1987 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 1987 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
- Electrical3426.2%
- Engine2317.7%
- Seat belts1813.8%
- Transmission1410.8%
- Interior & seats107.7%
- Driver assistance75.4%
- Fuel system75.4%
- Body & structure53.8%
- Brakes43.1%
- Steering32.3%
- Other / unspecified21.5%
- Visibility21.5%
- Powertrain (other)10.8%
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
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
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. TO DEALER TWICE, CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK
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
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DISENAGES FROM THE LOCKING MECHANISM. *JG
ACCELERATOR MAKES SQUEAKING SOUND & WOULD STICK . ALSO, HAD TO HAVE SEAT BELTS REPLACED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE EMISSION LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON/THE COMPUTER CHIP SHORTED OUT. *AK
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THREE TRANSMISSION. *NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER'S SEAT BACK FAILED, STAYING IN THE RECLINING POSITION DUE TO METAL FRAME INSIDE SEATBACK BREAKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 50 TO 55 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER. ALSO BOTH REAR SEATS IN VEHICLE BECAME DISCONNECTED IN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
SEPTEMBER 11, 2000. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *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
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.
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
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
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
HYDRAULIC LIFTGATE SEPERATED PARTIALLY FROM THE FRAME, CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE. *AK
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
TAPE PLAYER FAILED. *MJS
ADVANCED TO STOP LIGHT, APPLIED BRAKE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. RAN INTO SEVERAL CARS. *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
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.
WHILE DRIVING 50 TO 55 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER. ALSO BOTH REAR SEATS IN VEHICLE BECAME DISCONNECTED IN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
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 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.
JACK INCAPABLE OF LIFTING VEHICLE TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE DUE TO BEING MADE OF WEAK MATERIALS. *SD
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
SOMTIMES THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOWS STOP WORKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
VEHICLE'S DEFOGGER HAS FAILED, COLD AIR IS COMING OUT OF DEFROSTER, REDUCING DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR AXLE/DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS/NOISY *AW
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 .