IllustrationAS SOON AS CONSUMER SHIFTED TO DRIVE, VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, WITH TIRES SPINNING. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, THEN PARK BRAKE, AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. CONSUMER ACCIDENTLY SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND, VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP.*AK *JB
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
23 reportsWHILE MAKEING A STOP WITH FOOT DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE STARTED IDLING HIGH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AS CONSUMER TRIED TO PULL FORWARD, ENGINE REVVED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED. PEDAL WAS STUCK ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY CONCRETE WALL AFTER ABOUT 40 FT. VEHICLE TOTALLED. *AK
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE BEING PLACED INTO REVERSE AT A HIGH SPEED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE STOPPED BY TURNNING OFF THE KEY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
CAR ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY, LOUD TICKING NOISE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF, EVEN WITH KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK *ML
WHEN HUSBAND STARTED VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, COLLISION RESULTED. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE BEING OUT OF CONTROL (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). MJS
UPON SHIFTING GEAR INTO DRIVE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. LOST CONTROL AND WENT THROUGH A BUILDING. DRIVER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKES, BUT THEY FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT RAIN GOT INTO THE CRUISE CONTROL BOX, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER…
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UPON SHIFTING GEAR INTO DRIVE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. LOST CONTROL AND WENT THROUGH A BUILDING. DRIVER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKES, BUT THEY FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT RAIN GOT INTO THE CRUISE CONTROL BOX, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT A PARKED VEHICLE.
ON DECEMBER 14, 1998, I WROTE [XXX] AT JOHN KENNEDY FORD IN FEASTERVILLE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN 2 AREAS. ONE HELP DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATOR LOCK. TWO, GET THE WORD OUT FOR APPROPRIATE RECALL OR MODIFICATION. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME THE NEXT MORNING SAYING HE FAXED THE LETTER I WROTE THEM (ATTA…
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ON DECEMBER 14, 1998, I WROTE [XXX] AT JOHN KENNEDY FORD IN FEASTERVILLE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN 2 AREAS. ONE HELP DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATOR LOCK. TWO, GET THE WORD OUT FOR APPROPRIATE RECALL OR MODIFICATION. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME THE NEXT MORNING SAYING HE FAXED THE LETTER I WROTE THEM (ATTACHED) TO FORD IN MICHIGAN AND THEY WERE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM FOR THE NEXT INSTRUCTION AS TO WHAT TO DO OR I WOULD HEAR FROM THEM. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM EITHER, SO I AM WRITING YOU , NOW. I COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURY OR DESTROYED SEVERAL LIVES AS A DIRECT RESULT OF A DEFECT OR FAULTY PART. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO WARN OTHERS AND ASSIST THEM IN GETTING THEIR AEROSTAR VANS FREE FROM THIS MENACING DEFECT. PLEASE HELP. BELOW IS LETTER TO FORD. [XXX] SERVICE MANAGER JOHN KENNEDY FORD 620 BUSTLETON PIKE FEASTERVILLE, PA 19047 DEAR [XXX] , I OWN A 91 FORD AEROSTAR XLT VAN. IT NOW HAS 96000 MILES. I PURCHASED IT FROM CHECKERED FLAG AUTO SALESAT 2029 RT 13, CROYDON, PA WITH NO WARRANTY ON 9/3/97. VIN NUMBER [XXX]. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VAN MY MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT, CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, OIL AND REPAIRED REAR SEAL GASKET AND TUNED IT UP AND INSPECTED IT. I'VE SINCE HAD NEW BRAKES, NEW POWER STEERING HOSE, AND NEW BRAKE LINES, INSPECTION AND ANOTHER OIL CHANGE. NONE OF THIS MAINTENANCE WAS RECENT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VAN ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY OPENED WIDE RIGHT AFTER I PUT IT IN DRIVE 2 WEEKS AGO, SUNDAY, 11/29/98, ABOUT 4:15 P.M. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE STIFF. I THEN STOOD ON THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS OCCURRED AT THE SHOPPING CENTER AT HUNTINGTON PIKE AND PHILMONT AVENUE. I WAS IN THE SECOND ROW OF PARKING FACING THE GIFT STORE AND CHOSE TO HIT THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT AND TO THE LEFT OF ME INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH OR INTO THE GIFT STORE BUILDING. MY VAN DID NOT SUSTAIN SEVERE DAMAGE AS I HIT THE CURB, HOPPED UP INTO THE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (F
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