1997 Ford AEROSTAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
99,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 35 complaints (11.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 22.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 11.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Wheels:Rim | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Wheels:Rim: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft: 2
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 24 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 9; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10017214 · 2003-04-21 (April 21, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 97 V 204 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 85,493 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029395 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
REAR WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031918 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE RIM SPOKES ARE CRACKED. VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. *AK FOUR SPOKES WERE CRACKED COMPLETELY THREW. ANY MORE AND CONSUMER FACED LOSS OF WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE SPARE PUT ON AND RIM REPLACED. CONSUMER LEARNED A PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP SELLS ONE OR MORE TO OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE PARTICULAR CUSTOMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THREE DEFECTIVE RIMS. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031918 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034255 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED RAPIDLY, WHICH RESULTED IN COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE TIRE. *AK THE WHEEL WELL AND BUMPER WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND IT FAILED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WHEEL WELL AND BUMPER WAS AGAIN DAMAGED. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049874 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
WHEN ACCELERATING CONSUMER HAD TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE MOVED THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK, AND REVVED VERY HIGH. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE HAD A STICKING PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059385 · 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TWO FRONT RIMS CRACKED. *AK CONSUMER CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SAID THAT THEY WON'T ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON WARRANTY OR RECALL. HOWEVER, CONSUMER REPLACED BOTH RIMS. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070676 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
MY TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A BAD LEAK IN THE FRONT SEAL. I PAID TO HAVE THE TRANSAXLE REMOVED AND THE SEAL REPLACED. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED AS WELL AS THE FILTER AND THEN SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE CARS OVERDRIVE STOPPED WORKING. IT WILL SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE BUT IT WILL SHIFT RIGHT BACK OUT WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS EVEN THE LEAST LITTLE BIT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND YESTERDAY I WAS DOING ABOUT 60 AND THE CAR SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR FOR NO REASON AND THEN RIGHT BACK INTO THRID. THEN ABO…
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074110 · 2004-05-21 (May 21, 2004)
CONSUMER'S HUSBAND DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE RIMS HAD CRACKED IN THREE PLACES. *LA ANOTHER RIM WAS FOUND WITH CRACKS IN THREE PLACES AS WELL. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074110 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.
00V425000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cables
Reported: 2000-12-26 (December 26, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. AN ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS KINKED DURING INSTALLATION, CAUSING THE CORE WIRES TO EVENTUALLY FRAY.
Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE FRICTION IN THE CABLE, CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO BE SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ACCELERATOR CABLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗