Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports18 fire reports12 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

11 reports

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125,000 miles · Mar 30, 2005

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE OFFICE PARKING LOT. SUDDENLY A CUSTOMER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A VEHICLE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURE WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CONSUMER FOR INSPECTION. *NM *NM

NHTSA ODI #10113062

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

BLACK EXHAUST/SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM REAR END OF VAN DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8015460

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE OVERHEATED/ STALLED DUE TO BLOWEN HEADGASKETS. DEALER WAS INSPECTING VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884302

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

FAILED HEAD GASKET IN 1997 COVERED BY FORD. BOTH HEAD GASKETS FAILED THIS MONTH, AFTER ADDING 50000 MILES, AND FORD WILL NOT DISCUSS REPAIRS. 3.8 L ENGINES IN SOME OTHER MODELS ARE COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE FORD HAS RECOGNIZED A DEFECT IN THE GASKETS BUT WILL NOT CONSIDER MINE. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE IN ONLY…

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NHTSA ODI #724695

Mileage unknown · May 10, 2000

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

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I ALREADY SUBMITTED THIS FORM EARLIER TODAY, BUT I REALIZED I MADE SOME ERRORS ON THE FORM SO HERE IS AN UPDATED FORM WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION. AS I EXPLAINED ON THE FIRST FORM, THERE ARE TWO RELATED PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN OCCURRING WITH OUR FORD AEROSTAR MINI VAN. THE FIRST PROBLEM IS THAT THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY BECAUSE THE DOOR GUIDE-TRACK IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS BROKEN AT THE POINT WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE VEHICLE BODY BEHIND THE LATCH STRIKE-PIN. WE HAD THIS REPAIRED IN DECEMBER OF 1998, BUT IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN ONLY 15 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE DOOR DEFECT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN THE DOOR IS NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR-AJAR LIGHT COMES ON AND MAKES A TERRIBLE GRATING/BUZZING NOISE AND AT THE SAME T IME CAUSES ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO FAIL. THE TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, FAN , RADIO, ETC ALL FREEZE-UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE DRIVING, AND TWICE THE IGNITION FROZE AND I COULD NOT START THE VAN. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE KEY AND RESTART IT TO GET EVERYTHING WORKING AGAIN. THESE ELECTRICAL FAILURES ARE CLEARLY LINKED TO THE SLIDING DOOR PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ONLY OCCUR WHEN THE DOOR-AJAR LIGHT IS FLASHING AND MAKING THAT GRATING SOUND WHEN THE DOOR IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722477

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

VAN JUST CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845492

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTED OIL PAN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837540

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 1999

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

VERY DISAPPOINTING VEHICLE! NP SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705043

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 1998

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE BUCKING/STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TP SENSOR AND EXHAUST OXYGEN SENSOR.

NHTSA ODI #542242

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 1996

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT THERE IS BAD FUME/ODOR IN THE CAR . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #803696

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.

95V037000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 28, 1995

THE CERTIFICATION LABEL ON THESE VEHICLES HAVE INCORRECT REAR TIRE SIZES LISTED. P215/70R14SL SHOULD BE P215/75R14SL. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE INCORRECTLY SIZED REAR TIRE WOULD NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT LOAD CAPACITY FOR THE VEHICLE'S SPECIFIED GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED A SUPPLEMENTARY LABEL CONTAINING THE CORRECT REAR TIRE INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THE LABEL ON THEIR VEHICLES. IF OWNERS PREFER, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.

94V239000 · Equipment:mechanical:carrier/rack

Dec 1, 1994

THE SPARE TIRE SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE CAN CONTACT THE BRAKE LINES ON THE REAR AXLE IF IT IS MOUNTED IN THE UNDERBODY SPARE TIRE CARRIER. SUCH CONTACT COULD RESULT IN FRACTURE OF A REAR BRAKE LINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN REDUCED VEHICLE BRAKE CAPABILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOWER PROFILE MINI-SPARE TIRE ON THE EXISTING MINI-SPARE WHEEL. THE NEW TIRE WILL ALLOW THE MINI-SPARE TO BE INSTALLED WITH APPROPRIATE CLEARANCES IN THE UNDERBODY SPARE TIRE CARRIER.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗