10 of the
83 complaints about the 1997 Ford Aerostar are about the
throttle and cruise control — 12% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
56,500 miles.
D
10
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
660.0%
Linkages
220.0%
Cables
110.0%
Accelerator Pedal
110.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Ford Aerostar year
NOTE: I WISH I HAD FOUND THIS SITE YEARS AGO. I COULD NOT GET PAST FORDS "BRICK WALL" TO SPEAK TO AN ENGINEER! 1. 1997 AEROSTAR - ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED DOWN QUICKLY TO PASS (2 LANE HIGHWAY). 2. NOW IN THE LEFT LANE, NOT FAR AHEAD OF PASSED THE CAR - I EXPERRIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER - HARD RIGHT OVER TO SOFT SHOULDER - AVOIDED AN ONCOMING HEAD ON COLLISION - L JUST MISSED THE CAR BEING PASSED BY INCHES AND STOPPED. THE CRIMPED END OF CABLE TO THE CARBURATOR HAD RELEASED FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. 3. I CLAMPED THE CABLE BACK ONTO THE PEDAL WITH VICE GRIPS. (DROVE TO DEALER). FORD REPLACED THE CABLE. THAT PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. (I DO NOT PRESS DOWN HARD EITHER!)
NHTSA complaint #10350538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesRaytown, MO
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN ACCELERATING CONSUMER HAD TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE MOVED THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK, AND REVVED VERY HIGH. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE HAD A STICKING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10049874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hammond, IN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER HAVE RECALL 00V425000/ ACCELERATOR CABLE REPAIRED. DEALER TOLD HER THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL NOTICE AND REFUSED TO PERFORM WORK.
NHTSA complaint #881534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crowley, LA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MAINLY WHEN VAN WAS IN PARK ENGINE REVVED UP BY ITSELF. ALSO, VAN HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE IN SPEED WHILE DRIVING. VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #868378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seattle, WACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
CONSUMER WAS TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY OFF OF A SMALL STREET, APPLIED BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN. RPMS WENT UP, AND THE REAR TIRES WERE SPINNING. VEHICLE HIT A GARAGE WALL AND DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #864248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT UP TO 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND PLACED UNDER CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL TO SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 90MPH, AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO DISENGAGE THROTTLE OR CRUSISE CONTROL. VEHILCE SLOWED DOWN TO SAFE SPEED BY CONSTANT BRAKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES UNTIL "SAFE" AREA TO EXIT WAS FOUND. ATTEMPTS TO BRING VEHICLE TO STOP BY BREAKING, DOWNSHIFTING, APPLYING EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED BY TURNING IGNITION SWITCH OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX 25 MPH. VEHICLE TOWED TO CHEROKEE FORD IN WOODSTOCK. PROBLEM REPORTED TO BE MALFUNCTION OF ACCELERATOR CABLE. DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE COMPONENTS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #720686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT UP TO 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND PLACED UNDER CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL TO SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 90MPH, AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO DISENGAGE THROTTLE OR CRUSISE CONTROL. VEHILCE SLOWED DOWN TO SAFE SPEED BY CONSTANT BRAKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES UNTIL "SAFE" AREA TO EXIT WAS FOUND. ATTEMPTS TO BRING VEHICLE TO STOP BY BREAKING, DOWNSHIFTING, APPLYING EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED BY TURNING IGNITION SWITCH OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX 25 MPH. VEHICLE TOWED TO CHEROKEE FORD IN WOODSTOCK. PROBLEM REPORTED TO BE MALFUNCTION OF ACCELERATOR CABLE. DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE COMPONENTS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #720686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL SET AT APPROX 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 75 NORTH OF ATLANTA. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELARATED OUT OF CONTROL TO APPROXIMATELY 90 MPH AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO DEACTIVATE CONTROL BY BRAKE, OR CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL VEHICLE WHILE THE THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN AND BRAKES FIRMLY APPLIED FOR SEVERAL MILE TO FIND SAFE PLACE TO ATTEMPT STOPPING IT WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP BY COMBINATION OF BRAKING, DOWNSHIFTING, AND FINALLY TURNING OFF IGNITION SWITCH ON AN EXIT RAMP. ONCE STOPPED EXAMINATION OF ACCELATOR PEDAL SHOWED IN WAS STILL BEING HELD TO THE "FLOOR" BY CABLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CHEROKEE FORD DEALERSHIP IN WOODSTOCK GA AT APPROX 8:00 PM AND KEYS WERE LEFT IN DROP OFF BOX AT SERVICE AREA. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN FALL 1997 AND AM NOT SURE IF 36 MONTH WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXCEEDED. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS AND LIFE THREATENING COLLISION WAS AVOIDED BUT AT UNKNOWN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #720605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hopkins, SC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE CAUSING IT TO HIT A BULIDING.
NHTSA complaint #544461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Theordore, ALCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, PRESSED BRAKES, WENT TO REVERSE AND VEHICLE ACCELLERATED AT HIGH SPEED, RACING 100 FEET DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE ROAD, JUMPED A CURVE AND TORE DOWN APPPROX. 70 FT. OF CHAINLINK FENCE. THE PIPE FROM FENCE BROKE BACK WINDOW OF VEHICLE ,PERTRUDING THROUGH HITTING CONSUMER ON HEAD, THEN BROKEN WINDSHIELD EXTENDED ABOUT 40 FT. OUTSIDE OF WINDSHIELD. THROUGH ALL OF THIS, CONSUMER STILL HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTILL FENCE WAS CAUGHT UP UNDER VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUFFERS A SWOLLEN FOOT DUE TO PRESSURE APPLIED TO BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #818956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.