1997 Ford Aerostar Owner Complaints

I FOUND TWO INCOMPLETE RECALLS. I CALLED THE DEALER 9/28/2020 AT [XXX] AND SPOKE TO [XXX]. SHE PUT THE VIN IN HER SYSTEM, SAW THE TWO RECALLS AND SAID THE PARTS WOULD BE ORDERED. NO RESPONSE. I CALL [XXX] 10/5/2020 AT THE SAME NUMBER AND SHE SAID ABOUT THE SAME THING. THEN I CALLED 10/8/2020 AND ANOTHER SERVICE ADVISOR PRINTED OUT THE ISSUE WITH MY PHONE NUMBER [XXX] AND SAID [XXX] WOULD CALL ME AFTER LUNCH. NO RESPONSE. I TRIED CALLING THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 392-3673 AND AFTER PRESSING '#' FOR TWO COMMERCIALS, THE RECORDER HUNG UP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE, BUT THESE ARE TWO RECALLS THAT ARE CONCERNS. (00S56 & 99S02). THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [XXX]AUGUSTA, GA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11363588

Incident

Sep 28, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

I WAS GIVEN THIS VAN WITH A HANDICAPPED LIFT AS A PRESENT FROM SOME PEOPLE AT OUR CHURCH. EVER SINCE I GOT IT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. I'VE HAD IT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. ANOTHER PROBLEM I'VE BEEN HAVING IS THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WEARS OUT MORE QUICKLY THAN THE OTHER THREE. WE'VE HAD IT BALANCED SEVERAL TIMES BUT WE STILL HAVE THAT PROBLEM EVEN WITH NEW TIRES. SINCE I AM HANDICAPPED AND USE AN ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR IF A TIRE BLOWS OUT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT USING THE RAMP LIFT THAT WAS INSTALLED AND THE SAME APPLIES TO THE ENGINE. HOW DO I KNOW IF THE ENGINE HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT IF THE LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME? *TR

NHTSA ID

10659389

Incident

Oct 8, 2005

Mileage

100,000 mi

NOTE: I WISH I HAD FOUND THIS SITE YEARS AGO. I COULD NOT GET PAST FORDS "BRICK WALL" TO SPEAK TO AN ENGINEER! 1. 1997 AEROSTAR - ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED DOWN QUICKLY TO PASS (2 LANE HIGHWAY). 2. NOW IN THE LEFT LANE, NOT FAR AHEAD OF PASSED THE CAR - I EXPERRIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER - HARD RIGHT OVER TO SOFT SHOULDER - AVOIDED AN ONCOMING HEAD ON COLLISION - L JUST MISSED THE CAR BEING PASSED BY INCHES AND STOPPED. THE CRIMPED END OF CABLE TO THE CARBURATOR HAD RELEASED FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. 3. I CLAMPED THE CABLE BACK ONTO THE PEDAL WITH VICE GRIPS. (DROVE TO DEALER). FORD REPLACED THE CABLE. THAT PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. (I DO NOT PRESS DOWN HARD EITHER!) *TR

NHTSA ID

10350538

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

Mileage

48,000 mi

OBSERVED FULL CRACK ON ALUMINUM WHEEL RIM SPOKE. THIS IS STANDARD ALUMINUM WHEEL FROM MANUFACTURER. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM SAME AS HTTP://WWW.MOTORBEAT.COM/COMPLAINT/438440/. *TR THIS IS THE SECOND RIM THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. ANOTHER RIM FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER ONE YEAR AGO. REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10275026

Incident

Jun 10, 2009

Mileage

180,000 mi

NEED TO KNOW WERE TO START TO GET ALL THE PROBLEMS ON MY VAN TAKEN CARE OF ALL THE RECALLS, OF POWER TRAIN THE ELECTRICAL AND WHATEVER ELSE WAS REPORTED TO ME ON MY REPORT OF THE RECALLS ON THIS 1997 AREOSTAR VAN THANK YOU MARYJEAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222447

Incident

Mar 25, 2008

1997 AEROSTAR REAR HATCH: 1 OF 2 ANCHOR STUDS WHICH SUPPORT THE TAIL HATCH PNEUMATIC SPRING (VEHICLE BODY END) BROKE, ALLOWING THE HATCH TO IMMEDIATELY FALL ON TO OPERATOR. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE 2 PNEUMATIC SUPPORTS, 1 IS INSUFFCIENT TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE HATCH. SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH 1994 MODEL.

NHTSA ID

10130062

Incident

Jul 20, 2005

Mileage

99,000 mi

MY 1997 FORD AERO STAR VAN PRODUCED A PUFF OF SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE IGNITION SWITCH. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHOM CHECKED THE RECALL NOTICES AND FOUND ONE RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD SHORT CIRCUIT AND OVERHEATING IN THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF IT SUBSIDES. SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS NOT WORKED AND BLEW ALL FUSES, THE FUEL PUMP DOES NOT TURN ON WITH THE KEY AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS IT ENGAGES SOME TIMES. THE FORD DEALER DID THE RECALL WORK BUT DID NOT FIX OR EXAMINE THE STEERING COLUMN OR THE COMPONENTS THAT BURNED OR OVER HEATED AS A RESULT OF THE OVERLOAD. [XXX] UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10129732

Incident

Jun 15, 2005

CONSUMER'S HUSBAND DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE RIMS HAD CRACKED IN THREE PLACES. *LA ANOTHER RIM WAS FOUND WITH CRACKS IN THREE PLACES AS WELL. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10074110

Incident

Nov 1, 2003

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TWO FRONT RIMS CRACKED. *AK CONSUMER CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SAID THAT THEY WON'T ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON WARRANTY OR RECALL. HOWEVER, CONSUMER REPLACED BOTH RIMS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10059385

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

74,000 mi

MY TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A BAD LEAK IN THE FRONT SEAL. I PAID TO HAVE THE TRANSAXLE REMOVED AND THE SEAL REPLACED. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED AS WELL AS THE FILTER AND THEN SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE CARS OVERDRIVE STOPPED WORKING. IT WILL SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE BUT IT WILL SHIFT RIGHT BACK OUT WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS EVEN THE LEAST LITTLE BIT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND YESTERDAY I WAS DOING ABOUT 60 AND THE CAR SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR FOR NO REASON AND THEN RIGHT BACK INTO THRID. THEN ABOUT A HALF MILE LATER IT BEGAN SHIFTING FROM THIRD TO SECOND AND BACK OVER AND OVER. TALK ABOUT GETTING JERKED AROUND! IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE STEPPING ON THE BRAKES! NOW I AM ON FOOT AND I AM ON FOOT AND DUE TO OUR GREAT ECONOMY I AM OUT OF WORK FOR THE TIME BEING. THEY SHOULD OFFER A MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON ALL THEIR CARS.

NHTSA ID

10070676

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

132,000 mi

WHEN ACCELERATING CONSUMER HAD TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE MOVED THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK, AND REVVED VERY HIGH. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE HAD A STICKING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049874

Incident

Nov 11, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED RAPIDLY, WHICH RESULTED IN COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE TIRE. *AK THE WHEEL WELL AND BUMPER WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND IT FAILED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WHEEL WELL AND BUMPER WAS AGAIN DAMAGED. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10034255

Incident

Aug 20, 2003

Mileage

24,000 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE RIM SPOKES ARE CRACKED. VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. *AK FOUR SPOKES WERE CRACKED COMPLETELY THREW. ANY MORE AND CONSUMER FACED LOSS OF WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE SPARE PUT ON AND RIM REPLACED. CONSUMER LEARNED A PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP SELLS ONE OR MORE TO OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE PARTICULAR CUSTOMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THREE DEFECTIVE RIMS. *PH

NHTSA ID

10031918

Incident

Jul 29, 2003

Mileage

136,000 mi

REAR WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029395

Incident

Jun 25, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 97 V 204 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10017214

Incident

Apr 13, 2001

Mileage

85,493 mi

VEHICLE WILL NOT RUN PROPERLY DUE TO THE TRANSFER CASE BEING DEFECTIVE. THERE IS A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER NOTED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8016938

Incident

Aug 21, 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

VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8000793

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

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

VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN GOING 35-45MPH IN THE RIGHT SLOW LANE. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, VEHICLE PICKED UP MORE SPEED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE RAN INTO ONE OF THE BEAMS UNDER UNDERPASS OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER'S FACE HIT STEERING. CONSUMER HAD 16 STICHES IN BOTTOM LIP. CONSUMER HAD A CASE, AND WAS NOT ALLOWED TO CONTACT DEALER AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID

893379

Incident

Jun 22, 2001

WHEN IT RAINS/UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR LOCK FROM PASSENGER SIDE; UNEXPLAINED STALL CHECK/ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON/STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

744550

Incident

Apr 24, 2001

CONSUMER IS ABLE TO TURN IGINTION AND START VEHICLE WITHOUT KEY IN IT, CAUSING A SAFTEY HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ID

885707

FUEL PUMP USUALLY DOES NOT COME ON UNTIL REPEATEDLY TURNING IGNITION ON AND OFF, VEHICLE DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL FUEL PUMP CAME ON, SMELLS LIKE VEHICLE OVERHEATING WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BE, SAME PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED IN FORD PRESS RELEASE REGARDING RECALL 99 S 02, TAKEN TO (DIFFERENT) DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, DENIES PROBLEM IS RECALL RELATED

NHTSA ID

743850

WHEN SLIDING DOOR TOO CLOSE IT WILL NOT CONNECT AND LOCK, LIGHT STAYS ON BECAUSE DOOR IS NOT SHUT ALL THE WAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

882647

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER HAVE RECALL 00V425000/ ACCELERATOR CABLE REPAIRED. DEALER TOLD HER THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL NOTICE AND REFUSED TO PERFORM WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID

881534

Incident

Feb 1, 2001