13 of the
124 complaints about the 1996 Ford Aerostar are about the
electrical system — 10% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
107,000 miles.
I HAD SMOKE AND ACRID SMELL COMING FROM UNDER MY DASH (WHILE DRIVING), WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN FITS TO IT. I HAVE CONTACTED A MAJOR FORD DEALER (BRANDON FORD), AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO HELP ME. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HE SAID MY VIN IS NOT LISTED FOR A RECALL, BUT YET HAD NO ANSWER FOR ME WHEN I ASKED WHY IS MY VEHICLE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, WHEN IT IS IN THE GROUP OF VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED AND THAT ARE CATCHING ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. OVER 887,000 WERE RECALLED FOR FIRE RELATED PROBLEMS, BUT THEY REFUSE TO EVEN LOOK AT MINE. SO, CAN I KEEP DRIVING IT? I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A ONE TIME THING, OR WHAT.....
NHTSA complaint #11019124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesLansdowne, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN 30 MPH, ALL POWER FAILED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE STALLING HAS ALSO OCCURRED AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILE. A FUSE CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY CABLES BLEW. WHEN THE FUSE WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 99V029000, FOR THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH DUE THE VIN EVEN THOUGHT VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10175900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakland, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10109307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,300 milesChicago, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE ON 03/99. ON 10/21/03 CONSUMER STOPPED, PARKED VEHICLE, TOOK KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND IGNITION CYLINDER CAME OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10044646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warner Robins, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
3 MONTHS AGO, I BROUGHT OUR VAN TO THE LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY SPARK-PLUG WIRE, WHICH THEY REPLACED AND RESET THE COMPUTER, FOR $130.00. A MONTH LATER, THE VAN STARTED HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS, SO I HAD ANOTHER GARAGE DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, AND POSSIBLY A CRACKED HEAD. I TOOK THE VAN TO A TOP MECHANIC, WHO REMOVED THE HEADS AND HAD THEM INSPECTED. RESULTS WERE THAT THEY WERE BOTH CRACKED. WE NEVER RAN THE VAN HOT, AND KEPT THE VAN IN GOOD RUNNING SERVICE. WE RARELY WENT OUT OF TOWN, SO THE VAN WAS USED ABOUT 20-25 MILES A DAY. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE WAS RUN HOT, AND HE FEELS ALL FORD AEROSTARS HAVE AN INHERENT PROBLEM OF RUNNING TOO HOT, OVER TIME, DUE TO THE AIR/FUEL MIX DURING COMBUSTION. OUR VAN IS THE 5TH AEROSTAR THEY'VE REPLACED HEADS ON IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. WE'RE OUT $1400.00 FOR THIS REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #756320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peoria, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
RECALL 99V029000, IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE. OWNER HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE MARCH 1999 FOR PARTS ON RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #847591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sterling, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA RECALL 99V029000 AND MFR RECALL 99S02, IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. DEALER STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETIALS. RECALL HAS YET TO BE CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #838544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fullerton, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL REPAIR, DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER WORK WAS COMPLETED. (IGNITION SWITCH)- (99V-029) MJS.
NHTSA complaint #545095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #605130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Simi Valle, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK AND ALARM RELAY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakeview Terrace, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #605079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kerby, ORFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, KEPT SMELLING BURNING ODOR, STOPPED, CHECKED UNDERHOOD, CONTINUED ON, ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT, SMOKE COMING FROM FIREWALL AREA, SUBSEQUENTLY, UNDERHOOD ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #800473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oviedo, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH MELTED, NOTICED BECAUSE OF STARTING PROBLEM, PART IS AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #984849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.