IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH DRIVER SMELT SMOKE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND CHECKING UNDER HOOD, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VAN WAS TOTALLED. *AK
1991 Ford Aerostar
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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: 2 of 223 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 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports68 fire reports14 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
67 reportsIGNITION FIRE. VEHICLE TOTALED. NEVER INFORMED OF RECALL. *AK
WHILE CONSUMER WAS IN A STORE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM . *AK
STARTER FAILED BURNING THE STARTER AND THE BATTERY.
DUE TO FAULTY WIRING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE, WHILE PARKED, STARTED WITHOUT MANUAL OPERATION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
96V071000; CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. THEN 16 MONTHS LATER, DRIVING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE, PARKED THE VEHICLE AND IT CUT OFF, AND THE VAN WAS SMOKING. FLAMES WERE VISIBLE UNDER THE HOOD, VEHICLE BURNED FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE COULD BE PUT OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO CUT CAB…
Read full complaint
96V071000; CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. THEN 16 MONTHS LATER, DRIVING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE, PARKED THE VEHICLE AND IT CUT OFF, AND THE VAN WAS SMOKING. FLAMES WERE VISIBLE UNDER THE HOOD, VEHICLE BURNED FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE COULD BE PUT OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO CUT CABLES FROM THE BATTERY TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM REIGNITING, INSURANCE COMPANY IS DOING AN INVESTIGATION. FORD STATES THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PARTS THAT WERE PUT IN, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
A SHORTAGE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE. *AK
THE KEY DOES NOT LINE UP CORRECTLY IN THE IGNITION WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH BURNED IN AUGUST OF 96 AND WAS REPLACED. THIS TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. (96V-071). *AK
ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO WIRING IN THE DASH.
MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
396V071000 · 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.
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
2EA99002 · 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
RQ97015 · Parking Pawl
Opened Oct 29, 1997 · Closed Apr 1, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission
WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARKING PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OF GEAR UNINTENTIONALLY AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING INADVERTENTLY