1999 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 1999 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
- Transmission325.0%
- Seat belts216.7%
- Engine216.7%
- Airbags18.3%
- Tires & wheels18.3%
- Other / unspecified18.3%
- Driver assistance18.3%
- Electrical18.3%
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
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MOTOR WOULD DIE AND THEN ACCELERATE SUDDENLY, SOMETIMES MAKING A CRANKING NOISE. THE SERVICE REPORT STATED THAT THERE NO PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WANTED TO CHANGE FROM PARKING TO DRIVE, IT WOULD BE STUCK, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION, USUALLY PRODUCING A LOUD CRANKING NOISE AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS TO EXPLODE. EVENTUALLY, IN FEBRUARY 2005 THE MOTOR BROKE DOWN AND BOTH THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER (BAYAMON FORD) REPLACED THE MOTOR IN MARCH 2005 AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECEIVED IT WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 2005. THE DEALER HAD REQUESTED THE NEW PARTS DIRECTLY TO THE FORD MOTOR CO. AND STAYED WITH THE PARTS REPLACED. THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAD FULL THREE YEAR GUARANTEE SINCE THEY WERE NEW. THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING AGAIN THE DYING AND ACCELERATION APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER, MENTIONED ABOVE ON JUNE 2006 FOR FILTER AND OIL CHANGE, THEY FOUND THAT THE MOTOR WAS LEAKING OIL AND THEY TOOK DOWN THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION TO REPAIR THE LEAK. AFTER THE SERVICE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON PRIOR TO THE JULY FOURTH WEEKEND. THEY INFORMED US TO BRING THE CAR ON JULY 5. ON JULY 4, 2006 THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BEYOND CONTROL AND CRASHED. TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT AND THE CAR STAYED ENGINE ACCELERATED. *NM
WHILE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK POSITION, AND RAN OVER THE OWNER. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. OWNER DIED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEAT UNIT SEEM TO TURN ON AND OFF WITHOUT HAVING TO TOUCH ANYTHING. THE WIPERS TURN ON, DO A FEW SWIPES AND THEN TURN BACK OFF AGAIN. THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION AND THE CENTER LAP BELT DOES NOT HOLD IN PLACE (I HAVE 2 KIDS AND IT HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TRANSPORT THEM SAFELY) SOME OF THE DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK WITHOUT PLACING THE KEY INTO OPEN THEM. THE REAR HATCH BACK WINDOW HAD A PIN FALL OUT. THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE CHAIN WENT OUT AT 38,000 MILES. REAR CALIPER FROZE AT 45,000 MILES
WHILE DRIVING SEAT BELT LATCH WHICH LOCKS DOES NOT STAY LOCKED. WHILE DRIVING, IT WILL COME UNDONE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MOTOR WOULD DIE AND THEN ACCELERATE SUDDENLY, SOMETIMES MAKING A CRANKING NOISE. THE SERVICE REPORT STATED THAT THERE NO PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WANTED TO CHANGE FROM PARKING TO DRIVE, IT WOULD BE STUCK, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION, USUALLY PRODUCING A LOUD CRANKING NOISE AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS TO EXPLODE. EVENTUALLY, IN FEBRUARY 2005 THE MOTOR BROKE DOWN AND BOTH THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER (BAYAMON FORD) REPLACED THE MOTOR IN MARCH 2005 AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECEIVED IT WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 2005. THE DEALER HAD REQUESTED THE NEW PARTS DIRECTLY TO THE FORD MOTOR CO. AND STAYED WITH THE PARTS REPLACED. THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAD FULL THREE YEAR GUARANTEE SINCE THEY WERE NEW. THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING AGAIN THE DYING AND ACCELERATION APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER, MENTIONED ABOVE ON JUNE 2006 FOR FILTER AND OIL CHANGE, THEY FOUND THAT THE MOTOR WAS LEAKING OIL AND THEY TOOK DOWN THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION TO REPAIR THE LEAK. AFTER THE SERVICE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON PRIOR TO THE JULY FOURTH WEEKEND. THEY INFORMED US TO BRING THE CAR ON JULY 5. ON JULY 4, 2006 THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BEYOND CONTROL AND CRASHED. TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT AND THE CAR STAYED ENGINE ACCELERATED. *NM
THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEAT UNIT SEEM TO TURN ON AND OFF WITHOUT HAVING TO TOUCH ANYTHING. THE WIPERS TURN ON, DO A FEW SWIPES AND THEN TURN BACK OFF AGAIN. THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION AND THE CENTER LAP BELT DOES NOT HOLD IN PLACE (I HAVE 2 KIDS AND IT HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TRANSPORT THEM SAFELY) SOME OF THE DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK WITHOUT PLACING THE KEY INTO OPEN THEM. THE REAR HATCH BACK WINDOW HAD A PIN FALL OUT. THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE CHAIN WENT OUT AT 38,000 MILES. REAR CALIPER FROZE AT 45,000 MILES
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
IT WAS A RAINY EVENING ABOUT 6:30 PM, I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A STREET AT ABOUT 25MPH TRYING TO KEEP MY SPEED AT THAT BECAUSE OF THE DECLINE COMING TO A STOPLIGHT WHICH I REALIZED A SECOND TOO LATE WAS RED INSTEAD OF GREEN, I TRIED TO STOP AND COULDN'T BECAUSE THE ROAD WAS TOO WET AND HIT AN ONCOMING VEHICLE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT FENDER. THE ONCOMING FORCE OF THAT VEHICLE SPUN ME AROUND INTO THAT STREET AND PROPELLED ME INTO A LARGE POLE HEADON SMASHING MY FRONT END INTO MY WINDSHIELD. UPON THAT IMPACT, MY FACE HIT MY STEERING WHEEL, LACERATING MY LOWER LIP COMPLETE THICKNESS DOWN INTO MY CHIN, CHIPPED MY LEFT FRONT TOOTHAND BROKE THE CARTLIDGE IN MY NOSE WITH CONSIDERABLE BRUISING AND SWELLING, ALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
INSIDE DUAL SIDEWALL BLEW OUT COMPLETELY DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRE SIZE: LT22575R16 )
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 MOTOR WOULD DIE AND THEN ACCELERATE SUDDENLY, SOMETIMES MAKING A CRANKING NOISE. THE SERVICE REPORT STATED THAT THERE NO PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WANTED TO CHANGE FROM PARKING TO DRIVE, IT WOULD BE STUCK, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION, USUALLY PRODUCING A LOUD CRANKING NOISE AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS TO EXPLODE. EVENTUALLY, IN FEBRUARY 2005 THE MOTOR BROKE DOWN AND BOTH THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER (BAYAMON FORD) REPLACED THE MOTOR IN MARCH 2005 AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECEIVED IT WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 2005. THE DEALER HAD REQUESTED THE NEW PARTS DIRECTLY TO THE FORD MOTOR CO. AND STAYED WITH THE PARTS REPLACED. THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAD FULL THREE YEAR GUARANTEE SINCE THEY WERE NEW. THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING AGAIN THE DYING AND ACCELERATION APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER, MENTIONED ABOVE ON JUNE 2006 FOR FILTER AND OIL CHANGE, THEY FOUND THAT THE MOTOR WAS LEAKING OIL AND THEY TOOK DOWN THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION TO REPAIR THE LEAK. AFTER THE SERVICE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON PRIOR TO THE JULY FOURTH WEEKEND. THEY INFORMED US TO BRING THE CAR ON JULY 5. ON JULY 4, 2006 THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BEYOND CONTROL AND CRASHED. TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT AND THE CAR STAYED ENGINE ACCELERATED. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MOTOR WOULD DIE AND THEN ACCELERATE SUDDENLY, SOMETIMES MAKING A CRANKING NOISE. THE SERVICE REPORT STATED THAT THERE NO PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WANTED TO CHANGE FROM PARKING TO DRIVE, IT WOULD BE STUCK, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION, USUALLY PRODUCING A LOUD CRANKING NOISE AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS TO EXPLODE. EVENTUALLY, IN FEBRUARY 2005 THE MOTOR BROKE DOWN AND BOTH THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER (BAYAMON FORD) REPLACED THE MOTOR IN MARCH 2005 AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECEIVED IT WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 2005. THE DEALER HAD REQUESTED THE NEW PARTS DIRECTLY TO THE FORD MOTOR CO. AND STAYED WITH THE PARTS REPLACED. THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAD FULL THREE YEAR GUARANTEE SINCE THEY WERE NEW. THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING AGAIN THE DYING AND ACCELERATION APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER, MENTIONED ABOVE ON JUNE 2006 FOR FILTER AND OIL CHANGE, THEY FOUND THAT THE MOTOR WAS LEAKING OIL AND THEY TOOK DOWN THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION TO REPAIR THE LEAK. AFTER THE SERVICE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON PRIOR TO THE JULY FOURTH WEEKEND. THEY INFORMED US TO BRING THE CAR ON JULY 5. ON JULY 4, 2006 THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BEYOND CONTROL AND CRASHED. TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT AND THE CAR STAYED ENGINE ACCELERATED. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEAT UNIT SEEM TO TURN ON AND OFF WITHOUT HAVING TO TOUCH ANYTHING. THE WIPERS TURN ON, DO A FEW SWIPES AND THEN TURN BACK OFF AGAIN. THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION AND THE CENTER LAP BELT DOES NOT HOLD IN PLACE (I HAVE 2 KIDS AND IT HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TRANSPORT THEM SAFELY) SOME OF THE DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK WITHOUT PLACING THE KEY INTO OPEN THEM. THE REAR HATCH BACK WINDOW HAD A PIN FALL OUT. THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE CHAIN WENT OUT AT 38,000 MILES. REAR CALIPER FROZE AT 45,000 MILES
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 .