Page 2 of 6 · complaints 51–100 of 257

1994 Ford Aerostar complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1994 record →

Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Apr 2, 2001IL

WHILE DRIVING NEUMATIC ARM BROKE OFF OF TAIL BACK DOOR. PIECE BROKE OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK *SLC

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut
Filed Mar 29, 2001TX

BOLTS HOLDING HYDRAULIC CYLINDER BROKE RIGHT OFF ON BACK LIFT DOOR. WHEN IT BROKE, IT FELL RIGHT ON CONSUMER'S HEAD. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE WILLING TO FIX PROBLEM AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.*AK

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut1 injured
Filed Feb 20, 2001CO

LEFT LIFTGATE SUPPORT FAILED, RIGHT ONE FAILED 2 MONTHS LATER. *AK THE FIRST FAILURE INJURED THE CONSUMER. *YH

Wheels
Filed Feb 20, 2001CA

LEFT REAR ALLOY WHEEL WAS CRACKED WITHIN ONE OF THE SPOKES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT IT WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY AND NOTHING WILL DE DONE. *AK THE DEALER INSPECTED THE WHEEL AND CONCLUDED THAT THE WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE. *YH

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jan 30, 2001FL

SHOULDN'T SEAT BELTS LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE? *AK

Electrical System › Starter Assembly
Filed Jan 9, 2001CA

THE STARTER, DISTRIBUTOR, AND IGNITION WIRING WERE ALL REPLACED. *SLC

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jan 8, 2001CA

WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT. A FEW DAYS LATER, DRIVER'S REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. P215/70R14, DOTVDHYJBA48, AFTER MARKET TIRES ON USED VEHICLE. *AK FIRESTONE FIREHAWK S510 TIRES, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES, BOTH TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

Air Bags
Filed Nov 21, 2000FL

AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES, THER IS A PATTERN, IT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Nov 20, 2000CA

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 60 MPH ENGINE QUIT 100%. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A NEAR BY MECHANIC. THEY SAID IT WAS A SHORT JUST BEFORE IGNITION SWITCH, THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD WIRING HARNESS THAT PRODUCED TOO MUCH HEAT WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER TO THE ENGINE. *AK

Tires
Filed Oct 24, 2000IL

FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, LATER THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT OF THE VAN AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WAS THE TIRES, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACING THE TIRES. *SLC

Air Bags
Filed Oct 17, 2000GA

WE HAVE JUST MOVED TO ROSWELL, GA FROM WINDER GA. WE KNOW OF OVER 15 PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1994 AEROSTARS CLOCK SPRING IN THE AIR BAG NOT WORKING. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THAY SAID IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM, MOST PEOPLE HAVE IT REPARIED OR JUST LET IT GO AS I HAVE. IT'S HARD TO COME UP WITH 300 TO 500 DOLLARS ON SOMETHING THAT IS A REPEATED PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR US ALL. I NOW HAVE A 2 MONTH OLD GRANDAUGHTER AND FEEL UNSAFE KNOWING THAT THE AIRBAG MAY GO OFF AT ANYTIME OR WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I SHOULD EVER NEED IT. PLEASE LOOK AT ALL REPAIRS ON THIS AND I AM SURE THAT FORD WILL NOT HAVE A COMPLANT LIST... SEEM TO BE PAR FOR THE COURSE. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *AK

Power Train
Filed Oct 16, 2000TX

THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER QUIT WORKING PAST 100,000 MILES, THERE WAS NO WAY TO TELL THE VEHICLES SPEED. NLM

Electrical System
Filed Oct 12, 2000AR

SMELLED WIRES BURNING AFTER THAT HORN WILL NOT WORK CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Oct 10, 2000CA

ALL OF THE REAR SHOULDER AND LAP SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT IN EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY STOP, WHICH WOULD NOT PROTECT OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. MECHANIC SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WEIGHT. *AK *SLC

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Aug 31, 2000PA

HEADLIGHT SWITCH BECAME ERRATIC. WHEN SWITCH WAS REMOVED FOR REPLACEMENT , I BECAME AWARE OF THE HARNESS BLOCK BEING MELTED AND CRACKED AROUND 6 OF THE 9 WIRES. THERE HAS BEEN OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE AEROSTAR RELATING TO CURRENT DRAW IN OTHER PORTIONS OF THEIR HARNESS. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I WAS VERY DISSAPPOINTED TO FIND FORD QUITE UNCONCERNED WHEN I CONTACTED THEIR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE LINE.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 28, 2000OH

AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES 32 AND HORN QUIT WORKING

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Aug 22, 2000OK

REAR PASSENGER MIDDLE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT/RELEASE TO BE USED. BELT HAD BECOME JAMMED IN RETRACTOR. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC WILL TRY TO REPAIR PROBLEM. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Aug 4, 2000UT

RECALL REQUIRED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BE REPAIRED, IT WAS REPLACED WITH A DEFECTIVE ONE. THE ELECTRONIC CLUTCH IN THE NEW TRANSFER CASE STARTED MAKING POPPING SOUNDS AT APPROX. 8057 MILES. PROBLEM REPORTED WHILE UNDER RECALL PART WARRANTEE BUT I WAS TOLD THE TRANSFER CASE WOULD NOT MAKE THAT SOUND. IT DID AND LATER FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE VEHICLE UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, FORD SHOULD REPLACE DEFECTIVE UNIT WITH A GOOD ONE BUT REFUSE TO DO SO. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Jul 31, 2000CA

FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T LOCK. CONSUMER ISN'T ABLE TO BE RESTRAINED WHICH MAKES IT INCONVENIENT. DEALER SAID CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE. DIDN'T HAVE A REASON WHY IT HAPPENED. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Jul 24, 2000NY

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SENSOR. *AK THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER RECALL ON IGNITION PROBLEM WAS FIXED. AIR BAG STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF. *YH

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 18, 2000CO

TRANSFER CASE PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN FLUID WAS LEAKING. TOOK TO MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE GASKETS. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, AND WAS REBUILT BY DIFFERENT MECHANIC. FLUID CONTINUED TO LEAK, GASKETS WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. FLUID SPEWED DURING DRIVING, WHICH MECHANIC SAID WAS DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER BLOWING HOT AIR ON TRANSMISSION FLUID, CAUSING ITS RELEASE. REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. FLUID STILL CONTINUED TO SPEW, ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DRIVEN 120 MILES, A QT. OF TRANSMISSION FLUID ADDED, AND BACK 120 MILES, WITH ANOTHER QT. ADDED. MECHANIC TAKES TRANSFER CASE APART, FINDING THE BEARINGS WORN TO A NON-ROUND SHAPE, AND THE SHAFT END WORN DOWN. CHECKED FOR RECALL, AND THERE IS ONE, 99V094000 BUT FORD SAYS OUR VAN DOESN'T FALL INTO THIS RECALL AND REFUSES TO HELP.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jun 16, 2000CA

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE WAS A GRINDINDG NOISE. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS METAL TO METAL GRINDING SOUND ON THE ROTORS. THAT WAS WHY SHE WAS HEARING THE GRINDING NOISES. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 killed
Filed Jun 14, 2000MD

EMPLOYEE FATALLY INJURED IN CRASH 06/05/00. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AIR BAG SENSOR APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN MARCH 2000, AFTER COMING ON AND BLINKING. COLLISION WAS WITH A FIXED OBJECT AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH, ON LEFT FRONT CORNER OF VEHICLE. HAVE THERE BEEN SIMILAR FAILURES REPORTED?*AK FROM THE ACCIDENT REPORT IT APPEARED THAT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS RAINING. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD, ROTATED COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEXT TO A UTILITY POLE IN HEAVY BRUSH. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AT THE POINT OF IMPACT WITH THE CULVERT. UPON INVESTIGATION AT THE SCENE A TROOPER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS UNBUCKLED AND THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS DEEMED THAT THE DRIVER WAS NOT SPEEDING BUT WAS MOST LIKELY DRIVING TOO FAST FOR THE ROAD CONDITIONS. *NLM

Fuel System, Other
Filed Jun 1, 2000TX

NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE TANK, GAS SENSOR MISREADS IT. IT COULD READ FULL OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 22, 2000CA

VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL OVER 35 MPH. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT TWO TIMES.HOWEVER, PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood
Filed May 22, 2000LA

UPON STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, IT CONTINUED TO RUN, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DIE OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Electrical System › Horn
Filed May 17, 2000CA

HORN ASSEMBLY/AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT, AND CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT AT SAME TIME. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 11, 2000NY

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATED FOR ABOUT 40 SECONDS. DEALER FLUSHED OUT FLUID AND IT GOT WORSE. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS THE EXACT RECALL LISTED ON WEB. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 6, 2000NJ

WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF A DEFECT OR LEAK IN THE TIMING CASE GASKET OF THIS VEHICLE. WE FEEL THIS LEAK DIRECTLY RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE WHICH WE NOW HAVE TO REPLACE AT GREAT EXPENSE. AFTER CONTACTING FORD, THE MANUFACTURER OF OUR MINIVAN, WE FIND THAT WE HAVE NO RECOURSE IN THIS MATTER OTHER THAN TO CONTACT YOU AND MAKE IT PART OF YOUR RECORDS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OUR VEHICLE. WE WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU AS TO WHETHER OR NOT ANY OTHER REPORTS SIMILAR TO OURS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH REGARD TO THE L994 FORD AEROSTAR 2WD, 3.0L VEHICLE. THANK YOU. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 5, 2000MA

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG ODOR COMING FROM THE AIRBAG, CONSUMER STARTED SNEEZING. THEN THE SNEEZING GOT WORSE, AND CONSUMER BLACKED OUT, RESULTING IN A CRASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS LIKELY THAT THE BAG WAS LEAKING. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Mar 3, 2000MI

THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING. THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CLOCK SPRING HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF CHARGE TO OWNER. ALSO, TIRES NEED REPLACING, BUT WARRANTY NOT IN EFFECT UNTIL TIRES ACTUALLY GO BAD. *AK *ML

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 1, 2000VA

WHILE MAKING A STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN CONSUMER TAKE FOOT OF THE PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD TAKE OFF, FAST IDLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights › Switch
Filed Jan 31, 2000WA

RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A SHORT WITHIN THE SWITCH. ALSO, PROBLEM WAS INTERMITENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Jan 20, 2000NE

THIS AEROSTAR VAN HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY GOOD VEHICLE UNTIL WE RECENTLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE. WE RECEIVED A RECALL IN 1998 FOR THE TRANSFER CASE, ALTHOUGH ALL THAT WAS REPLACED WAS THE REAR CASE. ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER WE STARTED HAVING LEAKAGE FROM THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE. WE RETURNED THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THIS CRACK REPAIRED. WE WENT TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITIES AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEY SEE THIS CRACK IN THE FRONT CASE FREQUENTLY IN THE AEROSTAR VAN. WE HAVE HAD IT WELDED, BUT WILL NOT TAKE THE VAN OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. WE WANT IT REPLACED AND IF IT IS HAPPENING AS FREQUENTLY AS THEY SAY, IT IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Jan 15, 2000MN

HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED ON 2 OCCASIONS WHERE EITHER THE HEADLIGHTS OR THE TAILLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK TOGETHER. -- WIPER SWITCH DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK SOMETIMES THE INTERMITTENT SETTING WORKS AND SOMETIMES NOT AND SOMETIMES THE HIGH LOW SETTINGS WILL NOT WORK. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS? *AK

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Jan 10, 2000NY

TRANSFER CASE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (97V-204)LEAVING CONSUMER AND FAMILY STRANDED. DRIVESHAFT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO AN ALUMINUM ONE AT TIME OF RECALL REPAIR OF THE TRANSFER CASE TO FULLY REMEDY THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS HEARING TRANSMISSON NOISES AGAIN. NLM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines
Filed Jan 5, 2000WA

THIS VAN RELEASES AUTOMATIC TRANS. FLUID FROM THE SEAL BETWEEN THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE TRANSMISSION BODY. IT DOES THIS WHEN HOT (BUT NOT OVERHEATING), IN THE SUMMER, WHILE TOWING A LIGHT WEIGHT CAMPING TRAILER (LOAD WITHIN FORD TOWING LIMITS). THIS OCCURS TYPICALLY WHILE CLIMBING, BUT ALSO ON A FLAT GRADE AT HIGH SPEEDS (65-70 MPH) IN HOT TEMPERATURES (85F +). THE FLUID SQUIRTS ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE, RELEASING LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS VAN FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH RELEASING TRANS. FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE, AND I HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE, BUT IT INVOLVED THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVESHAFT, NOT THE TORQUE CONVERTER TO TRANSMISSION SEAL. I HAVE HAD A LARGE AFTERMARKET TRANS. COOLER INSTALLED AS WELL AS A TRANS. FLUID TEMP. GUAGE. THE ENGINE COOLANT AND TRANS. FLUID ARE WITHIN NORMAL TEMP. LIMITS WHEN THESE INCIDENTS OCCUR. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE FIXED BY REPLACING THE SEAL; THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE BECAUSE OF COMPONENT LIMITATIONS. ALTHOUGH THE DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS HAVE NOT BEEN DETECTABLY MECHANICALLY DAMAGED BY THESE INCIDENTS, THE INCIDENTS ARE A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL IF THE DRIVTRAIN COMPONENTS WERE TO FAIL PRECIPITOUSLY. WHEN THESE INCIDENTS OCCUR, I HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND LET THE TRANS. COOL FOR A TIME, AND THIS IS ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jan 3, 2000GA

VAN IS AT THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM. WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER, HE CALLED THE DEALER. DEALER SAID BECAUSE THE VAN WAS A HANDICAP USED VAN THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE MORE MONEY. *AK *YC

Air Bags
Filed Dec 21, 1999MO

THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES CONTINOUSLY ALTHOUGH THE AIR BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL ALSO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)
Filed Dec 15, 1999VA

BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE, GEARS CAN BE CHAGED AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE MAKES LOUD BUZZING NOISE WHEN USING LEFT TURN SIGNAL. YH

Air Bags
Filed Nov 1, 1999MA

AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKING ON AND OFF. *ET

Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood
Filed Oct 15, 1999PA

ELCTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING HARNESS MADE ALL THE DASH LIGHTS SHUT OFF, THEN BACK ON. BUT, MOST OF THE TIME THEY STAYED OFF. DEALER SAID ONLY ONE INJECTOR WAS BAD. BUT, WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED ALL OF THEM. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Sep 20, 1999MA

AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT, AND HORN MALFUNCTION, HAPPENED AT SAME TIME. DEALER TOLD ME THAT A COMMON CIRCUIT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY THE PROBLEM. TOLD ME THAT AIR BAG, AND HORN WOULD NOT WORK UNTIL STEERING COLUMN REMOVED, AND CIRCUIT FIXED. CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH HORN NOT WORKING. FEEL UNSAFE WITH AIR BAG NOT WORKING. TOLD THAT AIR BAG WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 50,000 MILES. WHEN DEALER ASKED FOR POSSIBLE "GOOD WILL" REPAIR, TOLD NO! FEEL THAT ONLY WAY TO GET ANYWHERE IS THROUGH NHTSA, SINCE BOTH PROBLEMS ARE SAFETY RELATED. THANK YOU.

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Sep 15, 1999LA

WHILE THE VAN WAS PARKED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER THE VAN WAS DRIVEN. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VAN WAS TOTALLED. *AK

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Sep 15, 1999NM

IN MARCH OF 1995 I TOOK CUSTODY OF MY THREE NIECES, DUE TO THEIR MOTHER'S ADDICTION TO METH. AT THAT POINT WE OWNED A FORD EXCORT, WHICH WE TRADED IN ON THE FORD AEROSTAR IN MAY OF THAT YEAR, WITH APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES. WHEN THE VAN REACHED APPROX. 55,000 MILES MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN PHOENIX AND THE TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT, WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH. SINCE THE COMPONENT WAS UNDER WARRANTY PIONEER FORD REPLACED THE COMPONENT, AND THIS ONLY TOOK THEM 5 TO 6 WEEKS. IN AUGUST OF 1998 THE TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT AGAIN, WITH APPROX. 108,000 MILES, AND THIS TIME THE FORD DEALER IN BLYTHE REPLACED THE COMPONENT AND DRIVE SHAFT UNDER A RECALL NOTICE. LESS THAN 12 MONTHS LATER, ON AUGUST 13, 1999, THE TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT AGAIN. WE TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE AND THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS A CV JOINT, WHICH THEY REPLACED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THEY SENT US TO BOB TURNER'S FORD IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM. EVEN THOUGH FIRESTONE HAD INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEM, THEY PROCEEDED TO SAY IT WAS BAD CV JOINTS (INCLUDING THE NEW ONE) AND REPLACED THESE AND OTHER MISC. AT A COST OF $900.00 AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THEY NOW INFORM ME THAT IT IS THE TRANSFER CASE AND IT WILL COST $2500.00 TO FIX. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT 3 TRANSFER CASES IN 3 YEARS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP IN THIS MATTER. WHEN I TALKED TO A PERSON AT CUSTOMER SERVICE, HE SAID FORD WOULD REPLACE THE PART IF DEFECTIVE, I THEN ASKED PAUL AT BOB TURNER'S FORD IF THE PART WAS DEF

Suspension › Rear
Filed Sep 8, 1999CA

WELD CAME APART ON RIGHT SWAY BAR ASSEMBLY, CAUSING IT TO TEAR THROUGH ANY PARTS SURROUNDING IT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 8, 1999MO

THE ENGINE HAD STARTED TO OVERHEAT. HAD HEARD A TICKING NOISE PRIOR TO VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC ENGINE LOST COMPRESSOR PART & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Aug 19, 1999LA

TAILGATE SUPPORT ARM BROKE. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO LIFT THE TAILGATE IT COLLAPSED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Aug 12, 1999PA

THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT WOULD NOT RELEASE THE SEAT BELT. OWNER USED PLIERS TO PULL THE BELT OUT OF THE BUCKLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *YC

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Aug 2, 1999CA

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE FAILURE OF RECALL COMPONENT CAUSED THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT TO OVER LOAD/SHORT AND DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRIC CONNECTIONS OF AIR BAG,HORN,TRANSMISSION AND DOOR ALARM ( 99V029). YH

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 1994 Ford Aerostar → · Every Aerostar year → · How the figures are calculated →