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
What owners actually said
223 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2002
Equipment
I WENT TO FIRESTONE IN ST. JOE, MO AND HAD MY AIR CONDITIONING RECHARGED AFTER 9 YEARS OF DRIVING MY VAN. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE A HOSE ON THE FRONT OF THE VECHICAL AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO THEN ADD FREON TO THE SYSTEM. THAT WAS IN JULY 19, 2001. IT DIDN'T SEEM AS COLD AS IT HAD BEFORE BUT IT WAS OK. THEN WHEN I …
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I WENT TO FIRESTONE IN ST. JOE, MO AND HAD MY AIR CONDITIONING RECHARGED AFTER 9 YEARS OF DRIVING MY VAN. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE A HOSE ON THE FRONT OF THE VECHICAL AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO THEN ADD FREON TO THE SYSTEM. THAT WAS IN JULY 19, 2001. IT DIDN'T SEEM AS COLD AS IT HAD BEFORE BUT IT WAS OK. THEN WHEN I NEEDED THE AIR THIS SUMMER I HAD NONE. THEY SAID THAT THE HOSE THAT THEY INSTALLED THEY LATTER WERE TOLD WOULDN'T HOLD THE PRESSURE (I THINK) BUT THAT NOW SENCE IT WAS OVER 6 MONTHS THEY WOULDN'T OR COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. IT COST ME $304.07. THEY SAY THAT YOU PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?*AK
NHTSA ODI #763566
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
AS 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
NHTSA ODI #8011448
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2002
Power TrainCrashInjury
12 YEAR OLD LISTENING TO RADIO MOVED SHIFTER FROM PASSENGER SIDE. VAN MOVED CAUSING EXTENSIVE LEG INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS SITTING BEHIND VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #762465
Mileage unknown · Dec 24, 2001
Exterior Lighting
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND HAD THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OUT ON ME. THE SWITCH FOR THE LIGHTS SEEMS TO BE WARM AT THESE TIMES. THE HEATER SEEMS TO CAUSE THE SWITCH TO HEAT UP AND WHEN IT GETS HOT THE LIGHTS GO OFF. IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ONE OF THESE TIMES IF IT ISN'T FIXED. I'M NOT SURE I…
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I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND HAD THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OUT ON ME. THE SWITCH FOR THE LIGHTS SEEMS TO BE WARM AT THESE TIMES. THE HEATER SEEMS TO CAUSE THE SWITCH TO HEAT UP AND WHEN IT GETS HOT THE LIGHTS GO OFF. IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ONE OF THESE TIMES IF IT ISN'T FIXED. I'M NOT SURE IF REPLACING THE SWITCH WILL HELP OR IF IT WILL HAPPEN EVEN WITH A NEW SWITCH BEACUSE OF THE HEAT PROBLEM. MAYBE THE DESIGN OF WHERE THE SWITCH IS IS BAD. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU.*AK
NHTSA ODI #755995
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
IN DAMP OR WET CONDITIONS REAR BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, INSISTED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. UP OR DOWN SHIFTS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS IS VERY ROUGH AND SLOPPY. ALSO, WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD THE TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT INTO REVER…
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IN DAMP OR WET CONDITIONS REAR BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, INSISTED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. UP OR DOWN SHIFTS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS IS VERY ROUGH AND SLOPPY. ALSO, WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD THE TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR FORWARD AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT 68,000 BY THE DEALER AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE SAME PROBLEMS STARTED UP AGAIN. *YH
NHTSA ODI #899966
Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED OR STOPPING AT LIGHT VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVODE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #899347
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2001
Structure
THE REAR LIFT SPRING ON THE REAR LIFTGATE BROKE AT THE UP POSISTION WHILE UNLOADING,CAUSING THE DOOR TO COME SLAMING DOWN ON MY BACK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753220
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2001
Power TrainFire
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE/TRANSFER CASE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #892227
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2001
Electrical SystemFire
THIS VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 20 MINUTES WHEN A STRONG ODOR OF PLASTIC BURNING WAS SMELLED. THIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN WHITE SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A FEW SECONDS PASSED WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS TOTALLY INVOLVED. THIS VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #747438
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicInjury
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION WITH THREE INJURIES, UPON EXPECTION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND RESERVOIR (OSHP UNITS 977), NO PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL AND NO FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
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.
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
2
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
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
1991 Ford Aerostar Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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