RoadVitals

1986 Ford Aerostar Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Mar 10, 2000
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
36%
of 53 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
13
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1986 Ford Aerostar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Mar 10, 2000
Fire reported

TRIED TO START VAN AND FIRE STARTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
719933
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 28, 1999

POSSIBLE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE. NLM

NHTSA ID
549265
Incident
Sep 5, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jun 22, 1999

THIS VAN HAS FAILED ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND OUT OF THE 1.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP I DROVE IT FOR 2 MONTHS AND NOT EVEN 6000 MILES .IT WAS PUT IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES, AND FINALLY BURNT UNDER THE HOOD AND DOG HOUSING. *AK

NHTSA ID
707752
Incident
Feb 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed May 23, 1999

THE FRONT OF STARTER CRACKED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
706788
Incident
May 16, 1999
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Mar 24, 1998
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA ID
533038
Incident
Feb 28, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jan 30, 1998
Fire reported

SMOKE EMMITTED FROM IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA ID
529563
Incident
Dec 30, 1997
Electrical
Filed Feb 12, 1997
Fire reported

OWNER STATES WHILE SITTING IN VEHICLE WITH ENGINE IDLING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD OF VEHICLE WHICH THEN LED TO A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
808834
Electrical
Filed Nov 14, 1996

WIRING HARNESS FROM THE ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA ID
804983
Electrical
Filed Nov 1, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN KEY IS IN IGNITION THE SWITCH GETS HOT.*AK

NHTSA ID
803169
Incident
Sep 28, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 23, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED . PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984791
Incident
Apr 17, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 20, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERHOO, WHILE PARKED IN PARKING LOT, CAUSE UNKOWN, VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
984629
Incident
Feb 15, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 7, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ID
504169
Incident
Jul 22, 1994
Electrical
Filed May 6, 1996
Fire reported

A FIRE STARTED IN HT IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CAR BURNT TO THE GROUND. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984119
Incident
Aug 12, 1993
Electrical
Filed Apr 29, 1996
Fire reported

STARTED VEHICLE, THEN SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, POSSIBLE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT IN IGNITION. *AK

NHTSA ID
983743
Incident
Apr 27, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 24, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHILE BEING DRIVEN, THEN WHEN IT WAS PARKED THE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983453
Incident
Apr 21, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 24, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SPARKS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, STOPPED VEHICLE AND NOTICED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
983427
Incident
Apr 7, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 23, 1996

WHEN YOU START THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER SMELLS A BURNING SMELL OR SMOKEIN THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983360
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 1996
Fire reported

PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE;TURNED OFF IGNITION;REMOVED KEY;LATER, NOTICED FLASH OF LIGHT; CHECK GARAGE/VEHICLE, BLACK SMOKE/FLAMES COMING FROM FRONT INSIDE OF CAR

NHTSA ID
978981
Incident
Oct 12, 1995
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Apr 14, 1995

HEAD GASKET CYLINDER REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
489470
Incident
Sep 27, 1994

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine11

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .