Owners filed 317 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 5 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
32
0
10
2
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
21
0
1
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
19
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
16
4
0
4
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
13
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
12
3
0
1
Air Bags › Frontal
12
11
0
7
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
8
0
0
0
Air Bags
8
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
7
2
0
2
5 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic06E022000
Filed Mar 13, 20067,440 vehiclesBrake Parts, Inc.
Defect. CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
Risk. LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)99V094000
Filed Apr 28, 199910,951 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch99V029000
Filed Feb 9, 1999762,201 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
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.
Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)97V204000
Filed Nov 13, 199775,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Seat Belts
Filed Sep 6, 2008OR
SEATBELT DONT WORK. *TR
Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Aug 25, 2008UT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD AEROSTAR. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MUFFLER WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND THE FUMES WOULD EXIT OUT OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FUMES WERE ENTERING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE HOLES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY SEALED THE HOLES AND THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE MIDAS MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DEALER NEVER SEALED THE HOLES ON THE MUFFLER AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE FUMES COULD IN FACT GET INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO, THE HORN HAS NEVER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED; THEREFORE, THE DEALER CONSTRUCTED THEIR OWN HORN TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, THE REAR LIFTGATE FELL ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire
Filed Aug 13, 2007145,681 milesOK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD AEROSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROLS SHUTS ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HE WITNESSED BILLOWS OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 145,681.
Electrical System › Wiring1 injured
Filed Jul 13, 2007150,000 milesAZ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD AEROSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GROUND WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND OTHER WIRES UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. HE ALSO STATED THAT HIS WINDOWS ARE NOT WORKING. FORD STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN BURNED BY THE FAILED WIRES. THE RECALL # WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 171,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jul 19, 2006171,900 milesAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL HEADLIGHT ADJUSTERS FRACTURED ON 07/04/06. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 07/05/06 WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE TENSION SPRING THAT ASSISTS IN THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE HEADLIGHT ADJUSTERS WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS WELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 8/1/2006 - *NM
Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Mar 20, 2006194,000 milesOH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, IT FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY ONLY OPERATES IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT PREVIOUSLY AND WAS REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and FittingsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 21, 200568,000 milesFL
OWNER WAS GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. OWNER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. OWNER SAYS THAT THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE HOSE LINE POPPED RIGHT OFF. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL BRAKE PRESSURE PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
Tires › Tread/BeltCrash
Filed Oct 15, 2004186,424 milesCA
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH, WITH TWO ADULTS AND ONE CHILD IN A FORD AEROSTAR 1992 VAN. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED. AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT, INSTALLED AT 136,671 MILES, TIRE SIZE P215/70R14, DOT# DBHYC2423000. *AK *NM
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed May 23, 2004236,000 milesSC
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
Power Train
Filed Apr 8, 2004CO
CONSUMER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL. *PH RECALL IS IN REGARDS ON POWER TRAIN MODIFICATION. *LA
Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
Filed Mar 11, 2004120,000 milesIL
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HIS SPARE TIRE FELL OUT OF UNDER THE VEHICLE. *MR SPARE TIRE MOUNTING FELL WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH. THE MOUNTING BOLT WAS RUSTED. *LA
Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Nov 8, 2003269,709 milesGA
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.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Oct 16, 2003142,297 milesWI
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
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 5, 2003OR
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
Tires
Filed Jun 11, 200312,000 milesAZ
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TIRES.*AK
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Apr 10, 2003MN
THE HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THEN WENT OUT, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Mar 18, 2003142,000 milesWI
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
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Nov 13, 2002ND
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHT SWITCH (F49Z-11654-A), WITH AUTOLAMP OPTION, FAILED AND HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLASHING OFF AND ON THEN GOING OUT COMPLETELY. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES, 9/98 AT 93,000 MILES (SWITCH REPLACED), 8/01 AT 145,000 MILES (NEW SWITCH AND BLOCK INSTALLED W/OLD WIRING) AND 10/02 AT 160,000 MILES (NEW SWITCH AND BLOCK W/NEW WIRING INSTALLED). VEHICLE NORMALLY DRIVEN WITH HEADLIGHTS ON FOR SAFETY SO USEAGE TIME ON SWITCH IS EXTENSIVE. EACH TIME LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONTACTS, TERMINALS AND WIRE TERMINAL CONNECTORS HAD OVERHEATED AND DISCOLORED. THE OVERHEATING MELTED AND DISTORTED THE PLASTIC SWITCH CASE AND TERMINAL BLOCK (D3TZ-11A648-A), ALLOWING OR FORCING TERMINALS TO DISTORT OR MOVE. BOTH OF THE BATTERY POWER TO MAIN LIGHT SWITCH TERMINALS, A & B AND THE MAIN LIGHT SWITCH TO DIMMER SWITCH TERMINAL, WERE THE ONLY ONES OVERHEATED. DT
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Filed Jun 11, 2002WV
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHEN A TWO YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. VEHICLE WAS VERY DANGEROUS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Filed Jun 11, 2002WV
CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEAR OUT OF PARK. VEHICLE WAS NOT ON AT THAT TIME. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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: Mar 13, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.