1994 Ford AEROSTAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
127 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
109,089 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 127 complaints (12.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 20 | 15.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 8.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 8.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 7 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
Air Bags: 16; Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Electrical System:Horn: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 7; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5
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 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 112 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 | 22 |
| 1996 | 17 |
| 2000 | 31 |
| 2001 | 24 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 22; 1996: 17; 2000: 31; 2001: 24; 2002: 8; 2003: 11; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10001727 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. SUDDENLY THEY WERE UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE OR CHANGE GEARS. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A PART BRAKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008035 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE WIRING HARNESS IN MY STEERING COLUME IS DEFECTIVE. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME IN 6 YRS THAT THIS HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE HARNESS CONTROLLS THE AIRBAGE, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROLL. ALSO THE IGITION SWITCH IS FAULTY, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008076 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
DATE IS APPROXIMATE. 1994 FORD AEROSTAR REAR ENDED AT STOP LIGHT HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK 7X19 CABLE HOLDING SPARE TIRE, AND SEND VEHICLE INTO CAR IN FRONT OF IT WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BREAK RADIATOR AND AC RADIATOR. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. APPROXIMATLY 3 MONTHS AFTER BACK FROM REPAIRS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING OCCASIONLY. THIS CONTINUED GETTING WORSE UNTIL IT BLINKED CONSTANTLY, ALSO THE HORN WAS INTERMITTENTALY OPERATIONAL. I CHECKED YOUR "SEARCH COMPLAINTS" SECTION AND SEE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN WITHOUT THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008823 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB THE CONSUMER SLID ON A PATCH OF ICE AND HIT A TREE IN CENTER OF THE BUMPER. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012463 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017023 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE - TRANSMISSION FALLS OUT OF GEAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018749 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)
FAILURE OF RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING CAUSING EXPLOSIVE TIRE DEFLATION. FAILURE OCCURRED AT THE END OF THE SPRING COATING- CORROSION PRESENT, BUT HIDDEN BY FACTORY COATING OF SPRING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021807 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)
DRIVER'S SEATBELT WILL NOT STAY FASTENED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021807 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 ↗99V028000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Reported: 1999-02-09 (February 9, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. HEAT GENERATION IN THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE FUEL PUMP/SENDER ASSEMBLY CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE VEHICLE COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER AND BECOME IMMOBILIZED AND THE FUEL GAUGE MAY BE ERRATIC.
Consequence: HEAT DAMAGE, INCLUDING MELTING OR CHARRING OF THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDER ASSEMBLY WIRE HARNESS AND ASSOCIATED WIRING HARNESSES CAN ALSO RESULT. THE SHORT CIRCUIT COULD ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS IN THE FUEL PUMP GROUND CIRCUIT THAT WILL BE INSTALLED AT THE FUEL PUMP INERTIA SHUT-OFF SWITCH.
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 ↗