Owners filed 223 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system › ignition › switch. It has been recalled 4 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
29
0
23
0
Vehicle Speed Control
17
9
0
12
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
17
2
1
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
13
4
0
1
Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood
12
0
11
0
Electrical System › Ignition
9
0
7
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
8
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
8
1
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
7
0
6
0
Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
6
0
6
0
4 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Rotor98E010000
Filed Apr 8, 199823,500 vehiclesAimco Products Inc.
Defect. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET BRAKE ROTORS FOR USE ON CERTAIN FORD AND MAZDA TRUCKS. CRACKED CASTINGS CAUSED CRACKS TO APPEAR ON THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE ROTOR HAT OR AROUND THE STUD HOLE.
Risk. LOSS OF BRAKING CAN RESULT.
Remedy. AIMCO WILL REIMBURSE CONSUMERS/INSTALLERS FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT ROTORS AND INSTALLATION. CONSUMERS ARE REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE ROTORS WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED/INSTALLED FOR REPLACEMENT.
Electrical System › Ignition96V071000
Filed Apr 25, 19967,900,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission91V189000
Filed Nov 4, 1991792,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ABUT OR ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.
Risk. 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.
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage91V164000
Filed Sep 20, 19914,842 vehiclesSherrod Vans, Inc.
Defect. SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.
Risk. VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.
Remedy. REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jun 11, 2017CA
I HAD MY STARTER REPLACED BREAKS AND RELAY AND IT STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM I CANNOT EVEN TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS
Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 21, 2006MI
CONSUMER REQUESTING RECALL INFORMATION ON 1991 AEROSTAR RECALL. *TS *NM
Electrical System › Ignition › SwitchFire
Filed May 16, 2005MN
I OWNED A 1991 FORD AEROSTAR WHICH BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED. I HAVE BEEN BOUNCED AROUND TRYING TO GET SATISFACTIONS BUT SINCE THERE WAS AN ONGOING CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION. THE CONSUMERS WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, RAN TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT BY THE TIME HE RETURNED THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. UPDATED 04/14/10.*JB
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Aug 6, 2004150,000 milesCA
THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM TWICE, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK
Power Train › Automatic TransmissionFire
Filed May 17, 2004IA
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ANOTHER MOTORIST YELLED AT THE CONSUMER THAT THE VAN WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE COMING FORM THE MIDDLE TO THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VAN. CONSUMER SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND FIRE WENT OUT. A TECHNICIAN EXAMINED THE VAN AND STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V094000 WAS ISSUED. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 15, 2004CA
BRAKES OVERHEAT ON A CURVEY ROAD
Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 2004CA
1) REPLACED BOTH HEAD GASKETS AND BOLTS! 2) REPLACED EXTENSION HOUSING GASKET 3) REPLACED BOTH VALVE COVER GASKETS, OIL PAN GASKET, OIL FILTER ADAPTER O-RINGS
Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 2004105,410 milesUN
TRANSMISSION FLUID ENTERING COOLANT
Structure › Body › Door
Filed Oct 2, 2002WV
PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NO LONGER OPEN. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER. NLM
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › DrumFire
Filed Jul 25, 2002CA
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED AND CAUSED A FIRE WHICH MELTED THE REAR TIRES. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELLING APPROX 65MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE.*JB.
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jun 27, 2002NE
I WENT TO FIRESTONE IN ST. JOE, MO AND HAD MY AIR CONDITIONING RECHARGED AFTER 9 YEARS OF DRIVING MY VAN. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE A HOSE ON THE FRONT OF THE VECHICAL AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO THEN ADD FREON TO THE SYSTEM. THAT WAS IN JULY 19, 2001. IT DIDN'T SEEM AS COLD AS IT HAD BEFORE BUT IT WAS OK. THEN WHEN I NEEDED THE AIR THIS SUMMER I HAD NONE. THEY SAID THAT THE HOSE THAT THEY INSTALLED THEY LATTER WERE TOLD WOULDN'T HOLD THE PRESSURE (I THINK) BUT THAT NOW SENCE IT WAS OVER 6 MONTHS THEY WOULDN'T OR COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. IT COST ME $304.07. THEY SAY THAT YOU PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?*AK
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 11, 2002CA
AS SOON AS CONSUMER SHIFTED TO DRIVE, VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, WITH TIRES SPINNING. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, THEN PARK BRAKE, AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. CONSUMER ACCIDENTLY SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND, VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP.*AK *JB
12 YEAR OLD LISTENING TO RADIO MOVED SHIFTER FROM PASSENGER SIDE. VAN MOVED CAUSING EXTENSIVE LEG INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS SITTING BEHIND VEHICLE. *AK
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Dec 24, 2001MI
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND HAD THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OUT ON ME. THE SWITCH FOR THE LIGHTS SEEMS TO BE WARM AT THESE TIMES. THE HEATER SEEMS TO CAUSE THE SWITCH TO HEAT UP AND WHEN IT GETS HOT THE LIGHTS GO OFF. IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ONE OF THESE TIMES IF IT ISN'T FIXED. I'M NOT SURE IF REPLACING THE SWITCH WILL HELP OR IF IT WILL HAPPEN EVEN WITH A NEW SWITCH BEACUSE OF THE HEAT PROBLEM. MAYBE THE DESIGN OF WHERE THE SWITCH IS IS BAD. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU.*AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 7, 2001WA
IN DAMP OR WET CONDITIONS REAR BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, INSISTED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. UP OR DOWN SHIFTS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS IS VERY ROUGH AND SLOPPY. ALSO, WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD THE TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR FORWARD AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT 68,000 BY THE DEALER AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE SAME PROBLEMS STARTED UP AGAIN. *YH
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 21, 2001VA
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED OR STOPPING AT LIGHT VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVODE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Oct 14, 2001OH
THE REAR LIFT SPRING ON THE REAR LIFTGATE BROKE AT THE UP POSISTION WHILE UNLOADING,CAUSING THE DOOR TO COME SLAMING DOWN ON MY BACK. *AK
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column ShiftFire
Filed Jul 9, 2001IL
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE/TRANSFER CASE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Jun 26, 2001OH
THIS VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 20 MINUTES WHEN A STRONG ODOR OF PLASTIC BURNING WAS SMELLED. THIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN WHITE SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A FEW SECONDS PASSED WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS TOTALLY INVOLVED. THIS VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components3 injured
Filed Jun 11, 2001MI
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION WITH THREE INJURIES, UPON EXPECTION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND RESERVOIR (OSHP UNITS 977), NO PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL AND NO FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Apr 8, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.