RoadVitals

1997 Ford Aerostar Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Mar 13, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 63 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Aerostar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesSuspension
Filed Mar 13, 2002

RIGHT FRONT SPINDLE AND KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK RIGHT FRONT SPINDLE/KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. RIGHT FRONT ROTOR, INNER AND OUTER WHEEL BEARINGS AND SEAL WERE ALL REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID
8005538
Incident
Jan 16, 2002
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 19, 2001
Fire reported

FORD RECOMMENDS INCORRECT ADJUSTMENT OF REAR BRAKES, WHICH CAUSES OVERHEATING OF DRUMS AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF AXLE SEALS, AXLE BEARINGS, AND TIRE ON THE RIM ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE DRUM. FORD STIPULATES THAT BRAKE SHOES ARE TO BE TOUCHING DRUM WHEN BRAKES ARE ADJUSTED. THIS RESULTS IN FRICTIONAL HEAT BUILD-UP, AND IS LIKELY TO BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO TIRE FAILURES REPORTED WITH THE FORD EXPLORER. THE FORD EXPLORER, AEROSTAR, AND RANGER ALL SHARE POWER TRAIN AND DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS. THIS PRACTICE HAS COST ME $000S ON MY 4 FORD AEROSTARS (1989, 1992, 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEARS)

NHTSA ID
754709
Incident
Nov 17, 2001
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering+1 more
Filed Feb 9, 2001

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS IN ALMOST ALL BRAKING POWER AND LOSS OF FRONT RIGHT WHEEL NEARLY COMING OFF VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT SPINDLE ASSEMBLY, BRAKE ROTOR,AND CALIPERAND BALL JOINTS WERE DETROYED . DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE REPAIR THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR, CALIPER AND SHOES HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY. THIS INCIDENT COST IN EXCESS OF $1,400.00 TO REPLACE I RESEARCHED YOUR WEB SITE AND FOUND A IDENTICAL PROBLEM ODI ID 554544 I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP IN A RESULTION TO RETRIEVE LOST EXPENCES AND AND MY NEXT BEST COURSE OF ACTION.

NHTSA ID
740683
Incident
Dec 16, 2000
Brakes
Filed Jun 7, 1999

WHEN TURNING OR APPLYING BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE LOUD NOISES FROM THE REAR WHEELS. BEEN TO DEALER & INFORMED CONSUMER THAT'S HOW ITS SUPPOSE TO BE. DID NOT REPAIR BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
838954
Incident
Mar 4, 1998
Brakes
Filed Sep 18, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, THE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT INDICATION OR BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. ABS SENOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON WOULD COME ON WHILE CONSUMER CONTINUED PUMPING THE BRAKES FOR VEHICLE TO STOP. DEALER NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
828006
Incident
Sep 14, 1998
Brakes
Filed Sep 4, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND SHOES/ ROTORS DUE A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON OTHER COMPLAINTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
827610
BrakesTires & wheels
Filed Aug 18, 1998

TIRE CAME OFF STRIKING WINDSHIELD OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).

NHTSA ID
539049
Incident
Jul 12, 1998
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 13, 1997
Crash reported

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, PRESSED BRAKES, WENT TO REVERSE AND VEHICLE ACCELLERATED AT HIGH SPEED, RACING 100 FEET DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE ROAD, JUMPED A CURVE AND TORE DOWN APPPROX. 70 FT. OF CHAINLINK FENCE. THE PIPE FROM FENCE BROKE BACK WINDOW OF VEHICLE ,PERTRUDING THROUGH HITTING CONSUMER ON HEAD, THEN BROKEN WINDSHIELD EXTENDED ABOUT 40 FT. OUTSIDE OF WINDSHIELD. THROUGH ALL OF THIS, CONSUMER STILL HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTILL FENCE WAS CAUGHT UP UNDER VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUFFERS A SWOLLEN FOOT DUE TO PRESSURE APPLIED TO BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
818956
Incident
Nov 10, 1997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .