1986 Ford Aerostar Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Ford Aerostar, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1931.1%
- Engine1118.0%
- Transmission711.5%
- Seat belts58.2%
- Fuel system58.2%
- Interior & seats46.6%
- Steering34.9%
- Driver assistance23.3%
- Visibility11.6%
- Brakes11.6%
- Heating & air conditioning11.6%
- Other / unspecified11.6%
- Body & structure11.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRIED TO START VAN AND FIRE STARTED. *AK
POSSIBLE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE. NLM
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
POSSIBLE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE. NLM
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO PAST RECALLS. NLM
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT 3 YEARS AGO AT FORD DEALER, THEN, IN OCT 2000 WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN. *AK
WHEN APPLYING GAS THERE IS NO POWER, AS IF VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL. DEALER SAYS THE VEHICLE HAS THE WRONG TRANSMISSION IN IT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING FIRE.
AFTER DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASED FROM THE BELT BUCKLE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE GROMMET IN THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING. FUEL IS ESCAPING FROM THE TANK AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE. THERE IS A CONSTANT ESCAPE OF FUEL MOVING OR STATIONARY. THEREFORE THIS SYSTEM WILL NOT PASS SMOG BECAUSE WHEN PRESSURIZED, IT WILL NOT HOLD AIR. THIS IS A CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENT. IT IS ALSO MOST DANGEROUS. FORD MOTOR CO. WILL NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE 9 RECALLS FOR THIS MODEL IS ON YOUR SYSTEM.
HAD FILLED VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE. NOTICED THAT THE TANK HAD STARTED TO LEAK AFTERWARDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD IT CHECKED. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK IN & AROUND THE SEAM AREA.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE DUE TO A FAULTY BOLT IN THE HINGES. *AK
WHILE PARKED NOTICE A FIRE COMING FROME THE DASH AREA, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER STEERING GEAR SEAL FAILS CONTINUOUSLY, RESULTING IN (4) REPLACEMENTS OF SAME PART. *AK
TRUCK WAS PARKED AND THE STEERING AND SEAT WERE BURNING , PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
AUTO-TRAN: WHILE PARKED, SHIFTED TO REVERSE; ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN; VEHICLE TOOK OFF; BRAKES APPLIED; VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO HOUSE ACROSS STREET. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEAD GASKET CYLINDER REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTO-TRAN: WHILE PARKED, SHIFTED TO REVERSE; ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN; VEHICLE TOOK OFF; BRAKES APPLIED; VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO HOUSE ACROSS STREET. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEAD GASKET CYLINDER REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CABLE WHICH HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE RUSTED, ALLOWING TIRE TO FALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, CONSUMER CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .