IllustrationWHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, BRAKE LINE CRACKED AND ALL THE BRAKE FLUID CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
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
What owners actually said
374 reportsI WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALER IN HAYS KANSAS THAT THIS SHIFT LINKAGE IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON IT THAT HE KNEW ABOUT.
DOOR IS OFF TRACK. AT TIMES THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE.THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED TWO TIMES AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLM WITH BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WHICH NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR. CAN NHTSA HELP OR PROVIDE INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK
STEERING LOCKS UP WITHOUT ANY PRIOR SIGN,WILL UNLOCK BY TURNING IT COUNTERCLOCKWISE,SEEMS TO BE THE COLUMM BEARING,OR AIR BAG SPRING,NO STEERING WHEEL IN MY LIFE EVER DID THAT AND I HAD MANY VEHICLES,LUCKY THING I WAS GOING FAIRLY SLOW ,IF IT WAS HIGHWAY SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY
THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE DRIVESHAFT SEPARATED FORM THE VEHCLE TWICE, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO DROP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. ALSO, THE TWO FRONT TIRES KEEP BLEWOUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTED AND BURNED WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO & CONTACTED DEALER. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. PARTS ON BACK ORDER. WOULD NOTIFY WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. OWNER UPSET. *AK
THE VAN IDLES VERY ROUGH OF STALLS. WHILE STOPPED (IN GEAR) IT WILL SURGE FORWARD EVEN WITH THE BRAKES ON. WHILE ACCELLERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION IT WILL GO THEN SPUTTER AND JERK. WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, IT WILL SUDDENLY JERK AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. EACH TIME WE HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM, FORD HAS COVERE…
Read full complaint
THE VAN IDLES VERY ROUGH OF STALLS. WHILE STOPPED (IN GEAR) IT WILL SURGE FORWARD EVEN WITH THE BRAKES ON. WHILE ACCELLERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION IT WILL GO THEN SPUTTER AND JERK. WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, IT WILL SUDDENLY JERK AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. EACH TIME WE HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM, FORD HAS COVERED IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY NOW BUT FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. THEY FIRST TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING. MY FATHER-IN-LAW SAW A PROGRAM ABOUT AEROSTAR VANS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS OURS AND THE GROUP THAT WAS REPORTING THIS WAS TRYING TO GET FORD TO RECALL THE VEHICLES. MY FATHER-IN-LAW DID NOT GET THE NAME OF THE GROUP OR THE PROBLEM BUT TOLD US ABOUT IT. I TOLD FORD ABOUT THIS BUT THEY SAID THEY KNOW NOTHING. I HAVE SINCE TALKED TO FORD AGAIN AND THEY SAID THEY MIGHT PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR BUT THAT I HAVE TO TAKE IT IN AND THEY WILL DECIDE AFTER THAT IF AND HOW MUCH THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT A WORN PARTS PROBLEM. IT IS A DEFECT THAT CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. EACH TIME THEY HAVE REPLACED THE PART, THE VAN RUNS GREAT FOR ABOUT A YEAR TO TWO YEARS. THEN THE IDENTICLE SITUATION RECURRS. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU.
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.