1996 Ford Aerostar Electrical Problems

I HAD SMOKE AND ACRID SMELL COMING FROM UNDER MY DASH (WHILE DRIVING), WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN FITS TO IT. I HAVE CONTACTED A MAJOR FORD DEALER (BRANDON FORD), AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO HELP ME. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HE SAID MY VIN IS NOT LISTED FOR A RECALL, BUT YET HAD NO ANSWER FOR ME WHEN I ASKED WHY IS MY VEHICLE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, WHEN IT IS IN THE GROUP OF VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED AND THAT ARE CATCHING ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. OVER 887,000 WERE RECALLED FOR FIRE RELATED PROBLEMS, BUT THEY REFUSE TO EVEN LOOK AT MINE. SO, CAN I KEEP DRIVING IT? I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A ONE TIME THING, OR WHAT.....

NHTSA ID

11019124

Incident

Aug 23, 2017

Mileage

107,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN 30 MPH, ALL POWER FAILED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE STALLING HAS ALSO OCCURRED AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILE. A FUSE CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY CABLES BLEW. WHEN THE FUSE WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 99V029000, FOR THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH DUE THE VIN EVEN THOUGHT VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10175900

Incident

Dec 11, 2006

Mileage

115,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10109307

Incident

Jan 31, 2005

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE ON 03/99. ON 10/21/03 CONSUMER STOPPED, PARKED VEHICLE, TOOK KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND IGNITION CYLINDER CAME OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10044646

Mileage

81,300 mi

3 MONTHS AGO, I BROUGHT OUR VAN TO THE LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY SPARK-PLUG WIRE, WHICH THEY REPLACED AND RESET THE COMPUTER, FOR $130.00. A MONTH LATER, THE VAN STARTED HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS, SO I HAD ANOTHER GARAGE DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, AND POSSIBLY A CRACKED HEAD. I TOOK THE VAN TO A TOP MECHANIC, WHO REMOVED THE HEADS AND HAD THEM INSPECTED. RESULTS WERE THAT THEY WERE BOTH CRACKED. WE NEVER RAN THE VAN HOT, AND KEPT THE VAN IN GOOD RUNNING SERVICE. WE RARELY WENT OUT OF TOWN, SO THE VAN WAS USED ABOUT 20-25 MILES A DAY. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE WAS RUN HOT, AND HE FEELS ALL FORD AEROSTARS HAVE AN INHERENT PROBLEM OF RUNNING TOO HOT, OVER TIME, DUE TO THE AIR/FUEL MIX DURING COMBUSTION. OUR VAN IS THE 5TH AEROSTAR THEY'VE REPLACED HEADS ON IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. WE'RE OUT $1400.00 FOR THIS REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

756320

Incident

Dec 15, 2001

RECALL 99V029000, IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE. OWNER HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE MARCH 1999 FOR PARTS ON RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

847591

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA RECALL 99V029000 AND MFR RECALL 99S02, IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. DEALER STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETIALS. RECALL HAS YET TO BE CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

838544

Incident

Mar 23, 1999

VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL REPAIR, DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER WORK WAS COMPLETED. (IGNITION SWITCH)- (99V-029) MJS.

NHTSA ID

545095

Incident

Mar 27, 1999

SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

605079

Incident

Sep 1, 1996

IGNITION LOCK AND ALARM RELAY FAILED.

NHTSA ID

605130

Incident

Jan 1, 1997

INTERMITTENT RADIO FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

603733

IGNITION SWITCH MELTED, NOTICED BECAUSE OF STARTING PROBLEM, PART IS AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

984849

Incident

Jan 1, 1996