49 of the 230 complaints about the 1988 Ford Aerostar are about the electrical system — 21% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 211,319 miles.
49
Complaints
0
Crashes
36
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TRUCK EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. AS A RESULT THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN TWO HOURS AFTER BEING PARKED. THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD. ALL THE UNDER HOOD ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE MELTED. THE HEAT ALSO CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #10046164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10033973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
2 FIRES AT ALTERNATOR LAST ONE TOTALLED VEHICLE FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED.
NHTSA complaint #754017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 6 HOURS AFTER BEING PARKED. STATE FIRE MARSHALL DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED FIRE. HOME AND VEHICLE WERE TOTALY LOST. 3 CHILDREN HAD TO JUMP THROUGH WINDOW TO ESCAPE THE FIRE, ONE SLICED TENDONS ON WRIST. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 96V071000 ON 30 SEP 1997. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY SHERRIE HANSEN, ATTORNEY.
NHTSA complaint #896761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION MODULE. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #557642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #734117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DISTRIBUTOR FAILED ON FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED , AT NIGHT, GOING UPHILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC 100 MILES FROM NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY. IT WAS NECESSARY TO ROLL VEHICLE BACKWARDS, DOWNHILL IN TRAFFIC TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE BEEN HIT AND INJURED FROM THE TRAFFIC. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THAT CAUSED FAILURE BUT RECENTLY I HEARD ABOUT THE LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD FOR KNOWING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND NOT RECALLING OR NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FAILURE DUE TO PLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DUE TO ENGINE HEAT. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THIS FAILURE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES YET FORD DID NOT FEEL IT NECESSARY TO WARN IT'S CUSTOMERS. I HAVE FOUR FORD VEHICLES AT THIS TIME. THREE OF THEM ARE LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD. I MAY NOT BUY ANY MORE FORD VEHICLES IF THIS IS THEIR ATTITUDE THAT THEY WON'T RECALL OR AT THE MINIMUM AT LEAST WARN OWNERS OF THESE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. FORD WILL LOSE A LOT MORE MONEY BY NOT SELLING MYSELF , MY WIFE AND MY FOUR ADULT CHILDREN ANY MORE FORD VEHICLES , MUCH MORE THAN THE $449.85 REPAIRS, TOWING AND HOTEL COSTS I LOST WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #719029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #510018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHEN VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD & ASH TRAY. CHECKED UNDER HOOD & VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. PUT FLAMES OUT. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. FIRE HAD ORIGINATED AROUND THE ALTERNATOR. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. THE SECOND TIME WAS 3/21/99.
NHTSA complaint #838892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS WIRES SHORTED BECAUSE WIRING INSULATION SHRUNK RESULTING IN IT BURNING OUT THE FUEL PUMP IN THE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #544718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I WOULD BE DRIVING THE VAN DOWN THE ROAD AT A SPEED OF 30-40MPH AND THE ENGINE WOULD GO DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER RAN THE COMPUTER CODES AND FOUND NOTHING, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. AFTER THREE FUEL PUMPS, ....ECT, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS NOT REPLACED WAS THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. I GOT A SECOND HAND COMPUTER FOR THE VAN AND WENT TO INSTALL IT. WHEN I UNPLUGGED THE OLD COMPUTER I FOUND THE PROBLEM, THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND AGE CAUSE D THE PLASTIC COATING ON THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHRINK. WHEN THE VAN HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE COMPUTER WOULD SHORT OUT, LEAVING NO CODES AND A DEAD ENGINE. I EMAILED FORD, THEY LEFT NO COMMETON THIS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #703439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I WOULD BE DRIVING THE VAN DOWN THE ROAD AT A SPEED OF 30-40MPH AND THE ENGINE WOULD GO DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER RAN THE COMPUTER CODES AND FOUND NOTHING, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. AFTER THREE FUEL PUMPS, ....ECT, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS NOT REPLACED WAS THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. I GOT A SECOND HAND COMPUTER FOR THE VAN AND WENT TO INSTALL IT. WHEN I UNPLUGGED THE OLD COMPUTER I FOUND THE PROBLEM, THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND AGE CAUSE D THE PLASTIC COATING ON THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHRINK. WHEN THE VAN HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE COMPUTER WOULD SHORT OUT, LEAVING NO CODES AND A DEAD ENGINE. I EMAILED FORD, THEY LEFT NO COMMETON THIS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #703439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF. VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, AND THE IGNITION IS EXPERIENCING SOME INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #833389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN PUTTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK WHEN TRYING TO CUT OFF VEHICLE AND TAKING KEY OUT, VEHICLE WON'T TURN OFF. COSNUMER HAS TO PLAY WITH THE IGINTION SWITCH IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF.
NHTSA complaint #832474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER BEGAN TO SEE AND SMELL SMOKE. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE, PROCEEDED TO LIFT THE HOOD AND SAW HIGH FLAMES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #828726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INTERMITTENT STALLING DUE TO IGNITION WIRING OVERHEATING.
NHTSA complaint #523627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING APPROX 40 MPH SMELLED SOMETHING SMOTHERING. STOPPED AND LIFTED HOOD AND FIRE HAD COME OUT, AND WIRES WERE MELTED TOGETHER.
NHTSA complaint #819333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ELECTRICAL: DRIVING HOME APPROXIMATELY 20MPH WHEN NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE. PULLLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. BY THE TIME GOT OUT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #815441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE UNDERDASH IN LOWER AREA OF STEERING COLUMN, NO WARNING, NO FOUL PLAY, VEHICLE TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #814453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE VIHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONSUMER 'S GARAGE, ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE DASHBOARD TO UNDER THE HOOD; MELTING WIRES AND CABLES.
NHTSA complaint #813479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
OWNER STATES THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND PARKING IT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, OWNER NOTES THAT THE HOOD BLEW OFF VEHICLE WHEN IT EXPLODED. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATES THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #810111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR CABLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE AROUND THE ALTERNATOR.
NHTSA complaint #805222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHERE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #804626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #504224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #507829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #508310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #506958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, AT SHOP, OWNERS CALLED/REPORTED VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE EARLY IN MORNING, FIRE DEPT PUT OUT FLAMES, FIRE STARTED AT/NEAR STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #986949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE HOME FROM VACATION, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT, VEHICLE STARTED TO BURNING.
NHTSA complaint #986557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #501943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.