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1990 Ford Aerostar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 5 of 195 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports57 fire reports13 injury reports

Power Train complaints

37 reports
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60,000 miles · Jul 21, 2004
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INDICATED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS INCONCLUSIVE. THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION RECALL 91V189000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT I…

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UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INDICATED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS INCONCLUSIVE. THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION RECALL 91V189000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10079452

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2004
Power TrainCrash

TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN PARK AND VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. THERE WAS NO NOTICES OF SUCH A RECALL OR ANY OTHER RECALLS, FOR THIS VEHICLE. 1990 FORD AEROSTAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10078874

170,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Power Train

I JUST GOT MY TRANSMISSION FIXED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE FORD AEROSTAR HAS BEEN RECALLED... UNTIL NOW I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SOMETIMES NO SHIFTING, REVERSE ALWAYS HAVE A PROBLEM AND LATE SHIFTING (FORWARD).. I'M JUST WONDERING IF MY VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED? CAN FORD DEALER FIX MY VAN WITHOUT ANY COST?

NHTSA ODI #10071345

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2003
Power Train

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029226

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2002
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. DRIVER TURNED IGNITION AND VEHICLE WAS IDLING WHEN IT STARTED TO REV, SUDDENLY TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND HIT A BUILDING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004451

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2000
Power Train

PLASTIC SNAP RETAINER BUSHING HOLDING THE CLUTCH PUSH ROD NO LONGER HOLDS PUSH ROD.*AK PUSH ROD FELL OFF OF THE STUD MAKING THE CLUTCH INOPERABLE. THE CLUTCH DISCONNECTING IN TRAFFIC MAKES THE VEHICLE HARD TO CONTEROL. *YH

NHTSA ODI #871104

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Power Train

WHEN STARTING CAR IT WON'T START, VEHICLE HAS POWER, BUT WON'T TURN OVER. WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE THEN BACK INTO PARK, VEHICLE WILL START. CONSUMER FELT SHIFT LEVER WAS NOT LOCKING PROPERLY AND CAR MAY ROLL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862300

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2000
Power Train

THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1992 FORD AREOSTAR FOR ALL WHEEL DRIVE VANS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. RECALL 91V181000/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719830

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 1999
Power TrainCrash

HAD PARKED AT GAS STATION & TURNED IGNITION OFF. CHILD HAD SHIFTED LEVER WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD & DOWN A SLOPE & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842472

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 1999
Power TrainCrash

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS MOVED BY A CHILD, PUT IN REVERSE WHICH CAUSED A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836800

Official recalls

6

98V190000 · 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.

91V189000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Nov 4, 1991

WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ABUT OR ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVER MAY BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFELY ENGAGED IN PARKWHEN THE GEAR IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OFGEAR UNINTENTIONALLY, VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHEN PARKED ON A SLOPED SURFACE, ANDINADVERTENT MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW PARK PAWL.

91V164000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 20, 1991

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.

Remedy: REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.

90V144000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Aug 6, 1990

THE SECOND ROW RIGHT HAND SEAT ASSEMBLY HAS A TILT FORWARD FUNCTION. A LATCH RETAINS THE SEAT IN THE NORMAL RIDE POSTION, AND THIS LATCH MAY RELEASE UNDER SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT CONDITIONS, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO PIVOT FORWARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT COULD PIVOTFORWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: REPLACE SEAT PAWL ASSEMBLY WITH A REVISED DESIGN ASSEMBLY.

89V223000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Dec 11, 1989

INABILITY TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE IN THE SECONDARY SYSTEM OF THE MASTER CYLINDER (CONTROLS BRAKING OF REAR WHEELS) COULD INCREASE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND REDUCE BRAKE PERFORMANCE AT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 40 DEGREES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS ANDINCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH OR COLLISION.

Remedy: INSTALL NEW DESIGN MASTER CYLINDER INCORPORATING A REDESIGNED SEAL.

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

5

EA99002 · Transfer Cases And Rear Drive Shaft

Opened Jan 7, 1999 · Closed Nov 14, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

There is no summary currently available

EA96030 · 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

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