FaultScore

Ford Aerostar headlight problems

65 of the 3,109 complaints filed about the Ford Aerostar are about the lighting — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1992.

65

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

3

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

1988 Aerostar 2 3.1%
1990 Aerostar 1 1.5%
1991 Aerostar 4 6.2%
1992 Aerostar 23 35.4%

Median failure at 156,950 miles

1993 Aerostar 9 13.8%

Median failure at 162,000 miles

1994 Aerostar 13 20.0%

Median failure at 120,000 miles

1995 Aerostar 9 13.8%

Median failure at 170,000 miles

1996 Aerostar 3 4.6%
1997 Aerostar 1 1.5%

What owners said

1994 Ford Aerostar at 120,000 miles Pottstown, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

FRONT COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED, HAD TO REPLACED WITH READING SPRING WORKS, THEY HAD TO SEND THE SPECKS TO CHICAGO. MY FORD AERO STAR 4 WHEEL DRIVE & 4.0 V6 IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM AFTER MARKET. THE ONLY OPTION IS TO BUY NEW OR USED FORD SPRINGS WHICH ARE MADE IN CHINA. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ADMITS REPLACING COIL & LEAF SPRINGS ON SEVERAL MODELS. MIDAS WAS SO BUSY REPLACING FORD SPRINGS, THEY COULD NOT SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO INSTALL SPRINGS EVEN IF I HAD THE SPRINGS.

NHTSA complaint #10217895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Ford Aerostar at 120,000 miles Pottstown, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

FRONT COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED, HAD TO REPLACED WITH READING SPRING WORKS, THEY HAD TO SEND THE SPECKS TO CHICAGO. MY FORD AERO STAR 4 WHEEL DRIVE & 4.0 V6 IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM AFTER MARKET. THE ONLY OPTION IS TO BUY NEW OR USED FORD SPRINGS WHICH ARE MADE IN CHINA. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ADMITS REPLACING COIL & LEAF SPRINGS ON SEVERAL MODELS. MIDAS WAS SO BUSY REPLACING FORD SPRINGS, THEY COULD NOT SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO INSTALL SPRINGS EVEN IF I HAD THE SPRINGS.

NHTSA complaint #10217895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Ford Aerostar at 120,000 miles Pottstown, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

FRONT COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED, HAD TO REPLACED WITH READING SPRING WORKS, THEY HAD TO SEND THE SPECKS TO CHICAGO. MY FORD AERO STAR 4 WHEEL DRIVE & 4.0 V6 IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM AFTER MARKET. THE ONLY OPTION IS TO BUY NEW OR USED FORD SPRINGS WHICH ARE MADE IN CHINA. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ADMITS REPLACING COIL & LEAF SPRINGS ON SEVERAL MODELS. MIDAS WAS SO BUSY REPLACING FORD SPRINGS, THEY COULD NOT SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO INSTALL SPRINGS EVEN IF I HAD THE SPRINGS.

NHTSA complaint #10217895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Ford Aerostar at 171,900 miles Huntsville, AL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL HEADLIGHT ADJUSTERS FRACTURED ON 07/04/06. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 07/05/06 WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE TENSION SPRING THAT ASSISTS IN THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE HEADLIGHT ADJUSTERS WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS WELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 8/1/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10162864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Ford Aerostar at 175,000 miles Omaha, NE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY SHORTING OUT. I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM 2 OR MORE TIMES PER YEAR. I USE LONG-LIFE BULBS, BUT THEY CONTINUALLY GO OUT. I SEE MANY OTHER AEROSTAR VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR SITUATION. WHILE THIS HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT YET, UNLESS I CONSTANTLY CHECK THE LIGHTS, I MAY BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND/OR TICKET DUE TO THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10112157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Ford Aerostar at 149,000 miles West Valley City, UT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

HEADLIGHTS SWITCH BURNED OUT TWICE. THE CONNECTOR TO THE SWITCH KEPT BURNING. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10104971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Ford Aerostar at 170,000 miles Bigelow, AR

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AND ON. USE TO ONLY HAPPEN WHILE ON HIGH BEAM. BUT IS NOW DOING IT ON LOW BEAM. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD I HAVE OWNED TO DO THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10064311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Ford Aerostar Rochester, MN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THEN WENT OUT, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.

NHTSA complaint #10015607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Ford Aerostar at 142,000 miles Waukesha, WI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

FIRST STARTED OUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER OFF AND THEN BACK ON. I FIGURED IT WAS NOTHING. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER EVERY 30-60 SECONDS, CAN NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, HAVE ALREADY BEEN PULLED OVER BY POLICE BECAUSE OF IT. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA complaint #10010714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Ford Aerostar Plaza, ND

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHT SWITCH (F49Z-11654-A), WITH AUTOLAMP OPTION, FAILED AND HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLASHING OFF AND ON THEN GOING OUT COMPLETELY. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES, 9/98 AT 93,000 MILES (SWITCH REPLACED), 8/01 AT 145,000 MILES (NEW SWITCH AND BLOCK INSTALLED W/OLD WIRING) AND 10/02 AT 160,000 MILES (NEW SWITCH AND BLOCK W/NEW WIRING INSTALLED). VEHICLE NORMALLY DRIVEN WITH HEADLIGHTS ON FOR SAFETY SO USEAGE TIME ON SWITCH IS EXTENSIVE. EACH TIME LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONTACTS, TERMINALS AND WIRE TERMINAL CONNECTORS HAD OVERHEATED AND DISCOLORED. THE OVERHEATING MELTED AND DISTORTED THE PLASTIC SWITCH CASE AND TERMINAL BLOCK (D3TZ-11A648-A), ALLOWING OR FORCING TERMINALS TO DISTORT OR MOVE. BOTH OF THE BATTERY POWER TO MAIN LIGHT SWITCH TERMINALS, A & B AND THE MAIN LIGHT SWITCH TO DIMMER SWITCH TERMINAL, WERE THE ONLY ONES OVERHEATED. DT

NHTSA complaint #769664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Ford Aerostar Caledonia, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND HAD THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OUT ON ME. THE SWITCH FOR THE LIGHTS SEEMS TO BE WARM AT THESE TIMES. THE HEATER SEEMS TO CAUSE THE SWITCH TO HEAT UP AND WHEN IT GETS HOT THE LIGHTS GO OFF. IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ONE OF THESE TIMES IF IT ISN'T FIXED. I'M NOT SURE IF REPLACING THE SWITCH WILL HELP OR IF IT WILL HAPPEN EVEN WITH A NEW SWITCH BEACUSE OF THE HEAT PROBLEM. MAYBE THE DESIGN OF WHERE THE SWITCH IS IS BAD. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #755995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Ford Aerostar WEB City, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND DIMMER SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. CONSUMER NOTED THAT HEADLIGHT SWITCH CURRENTLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #8000871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Ford Aerostar WEB City, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND DIMMER SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. CONSUMER NOTED THAT HEADLIGHT SWITCH CURRENTLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #8000871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Ford Aerostar Largo, MD

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT ENGINE BATTERY FOR THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #899511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Ford Aerostar Richland, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED & THE BRAKE,TAIL,DASH & HEAD LTS GO OFF, SWITCH 1/2 IN WILL WORK. REPLACEMENT AFTER APPROX 1 YR IS DOING SAME.

NHTSA complaint #748864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Ford Aerostar Richland, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED & THE BRAKE,TAIL,DASH & HEAD LTS GO OFF, SWITCH 1/2 IN WILL WORK. REPLACEMENT AFTER APPROX 1 YR IS DOING SAME.

NHTSA complaint #748864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Ford Aerostar Richland, IN

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED & THE BRAKE,TAIL,DASH & HEAD LTS GO OFF, SWITCH 1/2 IN WILL WORK. REPLACEMENT AFTER APPROX 1 YR IS DOING SAME.

NHTSA complaint #748864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Ford Aerostar Richland, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED & THE BRAKE,TAIL,DASH & HEAD LTS GO OFF, SWITCH 1/2 IN WILL WORK. REPLACEMENT AFTER APPROX 1 YR IS DOING SAME.

NHTSA complaint #748864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Ford Aerostar Ashburn, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

MY WIFE HAS TOLD ME THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SHE HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE RIGHT REAR OF HER 1991 FORD AEROSTAR. I SAW A FORD AEROSTAR MINIVAN WITH A BURNED OUT BRAKE LIGHT ON MY WAY TO WORK TODAY. PLUS SOMEONE TOLD ME ABOUT AN EXACT SAME PROBLEM INVOLVING A FORD AEROSTAR MINIVAN. I HAVE RULED OUT COINCIDENCE. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.? THANKS I ALSO LISTEN TO CARTALK, WITH KLICK AND KLACK, THE TAPPETT BROTHERS. THAT WAS HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT YOUR HOTLINE.

NHTSA complaint #744130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Ford Aerostar ELM City, NC

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN SLIDING DOOR TOO CLOSE IT WILL NOT CONNECT AND LOCK, LIGHT STAYS ON BECAUSE DOOR IS NOT SHUT ALL THE WAY.

NHTSA complaint #882647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford Aerostar problems