110 of the 541 complaints about the 1993 Ford Aerostar are about the electrical system — 20% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 150,000 miles.
110
Complaints
0
Crashes
36
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD AEROSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
NHTSA complaint #10632568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD AEROSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND AND HE COULD FEEL A PULSATION IN THE DASHBOARD; THERE WERE ALSO ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT RECALL 99V029000 AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HE ALSO CONSULTED THE MANUFACTURER AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,705. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,670. UPDATED 02/22/11
NHTSA complaint #10298475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD AEROSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED WITH A HIGHER THAN SPECIFIED ELECTRICAL LOAD THROUGH THE ACCESSORY POWER FEED CIRCUIT. THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTACT BETWEEN THE B2 (BATTERY), A2 (ACCESSORY), AND P1 (PROOF) CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR; THEREFORE, CREATING A SHORT CIRCUIT AND ALLOWING CURRENT TO FLOW THROUGH THE GROUND WIRE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HE NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH MODULE MELTED AND THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL LIGHTING WAS INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT, THE RISK OF A SEVERE FIRE INCREASED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V029000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #10246511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
JUST GOT HOME AND WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. ABOUT 30 MIN LATER SOMEONE WAS KNOCKING ON ARE DOOR TELLING US THE VAN WAS ON FIRE. THERE WAS NO KEYS LEFT IN THE VAN. THE FIRE BURN THE DASH AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE AND THE HOOD. THE VAN IS NOW TOTAL.
NHTSA complaint #10173207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING CONSTANTLY, THEN HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. NOISE IN COLUMN SOUNDS LIKE LOOSE WIRES FLOPPING.
NHTSA complaint #10120664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. WHILE OPENING THE HOOD, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB RECALL CAMPAIGN; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V029000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EDGE OF THE HOOD. AFTER HE OPENED THE HOOD HE SAW A SMALL FIRE AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10109761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN IGNITION SWITCH ELECTRICAL SHORT 99V029000 RECALL. MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CONFLICTING INFORMATION. THEY TOLD CONSUMER BY PHONE THAT THE VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ,AND THEN SENT A LETTER INDICATING THAT THE VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED.
NHTSA complaint #10087331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
HEADLIGHT SWITCH RUNS SO HOT IT MELTS THE PLASTIC PLUG BODY INTO WHICH THE WIRING HARNESS TERMINALS ARE INSERTED. I WILL BE PURCHASING THE SECOND REPLACEMENT SWITCH TODAY (3 TOTAL SWITCHES SINCE NEW). WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TRIM REMOVED AND 1/2 HR DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON THE SWITCH IS TOO HOT TO TOUCH. THE CONTACT THAT PROVIDES POWER TO THE TAIL LIGHTS, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND RADIO NIGHT LIGHT SEEMS TO BE THE SOURCE OF HEAT AS THAT TERMINAL SHOWS THE GREATEST DAMAGE DUE TO HEATING.
NHTSA complaint #10056983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEADLIGHTS START TO GO OFF AND ON AFTER 10 MINS OF DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS, DASH LIGHTS GO OUT TOO. FORD SAYS THE SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, MY HUSBAND TOOK THE SWITCH OUT AND ITS GETS WAY TOO HOT AND CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10041400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED AS A RESULT OF A ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8018069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN, COULD HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING SHORT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8018075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN STEERING COLUMN. WIRE RIBBON RING THAT'S INSIDE OF STEERING COLUMN, WHICH GIVES POWER TO AIR BAG/ CRUISE CONTROL, AND HORN HAS CRACKED AS A RESULT OF RIBBON BEING TOO SHORT AND FOLDED OVER, VEHICLE HAD NO HORN/NO CRUISE CONTROL OR AIR BAG.DEALER CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #8016547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
LIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTS THROUGH. HAVE ONLY OWNED VAN 1 YEAR, AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT THREE TIMES ALREADY. CAN SMELL BURNING PLASTIC, MAY BE SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD IN DASH.
NHTSA complaint #756324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING MECHANISM FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST 14 MONTHS. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTROLS THE AIR BAG AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FACT THE CLOCK SPRING CONTROLS THE AIR BAG IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY EITHER A BETTER CLOCK SPRING OR FREE REPLACEMENT BY THE MAUFACTURER. IT HAS COST ME OVER $200 TO HAVE THIS REPLACED THIS LAST TIME, OVER $400 THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPLACED AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #754070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED VERY HARD STEERING AND BRAKES WITH NO POWER, VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND CONSUMER WAS ADVISED VEHICLE WAS FIXED, BUT IT WAS NOT FIXED AND VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY, VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT ALTERNATOR WAS CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING, EVEN THOUGH DEALERSHIP ADVISED CONSUMER IT WAS FIXED AND ALSO CHARGED HER OVER $1000.00 FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #560979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
CRUISE CONTROL/HORN HAVE FAILED, AND AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES. ON/OFF. ALL FAILED AT THE SAME TIME.
NHTSA complaint #883622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A BURNING SMEEL COMING FROM UNDER DASH. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL FOR IGNITION , HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #881762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER BELIEVES ALL THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (WARNING CHIME, DELAY WIPERS, SPEED CONTROL,BRAKE LIGHTS, ABS WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH) STEM FROM RECALLL 99V-029 CONCERNING HIGHER THAN SPECIFIED ELECTRICAL LOAD, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #558202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN TIME OR SPEED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.
NHTSA complaint #874489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ADD: RIGHT REAR BRAKE DRUM CONTACTING BACK PLATE ON INNER LIP. BRAKE SHOE PAD CONTACTING INNER BRAKEDRUM RADIUS 10/95
NHTSA complaint #732279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DRIVER'S DOOR BURN VECH. WAS LOCKED AND PARKED.
NHTSA complaint #730911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DRIVER'S DOOR BURN VECH. WAS LOCKED AND PARKED.
NHTSA complaint #730911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
I WIIL BE FAXING OVER THE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS 93 FORD AEROSTAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD STARTING PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE A/C FAILED. RELAY STARTER MOTOR FAILED. THE HEATER CORE FAILED. POWER STEERING WAS INOPERATIVE. TIE RODS ON BOTH TIRES FAILED. WATER PUMP FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #722457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO THE SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH TOTALLED THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED UNDER RECALL 99V029000. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #862184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER RECALL REPAIR OF THE IGNITION SWITCH (99V-029) THE HORN NO LONGER FUNCTIONED, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR FLASHES AFTER THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED ON, ALARM SOUNDS WHEN THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED OFF AND THE CRUISE CONTROL IS INOPERATIVE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECALL 99V029/IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER RECALL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE WORSENED.
NHTSA complaint #860344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR PUTS OUT TOO MUCH JUICE THEN ITS NEEDS AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. WOULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. POPPED HOOD & FOUND FLAMES JUMPING FROM ENGINE. VEHICLE THEN DIED OUT. VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #858534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ALTERNATOR PUTS OUT TOO MUCH JUICE THEN ITS NEEDS AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. WOULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. POPPED HOOD & FOUND FLAMES JUMPING FROM ENGINE. VEHICLE THEN DIED OUT. VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #858534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS CHANGED, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED A SECOND TIME.
NHTSA complaint #856924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE HAS BURNED UP DUE TO A SHORT THAT OCCURRED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AREA. THIS LATER BECAME A RECALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #844218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.