23 of the 282 complaints about the 1991 Ford Aerostar are about the throttle and cruise control — 8% of everything reported for this model year.
23
Complaints
12
Crashes
0
Fires
8
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AS SOON AS CONSUMER SHIFTED TO DRIVE, VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, WITH TIRES SPINNING. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, THEN PARK BRAKE, AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. CONSUMER ACCIDENTLY SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND, VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8011448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE MAKEING A STOP WITH FOOT DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE STARTED IDLING HIGH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #889456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
AS CONSUMER TRIED TO PULL FORWARD, ENGINE REVVED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED. PEDAL WAS STUCK ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY CONCRETE WALL AFTER ABOUT 40 FT. VEHICLE TOTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #886416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE BEING PLACED INTO REVERSE AT A HIGH SPEED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE STOPPED BY TURNNING OFF THE KEY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #861886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN HUSBAND STARTED VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, COLLISION RESULTED. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint #859394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY, LOUD TICKING NOISE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF, EVEN WITH KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint #859395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE BEING OUT OF CONTROL (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). MJS
NHTSA complaint #549541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UPON SHIFTING GEAR INTO DRIVE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. LOST CONTROL AND WENT THROUGH A BUILDING. DRIVER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKES, BUT THEY FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT RAIN GOT INTO THE CRUISE CONTROL BOX, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #841368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT A PARKED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #545691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON DECEMBER 14, 1998, I WROTE [XXX] AT JOHN KENNEDY FORD IN FEASTERVILLE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN 2 AREAS. ONE HELP DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATOR LOCK. TWO, GET THE WORD OUT FOR APPROPRIATE RECALL OR MODIFICATION. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME THE NEXT MORNING SAYING HE FAXED THE LETTER I WROTE THEM (ATTACHED) TO FORD IN MICHIGAN AND THEY WERE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM FOR THE NEXT INSTRUCTION AS TO WHAT TO DO OR I WOULD HEAR FROM THEM. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM EITHER, SO I AM WRITING YOU , NOW. I COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURY OR DESTROYED SEVERAL LIVES AS A DIRECT RESULT OF A DEFECT OR FAULTY PART. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO WARN OTHERS AND ASSIST THEM IN GETTING THEIR AEROSTAR VANS FREE FROM THIS MENACING DEFECT. PLEASE HELP. BELOW IS LETTER TO FORD. [XXX] SERVICE MANAGER JOHN KENNEDY FORD 620 BUSTLETON PIKE FEASTERVILLE, PA 19047 DEAR [XXX] , I OWN A 91 FORD AEROSTAR XLT VAN. IT NOW HAS 96000 MILES. I PURCHASED IT FROM CHECKERED FLAG AUTO SALESAT 2029 RT 13, CROYDON, PA WITH NO WARRANTY ON 9/3/97. VIN NUMBER [XXX]. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VAN MY MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT, CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, OIL AND REPAIRED REAR SEAL GASKET AND TUNED IT UP AND INSPECTED IT. I'VE SINCE HAD NEW BRAKES, NEW POWER STEERING HOSE, AND NEW BRAKE LINES, INSPECTION AND ANOTHER OIL CHANGE. NONE OF THIS MAINTENANCE WAS RECENT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VAN ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY OPENED WIDE RIGHT AFTER I PUT IT IN DRIVE 2 WEEKS AGO, SUNDAY, 11/29/98, ABOUT 4:15 P.M. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE STIFF. I THEN STOOD ON THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS OCCURRED AT THE SHOPPING CENTER AT HUNTINGTON PIKE AND PHILMONT AVENUE. I WAS IN THE SECOND ROW OF PARKING FACING THE GIFT STORE AND CHOSE TO HIT THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT AND TO THE LEFT OF ME INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH OR INTO THE GIFT STORE BUILDING. MY VAN DID NOT SUSTAIN SEVERE DAMAGE AS I HIT THE CURB, HOPPED UP INTO THE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (F
NHTSA complaint #701823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UPON SHIFTING INTO REVERSE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #541427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER/INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #535581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET ON 70 MPH WHEN UNEXPECTEDLY A VEHICLE JUMPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER WHO THAN WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. TRIED PUSHNG OFF BUTTON, STILL DID NOT DISENGAGE ,CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL TO THE SIDE ONTO MEDIAN WHERE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHY CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DEACTIVATE.
NHTSA complaint #822607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES PRIOR. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #819074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 55MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL INCREASE ITS SPEED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #816706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
GOT IN VEHICLE, PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE, ACCELERATOR WENT TO FLOOR & STUCK, VEHICLE TOOK OFF, STEERING WENT BACK/FORTH, GRABBED STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP STRAIGHT, STOOD ON BRAKES (ABS), HIT WALL & A VEHICLE, WENT AIRBORNE, ENDED UP ON MEDIAN W/8 LANE TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #807896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
COMING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, IMPACT 11:00 POSITION, SPEED INKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER INDICATES THERE WERE TWO INJURIES DURING INCIDENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #804805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TRANSMISSION SURGES.
NHTSA complaint #500755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #984767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE SURGED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #502983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AUTO-TRAN: ENGINE ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE; NO WARNING; SYSTEM FAILED TO RECOGNIZE BRIEF WIDE OPEN THROTTLE; ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #970998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. TT
NHTSA complaint #969988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AUTO-TRAN:HEARD LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH CAR;SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE;ENGINE ACCELERATED; HIT HOUSE;KEPT GOING/ FOOT ON BRAKE;SHUT OFF IGNITION. TT
NHTSA complaint #967354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.