23 of the
439 complaints about the 1992 Ford Aerostar are about the
lighting — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
156,950 miles.
A
23
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Headlights
730.4%
Switch
626.1%
Brake Lights
417.4%
Tail Lights
28.7%
Exterior Lighting
14.3%
Turn Signal
14.3%
Flasher Unit
14.3%
Back UP Lights
14.3%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 171,900 milesHuntsville, AL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL HEADLIGHT ADJUSTERS FRACTURED ON 07/04/06. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 07/05/06 WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE TENSION SPRING THAT ASSISTS IN THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE HEADLIGHT ADJUSTERS WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS WELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 8/1/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10162864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rochester, MN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THEN WENT OUT, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.
NHTSA complaint #10015607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 142,000 milesWaukesha, WI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
FIRST STARTED OUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER OFF AND THEN BACK ON. I FIGURED IT WAS NOTHING. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER EVERY 30-60 SECONDS, CAN NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, HAVE ALREADY BEEN PULLED OVER BY POLICE BECAUSE OF IT. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #10010714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plaza, ND
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHT SWITCH (F49Z-11654-A), WITH AUTOLAMP OPTION, FAILED AND HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLASHING OFF AND ON THEN GOING OUT COMPLETELY. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES, 9/98 AT 93,000 MILES (SWITCH REPLACED), 8/01 AT 145,000 MILES (NEW SWITCH AND BLOCK INSTALLED W/OLD WIRING) AND 10/02 AT 160,000 MILES (NEW SWITCH AND BLOCK W/NEW WIRING INSTALLED). VEHICLE NORMALLY DRIVEN WITH HEADLIGHTS ON FOR SAFETY SO USEAGE TIME ON SWITCH IS EXTENSIVE. EACH TIME LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONTACTS, TERMINALS AND WIRE TERMINAL CONNECTORS HAD OVERHEATED AND DISCOLORED. THE OVERHEATING MELTED AND DISTORTED THE PLASTIC SWITCH CASE AND TERMINAL BLOCK (D3TZ-11A648-A), ALLOWING OR FORCING TERMINALS TO DISTORT OR MOVE. BOTH OF THE BATTERY POWER TO MAIN LIGHT SWITCH TERMINALS, A & B AND THE MAIN LIGHT SWITCH TO DIMMER SWITCH TERMINAL, WERE THE ONLY ONES OVERHEATED. DT
NHTSA complaint #769664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Churchville, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
INDICATOR DISPLAY IN DASH LOOKS MELTED. AIRBAG INDICATOR FLASHING AND RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ARE DIFICULT TO SEE. ODOMETER JUMPED FROM 80K TO OVER 130K; THERE IS NO METRIC/ENGLISH SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #726060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Long Beach, WA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
REPACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH TWICE BECAUSE OF LIGHTS GOING OUT AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. ORIGINAL SWITCH APPEARED AS IF IT HAD GOTTEN HOT. AFTER JUMPER ON THE WIRING HARNESS WAS INSTALLED AFTER RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE IN EARLY 1999, LIGHTS HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT UNTIL THIS EVENING, WENT OUT LIKE PREVIOUS TIMES. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON DASH WAS CLICKING ON AND OFF.
NHTSA complaint #716024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wexford, PA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
LIGHTS FAILED AFTER REPLACEMENT OF MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH/LIGHTS FAILED AGAIN-DEALER RESPONSE
NHTSA complaint #715395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beaver Creek, OR
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK DEFECTIVE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH WAS THE CAUSING OF FAILURE WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #826310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bethel, MO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
3 TIMES IN SIX YEARS HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT NIGHT. VAN HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN AT NIGHT FOR OVER A YEAR BECAUSE OF THIS REASON. PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED TWICE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #841086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
WHEN DRIVING AND TRYING TO USE THE TURNING SIGNAL IT DOESN'T WORK AND THE BACK UP LAMP ISN'T WORKING EITHER. ALSO, HEATER MALFUNCTIONED, AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT AND THE YELLOW ANTI- BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON. CONSUMER HAD JUST BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK FROM REPAIR SHOP FOR A RECALL SERVICE, AND THE CONSUMER IS HAVING ALL OF TYPES OF PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #837064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
WHEN DRIVING AND TRYING TO USE THE TURNING SIGNAL IT DOESN'T WORK AND THE BACK UP LAMP ISN'T WORKING EITHER. ALSO, HEATER MALFUNCTIONED, AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT AND THE YELLOW ANTI- BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON. CONSUMER HAD JUST BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK FROM REPAIR SHOP FOR A RECALL SERVICE, AND THE CONSUMER IS HAVING ALL OF TYPES OF PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #837064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sioux Falls, SD
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF. OWNER NOTES HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS POSSIBLE CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #824233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beresford, SD
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #828046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sioux Fall, SD
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LIGHT SWITCH FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #538636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Statesville, NC
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
INTERMITTENTLY THE HEADLAMPS FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #825841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anaheim, CAFire
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION FAILED/ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON/MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT/AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FAILED/TIE RODS REPLACED/TAIL LIGHTS REPEATED LY REPLACED/IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING A FIRE/REPEATED ENGINE OIL LEAKS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #533725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lillington, NC
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING THE VAN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST GO OFF AND STAY OFF. AFTER THE DRIVER JIGGLES SWITCH,THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HARNESS WAS REPLACED BY DEALER ON JAN 23, 1998.
NHTSA complaint #820844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Memphis, TN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6X.
NHTSA complaint #800812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Memphis, TN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6X.
NHTSA complaint #800812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm BAY, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAD TO REPLACE THE BULB SIX TIMES. TT
NHTSA complaint #979123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beresford, SD
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEAD LIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL/POOR VISIBILITY. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #485264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roanoke, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE PADS ON VEHICLE WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY, NEED REPLACEMENT EVERY 4K TO 5K MILES. TT ROTORS ARE CONTINUALLY WARPING, BRAKES PADS CRYSTALIZING, CAUSING VIBRATION AND NOISES. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #973694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Cajon, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
ABS SYSTEM WILL FAIL IF WATER GETS IN THE TAIL LIGHTS. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #961349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.