43 of the 140 complaints about the 1987 Ford Aerostar are about the electrical system — 31% of everything reported for this model year.
43
Complaints
0
Crashes
38
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. PULLED OVER AND LIFTED UP HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL WIRING. BEFORE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS IN FLAMES. FRONT OF VEHICLE/ INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #896109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE OFF WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED FIRE STARTED ON LEFT HAND SIDE OF ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #884647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VAN CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #741072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #879024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #879024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WE HAVE HAD THE CONTROL MODULE REPLACED A MINIMUM OF 5 TIME (RECEIPTS ON HAND), EACH TIME THE VAN STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR CRASHES AND MUCH FUSTRATION ONLY THE ALERTNESS THAT THE VAN STALLS PREVENTED ANY BODILY HARM. SEVERAL FORD DEALERSHIPS DENY ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL MODULE ON THIS VAN AND NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #732476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WE HAVE HAD THE CONTROL MODULE REPLACED A MINIMUM OF 5 TIME (RECEIPTS ON HAND), EACH TIME THE VAN STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR CRASHES AND MUCH FUSTRATION ONLY THE ALERTNESS THAT THE VAN STALLS PREVENTED ANY BODILY HARM. SEVERAL FORD DEALERSHIPS DENY ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL MODULE ON THIS VAN AND NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #732476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHEN VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ,AND THE HOOD WAS OPENED, CONSUMER NOTICED SPARKS AND LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. RECALL 88VO91000.
NHTSA complaint #851051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
HAD SERVICE DONE ON VEHICLE & REPLACED THE OLD BATTERY. WAS DRIVING WHEN SMOKE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER & PARKED. LIFTED HOOD & NOTICED FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. HAD INDICATED IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE ALTERNATOR. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE OUT & INDICATED WIRES TO ALTERNATOR BURNED & TOTALED OUT VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #843448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ACCELERATOR MAKES SQUEAKING SOUND & WOULD STICK . ALSO, HAD TO HAVE SEAT BELTS REPLACED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE EMISSION LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON/THE COMPUTER CHIP SHORTED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #831600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #518865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
PARKED VEHICLE AT HOME AND SMELLED SMOKE, CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE RADIATOR HOSE BURST AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE WIRES WERE DAMAGED. HAD VEHCLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC, BUT IT WAS TOO MUCH DAMAGE FOR THE MECHANIC TO REPAIR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #814524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH FIRE SPREADING TO THE DASHBOARD. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #813674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH FIRE SPREADING TO THE DASHBOARD. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #813674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE PARKED, THE ALTERNATOR WIRE PLUG CAUGHT ON FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN . PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #812385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL WIRING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #513313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, FIRE WOULD OCCUR IN ALTERNATOR AREA. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER; MECHANIC NOTICED WIRES HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO WARNING STICKER FOUND. BUT VEHICLE EXPERIENCING OTHER PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #808475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN (THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION).
NHTSA complaint #808029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #508335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. OWNER STATES IT MELTED SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
NHTSA complaint #803888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE FIRE TOOK PLACE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE DASH AREA.
NHTSA complaint #802777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND THEN WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #987262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING WIRING TO MELT.
NHTSA complaint #503169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND THEN WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #987262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL FIRE SUSPECTED TO HAVE STARTED WITH IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #986898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
PARKED VEHICLE FUNNY ODOR AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. *AK CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE AND SMELLED AN ODOR, SHE THOUGHT HER BRAKES WERE HOT, CONSUMER THEN PULLED TO THE CURB, WHILE CONSUMER WAS CALLING FOR A TOW TRUCK THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP.
NHTSA complaint #986258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #504717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
EXPERIENCED FIRE UNDERDASH. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #985054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL FIRE, SOURCE UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED TO HAVE STARTED FROM IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #984617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DROVE VEHICLE, SMELLED SMOKE, ARRIVED HOME, LIGHT ON SNOW SPARKLING ELECTRICITY, SOON AFTERWARDS FLAMES ENGULFED ENTIRE FRONT OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #984540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.