Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
Ask About This Model
Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Ford Aerostar. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
AI Assistant
Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Ford Aerostar,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1986–2000 with 49 recall campaigns and 3109 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 1986 (7), 1990 (6), and 1995 (5).
Years with the most complaint volume: 1993 (541), 1992 (439), and 1994 (384).
Top recall themes: Seats and restraints, Electrical, and Fuel and emissions.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Electrical system:ignition:switch, Power train:automatic transmission, Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Seats and restraints
5 campaigns · Years: 1986–1987, 1989–1991, 1996
These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Ford Aerostar in NHTSA complaint data are
Electrical system:ignition:switch, Power train:automatic transmission, Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
2000
0
11
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Wheels, Power train:automatic transmission, Air bags.
1999
0
13
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl), Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch, Tires:tread/belt.
1998
0
4
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:wiring:front underhood, Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal, Air bags:side/window.
1997
3
83
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Vehicle speed control, Wheels:rim.
1996
4
124
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Wheels, Wheels:rim, Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch.
1995
5
204
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Air bags:frontal, Power train:automatic transmission.
1994
3
384
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Electrical system:ignition:switch, Air bags:frontal.
1993
2
541
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Equipment:appliance:air conditioner, Air bags:frontal.
1992
3
439
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Power train:automatic transmission, Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift.
1991
3
282
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Power train:automatic transmission, Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch.
1990
6
254
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly, Power train:automatic transmission.
1989
5
328
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly, Electrical system:ignition:switch, Seat belts:front:buckle assembly.
1988
4
230
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly, Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Electrical system:ignition:switch.
1987
4
140
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Power train:automatic transmission.
1986
7
72
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Electrical system:ignition:switch, Electrical system:wiring:front underhood.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Electrical system
, Power train
and Fuel system
Show recall evidence by year
1997
Vehicle speed control: Cables:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: minivans equipped with 3.0L engines. An accelerator cable was kinked during installation, causing the core wires to eventually fray.
Power train: Transfer case (4-wheel drive):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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/o
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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
1996
Latches/locks/linkages:
Safety recall involving the latches/locks/linkages area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: When in the secondary latched position, the driver door latches may open when subjected to transverse loads less than that specified in fmvss no. 206, "Door locks and door retention components."
Equipment: Labels:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with fmvss no. 120, "Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Power train: Transfer case (4-wheel drive):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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/o
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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
1995
Equipment: Carrier/rack:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The spare tire supplied with the vehicle can contact the brake lines on the rear axle if it is mounted in the underbody spare tire carrier. Such contact could result in fracture of a rear brake line.
Equipment: Labels:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The certification label on these vehicles have incorrect rear tire sizes listed. P215/70r14sl should be p215/75r14sl. This does not comply with fmvss no. 120, "Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Power train: Transfer case (4-wheel drive):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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/o
Electrical system: Front underhood:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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
1994
Power train: Transfer case (4-wheel drive):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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/o
Electrical system: Front underhood:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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
1993
Power train: Transfer case (4-wheel drive):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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/o
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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
1992
Power train: Transfer case (4-wheel drive):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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/o
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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
Power train: Transfer case (4-wheel drive):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 t
1991
Seat belts: Anchorage:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Seat belt anchorage bar for rear sofa failed to sustain loads required by fmvss 210.
Power train: Automatic transmission:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: When the automatic transmission shift lever is placed in the park position, the park pawl does not always abut or engage the park gear.
Electrical system: Ignition:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
1990
Service brakes, hydraulic: Master cylinder:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Inability to maintain pressure in the secondary system of the master cylinder (controls braking of rear wheels) could increase brake pedal travel and reduce brake performance at temperatures less than 40 degrees.
Seats: Recliner:
Safety recall involving the seats area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The second row right hand seat assembly has a tilt forward function. A latch retains the seat in the normal ride postion, and this latch may release under severe frontal impact conditions, allowing the seat to pivot forward.
Seat belts: Anchorage:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Seat belt anchorage bar for rear sofa failed to sustain loads required by fmvss 210.
Power train: Automatic transmission:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: When the automatic transmission shift lever is placed in the park position, the park pawl does not always abut or engage the park gear.
Electrical system: Ignition:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: mini vans originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alabama, arizona, arkansas, california (10 southern counties of los angeles, orange, san bernadino, san diego, riverside, ventura, santa barbara, san luis obispo, imperial, and kern), florida, georgia,
1989
Seats: Recliner:
Safety recall involving the seats area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The second row right hand seat assembly has a tilt forward function. A latch retains the seat in the normal ride postion, and this latch may release under severe frontal impact conditions, allowing the seat to pivot forward.
Seat belts: Anchorage:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Seat belt anchorage bar for rear sofa failed to sustain loads required by fmvss 210.
Power train: Automatic transmission:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: When the automatic transmission shift lever is placed in the park position, the park pawl does not always abut or engage the park gear.
Electrical system: Ignition:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: mini vans originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alabama, arizona, arkansas, california (10 southern counties of los angeles, orange, san bernadino, san diego, riverside, ventura, santa barbara, san luis obispo, imperial, and kern), florida, georgia,
1988
Electrical system: Wiring:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicles equipped with trailer tow package have a trailer taillight relay assembly that contains wires of smaller gauge than the fuse link which protects the circuit.
Structure: Support device/strut:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Some liftgate gas cylinder-to-body attachment ball studs may fracture in either the open or closed position.
Electrical system: Ignition:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: mini vans originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alabama, arizona, arkansas, california (10 southern counties of los angeles, orange, san bernadino, san diego, riverside, ventura, santa barbara, san luis obispo, imperial, and kern), florida, georgia,
1987
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicles equipped with trailer tow package have a trailer taillight relay assembly that contains wires of smaller gauge than the fuse link which protects the circuit.
Seat belts: Anchorage:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vans were produced without plastic cover designed to cover outboard seat back pivot hinge allowing webbing of front passenger-side safety belts to become abraded or cut due to contact with exposed hinge.
Structure: Support device/strut:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: There may be inadequate welding in some underbody structural areas, including those at the rear suspension attachments, which may cause it to separate. Consequence of defect: if rear suspension attachments should separate from the underbody during vehicle use, the axle could shift during accelera
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Fuel tanks may have been scored or penetrated when floor pan mounting holes for the partitions were drilled. Consequence of defect: fuel leakage may occur and in the presence of an ignition source, the potential for a fire would exist.
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicles equipped with trailer tow package have a trailer taillight relay assembly that contains wires of smaller gauge than the fuse link which protects the circuit.
Seats:
Safety recall involving the seats area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vans were produced without plastic cover designed to cover outboard seat back pivot hinge allowing webbing of front passenger-side safety belts to become abraded or cut due to contact with exposed hinge.
Fuel system, gasoline: Filler pipe and cap:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Insufficient interference fit between fuel tank filler pipe and grommet could result in an inadequate seal which could allow fuel to seep from the joint.
Other Ford Models
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This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
