IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF. VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, AND THE IGNITION IS EXPERIENCING SOME INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT PROBLEMS. *AK
1988 Ford Aerostar
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Ford Aerostar do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 135.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Aerostar years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 177 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports41 fire reports5 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
46 reportsWHEN PUTTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK WHEN TRYING TO CUT OFF VEHICLE AND TAKING KEY OUT, VEHICLE WON'T TURN OFF. COSNUMER HAS TO PLAY WITH THE IGINTION SWITCH IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER BEGAN TO SEE AND SMELL SMOKE. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE, PROCEEDED TO LIFT THE HOOD AND SAW HIGH FLAMES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
INTERMITTENT STALLING DUE TO IGNITION WIRING OVERHEATING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING APPROX 40 MPH SMELLED SOMETHING SMOTHERING. STOPPED AND LIFTED HOOD AND FIRE HAD COME OUT, AND WIRES WERE MELTED TOGETHER. *AK
ELECTRICAL: DRIVING HOME APPROXIMATELY 20MPH WHEN NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE. PULLLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. BY THE TIME GOT OUT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *AK
WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE UNDERDASH IN LOWER AREA OF STEERING COLUMN, NO WARNING, NO FOUL PLAY, VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK
WHILE VIHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONSUMER 'S GARAGE, ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE DASHBOARD TO UNDER THE HOOD; MELTING WIRES AND CABLES. *AK
OWNER STATES THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND PARKING IT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, OWNER NOTES THAT THE HOOD BLEW OFF VEHICLE WHEN IT EXPLODED. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATES THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR CABLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE AROUND THE ALTERNATOR. *AK
Official recalls
498V190000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Aug 11, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA (10 SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF LOS ANGELES, ORANGE, SAN BERNADINO, SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE, VENTURA, SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, IMPERIAL, AND KERN), FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA (CLARK COUNTY), OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TEXAS, AND IN THE U.S. TERRITORIES COVERED BY THE FEDERAL STATUTES. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK CAN DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO VERY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. FUEL VAPOR OR LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR AT THESE CRACKS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2002. THIS COVERAGE WILL ONLY BE FOR STRUCTURAL CRACKS AT THE TOP OF THE TANK AND WILL NOT INCLUDE OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT OR ROAD DEBRIS.
96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
91V136000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
Aug 19, 1991
SOME LIFTGATE GAS CYLINDER-TO-BODY ATTACHMENT BALL STUDS MAY FRACTURE IN EITHER THE OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A BALL STUD FRACTURES, THE LIFTGATE WILL NOT REMAIN INTHE OPEN POSITION. BODILY INJURY COULD RESULT IF THE LIFTGATE DROPS WHILESOMEONE IS UNDER IT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE GAS CYLINDER-TO-BODY ATTACHMENT BALL STUDS.
88V091000 · Electrical System:wiring
Jun 6, 1988
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRAILER TOW PACKAGE HAVE A TRAILER TAILLIGHT RELAY ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS WIRES OF SMALLER GAUGE THAN THE FUSE LINK WHICH PROTECTS THE CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD A SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THE WIRING WITHIN THERELAY OR IF WATER INTRUSION OCCURS THE SMALLER GAUGE WIRE IN THE RELAY WILLFUNCTION AS A FUSE LINK AND OVERHEAT. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR A FIRE IF THEWIRES ARE EXPOSED TO COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.
Remedy: INSTALLATION OF A RELAY WITH WIRES OF GAUGE ADEQUATE TO PROTECT THE CIRCUIT.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
12EA96030 · Cracked Fuel Tanks
Opened Dec 20, 1996 · Closed Aug 13, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
CRACKED FUEL TANKS ARE LEAKING FUEL
PE96050 · Cracked Fuel Tanks
Opened Aug 6, 1996 · Closed Dec 20, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
CRACKED FUEL TANKS ARE LEAKING FUEL
EA94025 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Jul 19, 1994 · Closed Sep 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE94021 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Mar 4, 1994 · Closed Jul 19, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE91127 · Park Pawl Bending
Opened Sep 16, 1991 · Closed Nov 8, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
There is no summary currently available
Power Train:automatic Transmission
There is no summary currently available
EA91015 · Liftgate Failure
Opened Feb 1, 1991 · Closed Sep 20, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE91005 · Liftgate Failure
Opened Oct 18, 1990 · Closed Feb 1, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA90042 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Aug 31, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA89021 · Windshield Wiper Motor
Opened Mar 23, 1989 · Closed May 4, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
===
PE89092 · Power Steering Locking
Opened Feb 23, 1989 · Closed Jul 20, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT POWER STEERING WAS STIFF ORSTEERING LOCKED.FORD HAS ISSUED TWO SERVICE BULLETINS:ONE ON LEAKINGSEALS AND ONE ON COMPLAINTS OF STIFF STEERING.===
PE89021 · Seat Belt Cutting
Opened Dec 9, 1988 · Closed Aug 3, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE89010 · Windshield Wiper Motor
Opened Nov 1, 1988 · Closed Mar 23, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
There is no summary currently available