56 of the
3,109 complaints filed about the Ford Aerostar
are about the doors, latches and locks —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1993.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD AEROSTAR. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MUFFLER WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND THE FUMES WOULD EXIT OUT OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FUMES WERE ENTERING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE HOLES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY SEALED THE HOLES AND THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE MIDAS MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DEALER NEVER SEALED THE HOLES ON THE MUFFLER AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE FUMES COULD IN FACT GET INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO, THE HORN HAS NEVER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED; THEREFORE, THE DEALER CONSTRUCTED THEIR OWN HORN TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, THE REAR LIFTGATE FELL ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10239623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1997 AEROSTAR REAR HATCH: 1 OF 2 ANCHOR STUDS WHICH SUPPORT THE TAIL HATCH PNEUMATIC SPRING (VEHICLE BODY END) BROKE, ALLOWING THE HATCH TO IMMEDIATELY FALL ON TO OPERATOR. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE 2 PNEUMATIC SUPPORTS, 1 IS INSUFFCIENT TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE HATCH. SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH 1994 MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10130062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SLIDING DOOR WOULD JAM AFTER BEING CLOSED. CANNOT USE KEY TO OPEN. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, EITHER UP A HILL OR HITTING A BUMP, SLIDING DOOR WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF COST OF NEW DOOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
NHTSA complaint #887759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE REAR HATCHBACK FREEZES (LOCKED) CLOSED AND I AM NOT ABLE TO OPEN FROM EITHER SIDE. WHICH COULD PROVE DANGEROUS IN A CRASH SITUATION. THIS IS MY SECOND AEROSTAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE USEFULNESS OF THE VIHICAL IS CUT BY MORE THAN 75%
NHTSA complaint #743268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WILL BE TO COSTLY TO FIX PROBLEM. REQUIRED REMOVING THE ENTIRE REAR DOOR TO FIX THE LOCK ASSEMBLY, AND SINCE THE MILEAGE IN ACCESS OF 65000, I HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR. I TOLD THEM IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SCAPE USING THE REAR DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #740440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE AND LATCH PROPERLY BECAUSE THE SIDE-TRACK DOOR-GUIDE IS MISALIGNED OR WEAK, CAUSING IT TO CRACK AND BREAK AT THE POINT WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE VEHICLE BODY BEHIND THE STRIKER PIN. THIS CAUSES THE DOOR TO SAG SLIGHTLY, THUS PREVENTING PROPER LATCHING. ALSO, WHEN THE DOOR IS NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR-AJAR LIGHT COMES ON AND SOMETIMES MAKES A LOUD GRATING SOUND BEHIND THE DASH RATHER THAN THE CHIME SOUND IT IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE. A FEW TIMES, WHILE THE DOOR-AJAR LIGHT WAS BUZZING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AS WELL. THE TURN-SIGNALS, FAN, RADIO, WIPERS. ETC., ALL FROZE UP AND WOULD NOT WORK, AS WELL AS THE IGNITION. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE KEY AND RESTART THE VAN TO GET EVERYTHING TO WORK AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY, THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE IS RELATED TO THE SLIDING DOOR MALFUNTION, SINCE IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHILE THE DOOR-AJAR LIGHT WAS FLASHING. WE HAD REPAIRS DONE AT OUR FORD DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO RECUR, SO THE DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THESE DAGEROUS MALFUNCTIONS.
NHTSA complaint #722451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME OPEN. THE DOOR IS CLOSED, BUT OWNER IS NOT SURE IF THE DOOR WILL OPEN AGAIN OR NOT. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #861035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DOOR LATCH ON THE SLIDING DOOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, AND DOOR WON'T SHUT. DEALER INDICATED THAT BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, AND THERE WAS NO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #860523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE RIGHT HAND HAD BEEN OPENED & THEN CLOSED, IT COULD BE REOPENED AGAIN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. COULD HEAR THE CLICKING SOUND, BUT THE DOOR IS NOT OPENING. ALL THE LOCKS WORK JUST FINE. TAKING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO CHECK & HAVE IT REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #851564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAD HATCHBACK LATCH REPAIRED BEFORE GOING ON VACATION-THEN WHILE ON VACATION THE LATCH GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THE FAMILY COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #844899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SLIDING DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE DOOR NOT TO LATCH. DOOR MAY FLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING, AND COULD RESULT IN INJURIES. BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT DEALER COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #836511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.