IllustrationVEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK THAT WAS FIXED . AFTER IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE BAD AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *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
What owners actually said
177 reportsWHILE 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
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH NOTICED DOOR LIGHT FROM THE SIDE DOOR, AND THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER COULD SMELL GAS IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, AND THERE WAS A LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE GAS TANK. WHEN PUTTING GAS INTO THE TANK, GAS WILL LEAK OUT FROM THE TANK. *AK
FUEL IS BEING WAISTED INTO MOTOR, CAUSING TO FLOOD OUT BADLY. *AK
THE QUICK RELEASE COUPLING ON THE FUEL LINE AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DISENGAGED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK.ET.
WHILE DRIVING CAN SMELL GAS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE.THERE IS A CRACK IN THE TANK WHICH IS CAUSING THE GAS TO LEAK OUT OF THE TANK. *AK
CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ABOUT THE FUEL TANK RECALL #98M03. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THE RECALL. *AK
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK LEAKS. THE CONSUMER FELL UNDER RECALL NUMBER 98V190000. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED, THE MECHANIC TOLD THEM THAT VEHICLE WASN'T LEAKING AT THE TIME. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN 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
RECALL 98V190 WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE , THE GAS LEAKS FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE ARE NO CRACKS OR HOLES IN THE SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PRIOVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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