11 of the 83 complaints about the 1997 Ford Aerostar are about the transmission — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 108,746 miles.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
NEED TO KNOW WERE TO START TO GET ALL THE PROBLEMS ON MY VAN TAKEN CARE OF ALL THE RECALLS, OF POWER TRAIN THE ELECTRICAL AND WHATEVER ELSE WAS REPORTED TO ME ON MY REPORT OF THE RECALLS ON THIS 1997 AREOSTAR VAN THANK YOU MARYJEAN.
NHTSA complaint #10222447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
MY TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A BAD LEAK IN THE FRONT SEAL. I PAID TO HAVE THE TRANSAXLE REMOVED AND THE SEAL REPLACED. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED AS WELL AS THE FILTER AND THEN SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE CARS OVERDRIVE STOPPED WORKING. IT WILL SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE BUT IT WILL SHIFT RIGHT BACK OUT WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS EVEN THE LEAST LITTLE BIT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND YESTERDAY I WAS DOING ABOUT 60 AND THE CAR SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR FOR NO REASON AND THEN RIGHT BACK INTO THRID. THEN ABOUT A HALF MILE LATER IT BEGAN SHIFTING FROM THIRD TO SECOND AND BACK OVER AND OVER. TALK ABOUT GETTING JERKED AROUND! IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE STEPPING ON THE BRAKES! NOW I AM ON FOOT AND I AM ON FOOT AND DUE TO OUR GREAT ECONOMY I AM OUT OF WORK FOR THE TIME BEING. THEY SHOULD OFFER A MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON ALL THEIR CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10070676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 97 V 204 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10017214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
VEHICLE WILL NOT RUN PROPERLY DUE TO THE TRANSFER CASE BEING DEFECTIVE. THERE IS A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER NOTED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8016938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
FORD RECOMMENDS INCORRECT ADJUSTMENT OF REAR BRAKES, WHICH CAUSES OVERHEATING OF DRUMS AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF AXLE SEALS, AXLE BEARINGS, AND TIRE ON THE RIM ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE DRUM. FORD STIPULATES THAT BRAKE SHOES ARE TO BE TOUCHING DRUM WHEN BRAKES ARE ADJUSTED. THIS RESULTS IN FRICTIONAL HEAT BUILD-UP, AND IS LIKELY TO BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO TIRE FAILURES REPORTED WITH THE FORD EXPLORER. THE FORD EXPLORER, AEROSTAR, AND RANGER ALL SHARE POWER TRAIN AND DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS. THIS PRACTICE HAS COST ME $000S ON MY 4 FORD AEROSTARS (1989, 1992, 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEARS)
NHTSA complaint #754709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
FORD RECOMMENDS INCORRECT ADJUSTMENT OF REAR BRAKES, WHICH CAUSES OVERHEATING OF DRUMS AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF AXLE SEALS, AXLE BEARINGS, AND TIRE ON THE RIM ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE DRUM. FORD STIPULATES THAT BRAKE SHOES ARE TO BE TOUCHING DRUM WHEN BRAKES ARE ADJUSTED. THIS RESULTS IN FRICTIONAL HEAT BUILD-UP, AND IS LIKELY TO BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO TIRE FAILURES REPORTED WITH THE FORD EXPLORER. THE FORD EXPLORER, AEROSTAR, AND RANGER ALL SHARE POWER TRAIN AND DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS. THIS PRACTICE HAS COST ME $000S ON MY 4 FORD AEROSTARS (1989, 1992, 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEARS)
NHTSA complaint #754709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS IN ALMOST ALL BRAKING POWER AND LOSS OF FRONT RIGHT WHEEL NEARLY COMING OFF VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT SPINDLE ASSEMBLY, BRAKE ROTOR,AND CALIPERAND BALL JOINTS WERE DETROYED . DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE REPAIR THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR, CALIPER AND SHOES HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY. THIS INCIDENT COST IN EXCESS OF $1,400.00 TO REPLACE I RESEARCHED YOUR WEB SITE AND FOUND A IDENTICAL PROBLEM ODI ID 554544 I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP IN A RESULTION TO RETRIEVE LOST EXPENCES AND AND MY NEXT BEST COURSE OF ACTION.
NHTSA complaint #740683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #609433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #97V204000. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS FOR TRANSFER CASE. AFTER REPAIRS, PICKED VEHICLE UP. HAD PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. WAS A LOUD BANG. THIS CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE IN REAR END. DEALER REFUSED TO HELP W/PROBLEM.ALSO, REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS HAD CRACKED. IT SOUNDED LIKE METAL ON METAL.
NHTSA complaint #845887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #97V204000. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS FOR TRANSFER CASE. AFTER REPAIRS, PICKED VEHICLE UP. HAD PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. WAS A LOUD BANG. THIS CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE IN REAR END. DEALER REFUSED TO HELP W/PROBLEM.ALSO, REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS HAD CRACKED. IT SOUNDED LIKE METAL ON METAL.
NHTSA complaint #845887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FEELS LIKE AND SOUNDS LIKE TRANSMISSION TRYING TO LOCK IN TWO GEARS, ALMOST STALLS VEHICLE.HAS A MISS/BUCK/BALK/JERK/JUMP OR WHATEVER,SEVERITY VARIES FROM VERY SEVERE TO BARELY PERCEPTIBLE. OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN CITY.
NHTSA complaint #702515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.