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: 12 of 317 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.
Power Train. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
29 crash reports30 fire reports19 injury reports
What owners actually said
317 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2001, I WAS COMING HOME ON THE 101 FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY A TRUCK CUT IN FRONT OF ME. ALL I COULD DO WAS SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND I COULD FEEL SOMETHING WAS PULLING THE CAR BACK, WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR HAD A HARD TIME ACCELERATING. THIS REALLY SCARED ME BECAUSE I WAS ON THE 101 AND 23 INTERSECTION…
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ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2001, I WAS COMING HOME ON THE 101 FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY A TRUCK CUT IN FRONT OF ME. ALL I COULD DO WAS SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND I COULD FEEL SOMETHING WAS PULLING THE CAR BACK, WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR HAD A HARD TIME ACCELERATING. THIS REALLY SCARED ME BECAUSE I WAS ON THE 101 AND 23 INTERSECTION. I HAD NO WAY OF PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COULD SMELL SOMETHING WAS BURNING REALLY BAD BECAUSE I HAD TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS. I LOOKED AT THE DASH BOARD AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. WHEN I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE SMELLED THE BRAKES RIGHT AWAY. WHEN HE TOUCHED THE BACK TIRES IT WAS REALLY HOT. HE DROVE IT HOME ABOUT ONE MILES FROM OUR HOUSE AND HE ONLY USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE REAR BRAKES. AT HOME ALL THE BRAKE FLUID DRAINED OUT FROM THE REAR CYLINDERS. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE CYLINDERS AND THE BRAKE SHOES. BUT HE THOUGHT SINCE I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND FORGOT TO RELEASE IT THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO THE REAR BRAKE. ON THE SAME DAY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VAN AND HE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND IT STAYED LOCKED, HE TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND THE BRAKE WAS FINE AGAIN. WE WENT BACK TO THE GARAGE AND CHECK EVERYTHING OUT BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG BECAUSE ALL THE LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. SO MY HUSBAND DECIDED TO TAKE THE FUSE OUT FROM THE ABS BRAKE. THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARD. WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WHEN THE ABS DO THE SELF-DIAGNOSTICS, IT DOESN'T DETECT A FAULT IN THE SYSTEM AND COULD NOT TURN OFF THE SYSTEM SO THE REGULAR BRAKE SHOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. I TOOK IT TO FORD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2001 AND THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THEY REPLACED THE RABS VALVE. THE BRAKE IS GOOD AGAIN. WHEN I ASKED WHY RABS LIGHTS DON'T GIVE ME ANY WARNING AND SHUT THE SYSTEM DOWN, HE SAID SOMETIMES THE LIGHT GOES ON SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. *AK
NHTSA ODI #739897
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2000
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT WILL NOT ENGAGE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #736363
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Air Bags
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD, GIVING WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SYSTEM. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT MEANT THE AIR BAG WAS FAULTY, CONSUMER REPAIRED PROBLEM AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #873803
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2000
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON AT AN OFF SET ANGLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL CONSUMER EXITED VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #873665
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000
StructureInjury
CONSUMER WAS REMOVING ITEMS FROM THE REAR CARGO AREA AND LIFTGATE CAME SLAMMING DOWN ON CONSUMER'S HEAD. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID SHOCKS NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK DUE TO INCIDENT, CERVICAL DISCS IN CONSUMER'S NECK WERE HERNIATED, BOTH DISCS HAD TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER HAS PERMANENT AND LIMITED CAPACITY. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #873500
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE DRIVING COULD SMELL BURNING, AND WHEN STOPPED TOOK VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER. DEALER FOUND OUT THAT FUEL PUMP HAD MELTED, AND CONNECTORS HAD BURNED AND SMOKED, JUST LIKE RECALL 99 V 028. *AK
NHTSA ODI #870977
Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
RIGHT SIDE FRONT CONNECTOR TO BRAKE FLEXIBLE LINE BROKE OFF. DEALER SAID LEFT SIDE WAS READY TO GO AND BOTH WERE REPLACED. THE MAJOR PROBLEM I SEE WAS THAT I HAD NO BRAKING SAVE FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE REAR BRAKES FAILED ALSO AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE ONLY LOST THE FRONT BRAKES DUE TO THE RED…
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RIGHT SIDE FRONT CONNECTOR TO BRAKE FLEXIBLE LINE BROKE OFF. DEALER SAID LEFT SIDE WAS READY TO GO AND BOTH WERE REPLACED. THE MAJOR PROBLEM I SEE WAS THAT I HAD NO BRAKING SAVE FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE REAR BRAKES FAILED ALSO AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE ONLY LOST THE FRONT BRAKES DUE TO THE REDUNDANT BRAKE CYLINDER SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL IF YOU LOST ONE LINE. IF THAT'S THE CASE, THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. FOR TECHNICAL ADVICE AND TO REPORT A POSSIBLE FLAW. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD EVEN SAID THAT THE PROTECTION FOR THE BRAKE FITTINGS HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED UPON THE VEHICLE AT THE FACTORY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #731127
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
AS DRIVER WAS APPLYING BRAKES, TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, BRAKE HOSE LINE SEPARATED FROM METAL THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE BRAKE LINE DUE TO RUST. BRAKE HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #869354
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Visibility
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING RUST AT WINDSHIELD PINCHWELD, RUST WAS CAUSED BY SCRATCHES CREATED DURING A PREVIOUS INSTALLATION. NLM
NHTSA ODI #554022
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2000
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting
INDICATOR DISPLAY IN DASH LOOKS MELTED. AIRBAG INDICATOR FLASHING AND RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ARE DIFICULT TO SEE. ODOMETER JUMPED FROM 80K TO OVER 130K; THERE IS NO METRIC/ENGLISH SWITCH.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER MINIVANS. (THIS INCLUDES ALL 1992 AWD AEROSTARS NOT PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN SAFETY RECALL 97V-204/97S83). THESE VEHICLES CAN DEVELOP POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT. THE POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR THE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT CAN RESULT IN STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSFER CASE. FLUID EXPLUSION, DRIVESHAFT SEPARATION OR LOSS OF VEHICLE DRIVE CAN RESULT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND, IF THE EXPELLED FLUID CONTACTS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSFER CASE REAR OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING AND AN ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT WILL BE INSTALLED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A HIGHER THAN SPECIFIED ELECTRICAL LOAD THROUGH THE ACCESSORY POWER FEED CIRCUIT. THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTACT BETWEEN THE B2 (BATTERY), A2 (ACCESSORY), AND P1 (PROOF) CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR, CREATING A SHORT CIRCUIT, ALLOWING CURRENT TO FLOW THROUGH THE GROUND WIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE OVER HEATING AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A JUMPER HARNESS WITH A RELAY WHICH WILL RE-ROUTE AND ACTIVATE ALL A2 ACCESSORIES THROUGH THE RELAY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER MINIVANS. THESE VEHICLES CAN DEVELOP POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT. THE POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR THE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT CAN RESULT IN STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSFER CASE. FLUID EXPLUSION, DRIVESHAFT SEPARATION OR LOSS OF VEHICLE DRIVE CAN RESULT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND, IF THE EXPELLED FLUID CONTACTS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSFER CASE REAR OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING AND AN ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT WILL BE INSTALLED.
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
PE02076 · Luggage Compartment Door Drops Abruptly
Opened Oct 10, 2002 · Closed Mar 10, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS RESULTING IN MINOR TO MODERATE PERSONAL INJURIES THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ABRUPT DOOR DROPS OVER THE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT - TWELVE YEAR PERIOD OF PRODUCT USAGE AND EXPOSURE (1991-1995 TO 2003).MOST OF THE INJURY INCIDENTS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FRACTURE OF THE GAS FILLED LIFT ASSIST CYLINDER MOUNTING STUD.STUD FRACTURES HAVE OCCURRED RANDOMLY OVER TIME AND DO NOT EXHIBIT ANY APPARENT TREND RELATING TO DATE OF VEHICLE PRODUCTION OR TIME-IN-SERVICE (EXPOSURE).THE ODI CLOSING REPORT SUMMARIZES THE DETAILS OF THIS INVESTIGATION.
PE99035 · Front Brake Hose
Opened May 12, 1999 · Closed Sep 23, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ALLEGED THAT A FRONT BRAKE HOSE RUPTURES OR FAILS AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE RUBBER HOSE AND THE BRASS FITTING
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
RQ98012 · Transfer Cases And Rear Driveshaft
Opened Jul 31, 1998 · Closed Jan 7, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)
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
1992 Ford Aerostar Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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