IllustrationAIR BAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING CONSTANTLY, THEN HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. NOISE IN COLUMN SOUNDS LIKE LOOSE WIRES FLOPPING.
1993 Ford Aerostar
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Aerostar years
Owner complaints for the 1993 Ford Aerostar are substantially higher than 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: 18 of 374 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 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
37 crash reports38 fire reports28 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
37 reportsTHE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN HER 1993 FORD AEROSTAR IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROLLED FOUR TIMES. NONE OF THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED LIFE THREATENING INJURIES INCLUDING A BROKEN BONE IN HER BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THEM. *…
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THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN HER 1993 FORD AEROSTAR IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROLLED FOUR TIMES. NONE OF THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED LIFE THREATENING INJURIES INCLUDING A BROKEN BONE IN HER BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THEM. *NM
THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER AND LOST CONTROL.. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNFASTENED AT THAT POINT. VEHICLE THEN ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, AND SUSTAINED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE AND THREE BROKEN RIBS. ALSO PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT SUSTAI…
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THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER AND LOST CONTROL.. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNFASTENED AT THAT POINT. VEHICLE THEN ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, AND SUSTAINED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE AND THREE BROKEN RIBS. ALSO PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT SUSTAINED INTERNAL HEAD AND BACK INJURIES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 45MPH THE VEHICLE HAD FRONT END COLLISION AND FRONTAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSING INJURIES. TS
CONSUMER STATES COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR TRAVELLING APPROX 70MPH. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED BY DLR WHO ADVISED THAT AIR BAG FUSE IS BAD AND AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF NEEDED. *MR
OUR DAUGHTER WAS REAR-ENDED WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR THAT HIT HER WAS GOING 50MPH.OUR VAN WAS PUSHED INTO A LINCOLN IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN . WE BOUGHT THE VAN BRAND NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT FORD CARS BECAUSE OF THEIR ADVERTISED SAFETY FEATURES. MY DAUGH…
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OUR DAUGHTER WAS REAR-ENDED WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR THAT HIT HER WAS GOING 50MPH.OUR VAN WAS PUSHED INTO A LINCOLN IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN . WE BOUGHT THE VAN BRAND NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT FORD CARS BECAUSE OF THEIR ADVERTISED SAFETY FEATURES. MY DAUGHTER HAS SUFFERED CONTINUED PAIN. BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. NLM
THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN STEERING COLUMN. WIRE RIBBON RING THAT'S INSIDE OF STEERING COLUMN, WHICH GIVES POWER TO AIR BAG/ CRUISE CONTROL, AND HORN HAS CRACKED AS A RESULT OF RIBBON BEING TOO SHORT AND FOLDED OVER, VEHICLE HAD NO HORN/NO CRUISE CONTROL OR AIR BAG.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
AT 45MPH VEHICLE CRASHED. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING MECHANISM FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST 14 MONTHS. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTROLS THE AIR BAG AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FACT THE CLOCK SPRING CONTROLS THE AIR BAG IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY EITHER A BETTER …
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WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING MECHANISM FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST 14 MONTHS. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTROLS THE AIR BAG AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FACT THE CLOCK SPRING CONTROLS THE AIR BAG IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY EITHER A BETTER CLOCK SPRING OR FREE REPLACEMENT BY THE MAUFACTURER. IT HAS COST ME OVER $200 TO HAVE THIS REPLACED THIS LAST TIME, OVER $400 THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPLACED AS WELL.*AK
Official recalls
299V029000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Feb 9, 1999
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.
97V204000 · Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)
Nov 13, 1997
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
5PE02076 · 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.
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
EA98016 · Fuel Sender Assembly Fires
Opened Jul 14, 1998 · Closed Feb 12, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE98010 · Fuel Sender Assembly Fires
Opened Feb 13, 1998 · Closed Jul 14, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
OWNERS ALLEGE THAT FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP/SENDER CONNECTOR RESULTS IN SHORT CIRCUIT THAT HAS RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRES.SYMPTOMS INCLUDE ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION, , SMOKE FROM THE DASH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN (FUEL PUMP FUSIBLE LINK) AND PASSENGER SIDE (FUEL PUMP INERTIA CUTOFF SWITCH), INTERMITTENT STALL AND NO START CONCERNS, AND A BURNING ODOR. SEVERAL INCIDENTS HAVE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO PLASTIC FUEL TUBES AND/OR FUEL SUPPLY/RETURN TUBES.