Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Ford Aerostar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 54 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.
The 25 most recent of 54, in the owner's own words
NHTSA RECALL 98V190000 CONCERNING FUEL SYSTEM STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY: CONSUMER INTERMITTENTLY SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. T CONSUMER EXAMINED THE GAS TANK AND FOUND THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK WHEN IT WAS FULL. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL.*AK
THE MANUFACTURER WAS REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL 98V190000 FOR FUEL TANK CRACKS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH IS NOT ALLOWING THE CONSUMER TO FILL UP A FULL TANK OF GAS. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WARRENTY PERIOD FOR THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. MR
CONSUMER NOTICED GAS LEAK IN TANK.*AK
WHEN I WENT TO FILL UP WITH GAS, THE ATTENDANT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AS I WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE OFF. A RIVER OF GASOLINE WAS POURING FROM BENEATH MY VAN. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE TANK HAD SPLIT ALONG THE SEAM WHERE THE TWO HALVES OF THE PLASTIC INJECTION MOULDINGS ARE JOINED TOGETHER. SINCE THIS INCIDENT I HAVE HAD AN IDENTICAL FAILURE ON MY OTHER VEHICLE OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. I THINK FROM THIS, THAT IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING FAULT IN THE GAS TANKS OF AEROSTAR VANS. NOTE, THE TANK ON ONE VEHICLE IS THE 16 GALLON VERSION, THE OTHER ONE IS THE LARGER 20 GALLON TYPE. SAME TYPE OF SPLIT OCCURRED ON EACH. I REGARD THIS AS A SERIOUS, LIFE-THREATENING FAULT. PLEASE NOTE MY ADDRESS DETAILS ARE FOR MEXICO, MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] AND MY EMAIL IS [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS. WHEN FILLING TANK PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FILLS UP WITH FUMES FROM GAS. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR THIS, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED. *AK
CONSUMER REPLACED FUEL TANK, DUE TO COMPONENT FAILURE, PRIOR TO RECALL (98V-190). CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *CJ
THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING FUMES, THEN WE NOTICED A PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE VEHICLE AFTER FILLING THE TANK. WE CONTACTED FORD AFTER READING ABOUT THE RECALL # 98MO3 REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM WE WERE HAVING. INITIALLY THEY WERE GOING TO LET THE DEALER DECIDE IF WE FELL UNDER THE RECALL THEN DECIDED THAT SINCE WE WERE REGISTERED IN NJ NOT IN ONE OF THE STATES THEY LISTED THAT WE WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL. HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM OUTSIDE OF THE STATES FORD LISTS? IF SO POSSIBLY THEIR RECALL SHOULD HAVE A WIDER AREA. ALSO WE DO NOT KNOW OUR VANS PREVIOUS OWNERS, POSSIBLY THEY WERE FROM ONE OF THE RECALL STATES. FORD ALSO SUGGESTED I CONTACT DMV TO FIND OUT WHO THE PREVIOUS OWNERS WERE. IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED I HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND SEND IN COPIES OF BILLS INCASE THE RECALL IS CHANGED TO COVER MY AREA.*AK
POSSIBLE RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE (98V-190) OF THE FUEL TANK PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. *MJS
AFTER RECALL REPAIR THE FUEL TANK FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. NLM
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 98V190000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98M03/ FUEL TANK CRACKS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR OVER TWO MONTHS IN WHICH THE DEALER HAS YET TO DO REPAIRS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
STRONG FUEL VAPOR ODOR AND MINOR LEAKAGE FROM TOP PORTION OF GAS TANK AFTER FILL UP, DIMINISHES TO HARDLY NOTICEABLE WITH PARTIALLY FILLED TANK. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL NO. 98V190/FORD RECAL NO. 98M03 FOR VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM, BUT MISSOURI REGISTERED VEHICLES NOT INCLUDED ACCORDING TO YOUR MAP. DO NOT UNDERSTAND. CONTACTED DEALER AFTER SAW THIS RECALL NOTICE ON YOUR WEBSITE BUT SAID MY VIN NUMBER NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. THIS IS SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM, AND IF AMBIENT TEMP RELATED, LIVING IN MID-MO NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN UPPER ARK. DO NOT UNDERSTAND. PLEASE EXPLAIN. *AK
AFTER FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK AND THEN DRIVING, FUEL WILL LEAK FROM TOP OF TANK. CONSUMER BELIEVES TANK IS CRACKED, AND THAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE. *AK
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #98V190000 & CONTACTED DEALER. SET APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE 2 DAYS LATER. MECHANIC LOOKED AT VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. HAD CLEANED THE GROMMET ONLY. TOOK VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL OUT ON DRIVEWAY. OWNER REFUSES TO DRIVE VEHICLE DUE TO BEING A HAZARD. *AK
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #98V190000 IN THE MAIL. CONTACTED DEALER & SET UP APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE ON DATE GIVEN. MECHANIC CHECKED FUEL TANK, BUT DID NOT REPLACE IT.
THERE IS A CRACK WITHIN THE GAS TANK WHICH CAUSES A LEAK. CONSUMER CAN SMELL GAS WHEN DRIVING. *AK
I PURCHASED THIS VAN TO ACCOMODATE MY FAMILY OF 7. THE A/C AND TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPAIRED BY LICENSED TECHNITIONS. THE GAS TANK HAS A SMALL 'HAIRLINE' CRACK THAT I HAVE TRIED TO PATCH MYSELF. I FEEL THE GAS TANK LEAK LOCATED AT THE EDGE OF THE TANK IS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT WHAT DO I KNOW? I JUST WANT MY WIFE TO DRIVE MY FAMILY TO AND FROM THEIR DESTINATIONS SAFELY. I HAVE LIMITED FUNDS FOR ALL THE REPAIRS. THANKS FOR LISTENING. REGARDS, TIMOTHY J. SHINN, PH#602-265-4323
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (98V19000). DEALER DENIED REPAIR DUE TO NO PARTS. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN THE PARTS FROM PEP BOYS AND REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE. *YC
DUE TO THE DEFECT OF THE FUEL TANK LEAKING INTO THE IGNITION WHICH CAUSED A FIRE, RESULTING IN TOTAL VEHICLE DAMAGE, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (98V-190). *YC
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. CONSUMER CAN SMELL GAS WITHIN THE VEHICLE WHEN TANK GETS HOT. DEALER STATES THE REASON VEHICLE IS CUTTING OFF IS DUE TO A LOSS OF PRESSURE. *AK
FUEL TANK REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL. (98V-190)
FUEL TANK CRACKED/REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL. (98V-190)
HAD STARTED TO SMELL GAS FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE. AFTER FILLING VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE & STARTED DRIVING, NOTICED FUEL DRIPPING AFTER VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED PARTS WOULD BE ORDERED. HAD MECHANIC REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. RECALL 98V190000. *AK
WHEN MUFFLER WAS BEING REPLACED ON THE VAN, THE FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING. THE FUEL TANK HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK
CURRENTLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF FUEL TANK FAILURE. BUT THE RECALL ONLY DEALS WITH SOUTHERN STATES. THE GAS TANK WHEN FULL WILL DEPOSIT GAS ON THE GROUND, NOT FROM A NOTICABLE LEAK, BUT FROM THE EVAPORATION EFFECT AS DESCRIBED BY RECALL 98V190000. FORD IS REQUIRED TO REPLACE ONLY THE TANKS IN THE SOUTHERN MOST REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY. I FEEL THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE MADE NATION WIDE. THE LOCAL DEALER SHIP SAYS A NEW TANK WOULD COST ABOUT $500.00 I FEEL IF IT HAPPENING HERE IN UPSTATE NY, (IT JUST BEGAN AT THE LAST FILL UP THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE WHICH CAUSED ME TO DO SOME FURTHER CHECKING I NOTICE THAT AFTER SITTING IN THE GARAGE OVER NIGHT THERE A STRONG ODOR OF GAS IN THE GARAGE AND THERE WAS A DAMP SPOT UNDER THE TANK WITH SOME RESIDUAL GAS ON THE SHROUD PROTECTING THE TANK, THERE IS NO STEADY LEAK MORE LIKE AS A RESULT OF EVAPORATION TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE COLLECTING AND THEN DROPPING TO THE FLOOR. IF THIS RECALL IS NOT EXPANDED TO THE WHOLE COUNTRY, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS IN THE NORTHERN CLIMATES THAT OCCURRED IN THE SOUTHERN STATES, CAUSING THE RECALL. IN THE SUMMER OF 1999. I HAVE LOWERED THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK, AND THE VAN IS OFF THE ROAD. I WILL HAVE THE TANK REPAIRED BEFORE PUTTING ANY MORE GAS IN IT. BUT I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW, *AKAFTER SEEING THE RECALL NOTICE ON THE WEB. I MORE THAN LIKELY TRY TO HAVE THE TANK REPAIRED THAN COME UP WITH THE $500.00 THE FORD DEALER WANTS. I WILL ASK THE REPAIR SHOP FOR AN EVALUATION OF THE TANK AND THE CAUSE OF THE LEAKS IF IT HAS THE SMALL CRACKS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE SOME ACTION.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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