPED AND CAR DROVE OUT OF CONTROL. WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. THE CAR ONLY STOPPED WHEN MECHANIC TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014958 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032085 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE 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 10032085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032088 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL LOCK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033247 · 2003-08-21 (August 21, 2003)
CANCELLATION OF GENERAL RECALL TSB94B38 WHICH HAD TO DO WITH ABS GENERAL RECALL WHICH FORD SAYS IS NOW EXPIRED. MY REAR BRAKES LOCKUP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, AND SOMETIMES DURING THE DAY, SOMETIMES I GET A ABS LIGHT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 108,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041400 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
HEADLIGHTS START TO GO OFF AND ON AFTER 10 MINS OF DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS, DASH LIGHTS GO OUT TOO. FORD SAYS THE SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, MY HUSBAND TOOK THE SWITCH OUT AND ITS GETS WAY TOO HOT AND CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041400 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 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 ↗