RoadVitals

1987 Ford Aerostar Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
114
Latest Sep 3, 2003
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
51
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 10, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 114 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Ford Aerostar. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 114 · page 1 of 5

Transmission
Filed Sep 3, 2003

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THREE TRANSMISSION. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10038500
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 20, 2002

PASSENGER'S SEAT BACK FAILED, STAYING IN THE RECLINING POSITION DUE TO METAL FRAME INSIDE SEATBACK BREAKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
8016678
Incident
Aug 5, 2002
Seat belts
Filed Feb 13, 2002

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DISENAGES FROM THE LOCKING MECHANISM. *JG

NHTSA ID
8004013
Incident
Mar 1, 1997
Electrical
Filed Sep 10, 2001
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. PULLED OVER AND LIFTED UP HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL WIRING. BEFORE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS IN FLAMES. FRONT OF VEHICLE/ INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WAS TOTALED.*AK

NHTSA ID
896109
Incident
Aug 31, 2001
Engine
Filed Apr 16, 2001

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. TO DEALER TWICE, CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
885977
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Electrical
Filed Mar 30, 2001
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE OFF WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED FIRE STARTED ON LEFT HAND SIDE OF ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
884647
Incident
Mar 27, 2001
Electrical
Filed Feb 17, 2001
Fire reported

VAN CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ID
741072
Incident
Feb 16, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jan 25, 2001
Fire reported

VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. *AK

NHTSA ID
879024
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 27, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH SURGES FORWARD WHEN STARTING. INTERMITTENTLY, PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO LOCATE/CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
871606
Incident
May 3, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 25, 2000

WE HAVE HAD THE CONTROL MODULE REPLACED A MINIMUM OF 5 TIME (RECEIPTS ON HAND), EACH TIME THE VAN STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR CRASHES AND MUCH FUSTRATION ONLY THE ALERTNESS THAT THE VAN STALLS PREVENTED ANY BODILY HARM. SEVERAL FORD DEALERSHIPS DENY ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL MODULE ON THIS VAN AND NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
732476
Incident
May 12, 2000
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 12, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

SEPTEMBER 11, 2000. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
731103
Incident
May 10, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Jun 16, 2000

RECALL 91V13 000/HATCHBACK HYDRAULIC CYLINDER: TRUCK CYLINDER: VEHICLE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT STAY OPEN DUE TO HYDRAULIC CYLINDER FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE RECALL WAS HONORED ONLY AT TIME OF WHEN IT WAS ISSUED, AND NOTHING ELSE WOULD BE DONE UNLESS COST WOULD GO TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID
863723
Incident
Apr 15, 2000
Transmission
Filed Feb 17, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
718905
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed Dec 3, 1999

TAPE PLAYER FAILED. *MJS

NHTSA ID
784345
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Oct 18, 1999
Fire reported

WHEN VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ,AND THE HOOD WAS OPENED, CONSUMER NOTICED SPARKS AND LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. RECALL 88VO91000. *AK

NHTSA ID
851051
Incident
Oct 12, 1999
Engine
Filed Sep 29, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VAN BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE WHOLE VAN WAS BURNT, NOTHING WAS LEFT BUT THE FRAMEOF THE VEHICLE AND THE TWO REAR TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ID
849157
Incident
Sep 28, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Sep 29, 1999
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, EXITING THE HWY AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE POWERSTEERING WENT OUT OR THAT THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED, COASTED TO THE INTERSECTON IN NEUTRAL AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT SEEMED TO BE STILL RUNNING. THE ENGINE HAD SMOKE COMING FROM IT SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF TE ROAD WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. I GOT OUT AND WITH IN 15 MINUTES TO 20 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETLY INGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE TRUCKS CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT THERE IS NOTHING BUTTHE FRAME LEFT.

NHTSA ID
712475
Incident
Sep 28, 1999
Transmission
Filed Sep 28, 1999

THE VAN' STARTS AND DOES NOT STALL, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
712345
Incident
Sep 27, 1999
Transmission
Filed Sep 28, 1999

NO SUMMARY.

NHTSA ID
712331
Incident
Sep 26, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jul 26, 1999
Fire reported

HAD SERVICE DONE ON VEHICLE & REPLACED THE OLD BATTERY. WAS DRIVING WHEN SMOKE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER & PARKED. LIFTED HOOD & NOTICED FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. HAD INDICATED IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE ALTERNATOR. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE OUT & INDICATED WIRES TO ALTERNATOR BURNED & TOTALED OUT VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
843448
Incident
May 19, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 1, 1999

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN REVERSE. DROVE WITH OR WITHOUT CRIUSE CONTROL ON.

NHTSA ID
836378
EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 24, 1999

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 MPH AND 40 MPH TRANSMISSION WENT OUT TWICE, AND CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE TRANMISSION REPLACED. CURRENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH TRANMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL,AND THE CONSUMER CAN'T MOVE VEHICLE OR START THE VEHICLE UP FOR A WHILE. ALSO, VEHICLE IS STALLING AND THE CONSUMER IS LOSING POWER. *AK

NHTSA ID
836100
Incident
Jun 21, 1998
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 24, 1999

THE BRACKET AT THE END OF THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE RUSTED AWAY AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE VAN, STRIKING A CAR AND ALMOST CAUSING AMAJOR SITUATION. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO WAS SYMPATHETIC BUT REMARKED THAT THE VAN HAD WAY TOO MANY MILES TO REPORT THE SITUATION TO FORD MOTOR. THE REPAIR TO THE VAN WAS THE ENTIRE RESTRAINT ASSEMBLY WHICH COST ME ABOUT $100, THANKS.

NHTSA ID
703703
Incident
Jun 25, 1995
Fuel system
Filed Jan 27, 1999

WHENEVER FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK WOULD NOTICE FUEL LEAKING OUT OF THE GAS TANK, AND STRONG GAS FUMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTOMATIVE SHOP & HAD 2 SEALS REPLACED. THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT INSPECTED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
834042
Incident
Jul 18, 1997
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Jan 19, 1999

ORIGINAL FILLER NECK GROMMET AND SEAL REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE IN 4/89- REIMBURSED BY DEALER IN 1990. SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED 6/97, AND PARTS REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT. THIRD FAILURE OCCURRED 11/26/98-HAVE NOT YET NOTIFIED DEALER. NOTICEABLE WHEN FUEL TANK IS FILLED AT 15GALLONS OR MORE, GAS RUNS DOWN OVER BOTTOM OF TANK ONTO GROUND. SAME SITUATION AS HAPPENED IN 1989 AND 1997. FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WE SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO CONTINUALLY PAY FOR FORD'S NEGLIGENCE IN PRODUCING DEFECTIVE PARTS. ALSO REPLACED BOTH INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS.

NHTSA ID
700970
Incident
Apr 24, 1989

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.

Narrow this down by component

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical34Engine23Seat belts18Transmission14Interior & seats10Full component breakdown →

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .