FaultScore report
Owners have filed 72 complaints about the 1986 Ford Aerostar with NHTSA between 1995 and 2017. The largest single group is the electrical system.
72
Complaints
3
Crashes reported
26
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 300,000 mi
2 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PARK PAWL BENDING
LIFTGATE FAILURE
LIFTGATE FAILURE
THROTTLE STICKING
SAFETY BELT FRAYING
SUMMARY:COMPLAINTS OF CUTTING AND FRAYING OF SEAT BELT ON SHARP METALEDGE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.EDGE IS UNPROTECTED ON 86'S COVEREDON LATER MODELS.ALL COMPLAINTS ON 86'S AND 87'S (1 COMPLAINT ON 87MODEL).UPGRADE ON 1986 AND 1987 MODELS.===
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR
===
POWER STEERING LOCKING
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT POWER STEERING WAS STIFF ORSTEERING LOCKED.FORD HAS ISSUED TWO SERVICE BULLETINS:ONE ON LEAKINGSEALS AND ONE ON COMPLAINTS OF STIFF STEERING.===
SEAT BELT CUTTING
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
Risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
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.
Risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
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.
Risk: DAMAGE TO BELT WEBBING COULD WEAKEN BELTS TO POINT OFFAILURE INCREASING RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT OR A SUDDEN STOP.
SEATS
WIRING FOR THE POWER LUMBAR SEAT SYSTEM WAS ROUTED DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SEAT CUSHION SPRINGS AND MAY BE ABRADED BY THE SPRINGS.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH MAY CREATESUFFICIENT HEAT TO START A FIRE IN THE SEAT CUSHION PAD AND/OR TRIM COVER.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
Risk: SHOULD A SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THE WIRING WITHIN THERELAY OR IF WATER INTRUSION OCCURS THE SMALLER GAUGE WIRE IN THE RELAY WILLFUNCTION AS A FUSE LINK AND OVERHEAT. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR A FIRE IF THEWIRES ARE EXPOSED TO COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Risk: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Fuel System
THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN INADEQUATE SEAL BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE OPENING AND THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET. THIS COULD RESULT IN FUEL SEEPAGE FROM THE JOINT WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL OR NEARLY FULL. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, LEAKED FUEL COULD IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE. CORRECTION: A REVISED DESIGN GROMMET WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES
Seats And Restraints
THE WEBBING OF THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT BELTS MAY BECOME ABRADED OR CUT DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE OUTBOARD SEAT BACK PIVOT HINGE. CORRECTION: A PLASTIC COVER WILL BE INSTALLED OVER THE PIVOT HINGE TO PREVENT ABRASION. BELTS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.
Electrical
On certain vehicles, wiring for the power lumbar seat system was routed directly beneath the seat cushion springs on the side of the cushion. This could result in the insulation being abraded by the seat springs resulting in a possible short circuit with the potential for a fire in the cushion pad or trim cover. Correction: Power lumbar seat wiring will be modified and a 15 amp fuse will be added to the wiring under the seat on Aerostars. On Bronco II and Ranger Super Cab vehicles the 30 amp circuit breaker, located in the fuse panel, will be replaced with a 15 amp fuse.
Electrical
THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL TRAILER TOW PACKAGE. THE TAILLIGHT RELAY ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE WIRES THAT ARE OF A SMALLER GAUGE THAN THE FUSE LINK WHICH IS PROTECTING THE CIRCUIT. A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE TRAILER WIRING OR WATER INTRUSION INTO THE RELAY ASSEMBLY COULD CAUSE THE SMALLER GAUGE WIRES TO ACT AS A FUSE LINK AND OVERHEAT, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. CORRECTION: A FUSE WILL BE INSTALLED WITHIN THE TRAILER TOW RELAY POWER FEED CIRCUIT WHICH WILL PROTECT THE RELAY FROM SHORT CIRCUIT OR THERMAL OVERLOAD.
Fuel System
ON VEHICLES WITH EFI OR CFI, THE SPRING-LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES TO THE EFI FUEL RAILS OR TO THE CFI THROTTLE BODIES AS WELL AS OTHER FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS NEAR THE DASH PANELS ON SOME VEHICLES, COULD DISENGAGE DURING VEHICLE USE. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, LOSS OF FUEL WILL RESULT, PROVIDING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE. CORRECTION: COUPLING RETAINER CLIPS WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. NOTE: ESCORT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH EFI AND CFI. LYNX VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH CFI ONLY. EFI - ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CFI - CENTRAL FUEL INJECTION
REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS MAY BE INADEQUATELY WELDED AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE UNDERBODY DURING VEHICLE USE. THIS COULD CAUSE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THE AXLE DURING ACCELERATION OR BRAKING AND MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT STEERING CONTROL.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TRIED TO START VAN AND FIRE STARTED.
NHTSA complaint #719933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO PAST RECALLS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #548615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #533038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SMOKE EMMITTED FROM IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #529563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #523535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO REASON. THIS WAS THE SECOND FIRE THAT HAS OCCURRED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #815617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE GROMMET IN THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING. FUEL IS ESCAPING FROM THE TANK AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE. THERE IS A CONSTANT ESCAPE OF FUEL MOVING OR STATIONARY. THEREFORE THIS SYSTEM WILL NOT PASS SMOG BECAUSE WHEN PRESSURIZED, IT WILL NOT HOLD AIR. THIS IS A CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENT. IT IS ALSO MOST DANGEROUS. FORD MOTOR CO. WILL NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE 9 RECALLS FOR THIS MODEL IS ON YOUR SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10980287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT 3 YEARS AGO AT FORD DEALER, THEN, IN OCT 2000 WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #883658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TRIED TO START VAN AND FIRE STARTED.
NHTSA complaint #719933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
POSSIBLE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN APPLYING GAS THERE IS NO POWER, AS IF VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL. DEALER SAYS THE VEHICLE HAS THE WRONG TRANSMISSION IN IT.
NHTSA complaint #849990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO PAST RECALLS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #548615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE DUE TO A FAULTY BOLT IN THE HINGES.
NHTSA complaint #843877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THIS VAN HAS FAILED ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND OUT OF THE 1.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP I DROVE IT FOR 2 MONTHS AND NOT EVEN 6000 MILES .IT WAS PUT IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES, AND FINALLY BURNT UNDER THE HOOD AND DOG HOUSING.
NHTSA complaint #707752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT OF STARTER CRACKED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #706788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ENGINE STALLING UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP, THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN NORMALLY. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #826925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
HAD FILLED VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE. NOTICED THAT THE TANK HAD STARTED TO LEAK AFTERWARDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD IT CHECKED. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK IN & AROUND THE SEAM AREA.
NHTSA complaint #833818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISION HAS FAILED ON FIVE OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #541697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #533038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #533038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #525907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SMOKE EMMITTED FROM IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #529563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #523535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO REASON. THIS WAS THE SECOND FIRE THAT HAS OCCURRED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #815617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
THE CABLE WHICH HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE RUSTED, ALLOWING TIRE TO FALL.
NHTSA complaint #517789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
OWNER STATES WHILE SITTING IN VEHICLE WITH ENGINE IDLING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD OF VEHICLE WHICH THEN LED TO A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #808834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, CONSUMER CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #808652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED 4 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #601987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #510720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.