Electrical System. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports27 fire reports23 injury reports

What owners actually said

257 reports

147,000 miles · May 15, 2003

Suspension

FAILURE OF RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING CAUSING EXPLOSIVE TIRE DEFLATION. FAILURE OCCURRED AT THE END OF THE SPRING COATING- CORROSION PRESENT, BUT HIDDEN BY FACTORY COATING OF SPRING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018749

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2003

Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE - TRANSMISSION FALLS OUT OF GEAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017023

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2003

Tires

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10012463

72,000 miles · Feb 25, 2003

Air BagsCrash

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DATE IS APPROXIMATE. 1994 FORD AEROSTAR REAR ENDED AT STOP LIGHT HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK 7X19 CABLE HOLDING SPARE TIRE, AND SEND VEHICLE INTO CAR IN FRONT OF IT WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BREAK RADIATOR AND AC RADIATOR. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. APPROXIMATLY 3 MONTHS AFTER BACK FROM REPAIRS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING OCCASIONLY. THIS CONTINUED GETTING WORSE UNTIL IT BLINKED CONSTANTLY, ALSO THE HORN WAS INTERMITTENTALY OPERATIONAL. I CHECKED YOUR "SEARCH COMPLAINTS" SECTION AND SEE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN WITHOUT THE ACCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING AS SEVERAL PEOPLE STATE IN THE COMPLAINTS SECTION. IN FACT THIS MUST BE COMMON DUE TO WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE ORIGINAL REPAIRS THEY DIDN'T EVEN LISTEN TO ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE PROBLEM AND SAID "IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CLOCK SPRING AND TAKES ABOUT 2 HOURS TO REPAIR." THEN QUOTED A PRICE, ONLY MISSING THE PRICE QUOTE BY THE AMOUNT OF TAX ADDED TO THE BILL! PLEASE RESEARCH THIS, IF NOTHING ELSE LOOK AT YOUR OWN SYSTEM UNDER AIRBAGS, HORN, AND SPEED CONTROLS! DOESN'T TAKE A BEAN COUNTER TO SEE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS "SAFETY" SYSTEM!!!!!!!*JB

NHTSA ODI #10008076

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2003

Electrical System

THE WIRING HARNESS IN MY STEERING COLUME IS DEFECTIVE. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME IN 6 YRS THAT THIS HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE HARNESS CONTROLLS THE AIRBAGE, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROLL. ALSO THE IGITION SWITCH IS FAULTY, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING

NHTSA ODI #10008035

70,000 miles · Dec 31, 2002

Steering

CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. SUDDENLY THEY WERE UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE OR CHANGE GEARS. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A PART BRAKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001727

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002

Electrical SystemFire

CONSUMER STATES THAT A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH WHILE DRIVING. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8019900

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002

Fuel System, GasolineInjury

VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITHOUT SAFETY INSPECTION BEING PERFORMED. UNBURNT FUEL FUMES ARE GOING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING DIZZINESS, NASEA, AND DISORIENTATION & HEADACHES. MECHANIC TELLS ME CAR IS MOVING BOMB AS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION WITHIN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. POSSIBLE FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE…

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NHTSA ODI #764871

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2002

Power Train

THE TRANFER CASE HEATED UP AND SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PROCESS THE TRANSMSSION WAS CRACKED AND REPLACED, THREE TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER.*JB THE TRANSFER CASE WAS RECALLED (97V-204) BY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED THREE TIMES. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8010438

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2002

Equipment

WHEN PRESSING CIGARETTE LIGHTER IN, ONCE IT GETS HOT, IT POPPED OUT ONTO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER FELT THAT IF THIS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO TAKE EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND LIGHTER IN ODER TO PREVENT A VEHICLE FIRE. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8010099

Official recalls

99V028000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Feb 9, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. HEAT GENERATION IN THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE FUEL PUMP/SENDER ASSEMBLY CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE VEHICLE COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER AND BECOME IMMOBILIZED AND THE FUEL GAUGE MAY BE ERRATIC.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: HEAT DAMAGE, INCLUDING MELTING OR CHARRING OF THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDER ASSEMBLY WIRE HARNESS AND ASSOCIATED WIRING HARNESSES CAN ALSO RESULT. THE SHORT CIRCUIT COULD ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS IN THE FUEL PUMP GROUND CIRCUIT THAT WILL BE INSTALLED AT THE FUEL PUMP INERTIA SHUT-OFF SWITCH.

99V029000 · 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

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.