IllustrationRE: SAFETY RECALL 97S83 - DEALERSHIP IS NOT ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM REPAIR IN A TIMELY MANNER.
1995 Ford Aerostar
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Ford Aerostar do not stand out strongly from 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: 10 of 157 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 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
What owners actually said
157 reportsSTARTED VEHICLE, NOTICED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS SLUGGISH - STICKING UPON STARTING VEHICLE. APPROX. 5 SECONDS LATER VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN AND DASH BEGAN TO SMOKE INTENSELY, FILLING VEHICLE WITH SMOKE WITHIN 10 SECONDS. JUMPED FROM VEHICLE AND PUT OUT UNDER DASH FIRE WITH CUP OF COFFEE. FRIGHTENED CHILDREN BADLY.
TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH AREA OF THE VEHICLE,. ALSO SMOKE FILLED THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. ALSO CONSUMER HAS LOST SOME ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER DETAILS. *AK
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED, CAUSING VIBRATION. (QCAW)
THERE IS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FUMES IN THE VAN. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, THE FUEL LINE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE CURRENT SITUATION, AND STATED TO CONSUMER THAT FUEL LINE COULD NOT BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FRONT END SHAKES. DEALERS HAS REPLACED BUSHINGS. ALSO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, CAUSING POWER STEERING TO LOCK UP. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL ON TRANSFER CASE, RECALL NO.97V204000. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK UPON DECELERATION FROM SPEEDS 55 TO 70 MPH, CREATES A GRINING NOISE IN THE AREA WHERE THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT CURRENT PARTS WOULD FAIL AND CAUSE PROBLEMS CONTROLLING THE VEHIC…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL ON TRANSFER CASE, RECALL NO.97V204000. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK UPON DECELERATION FROM SPEEDS 55 TO 70 MPH, CREATES A GRINING NOISE IN THE AREA WHERE THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT CURRENT PARTS WOULD FAIL AND CAUSE PROBLEMS CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GRINING NOISE WAS NOT OCCURRING BEFORE THE FACTORY RECALL AND PARTS REPLACEMENT. *SLC
UPON STARTING UP THE VAN, DRIVER HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE DASH. DRIVER LOOKED UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND NOTICED A FIRE IN THE WIRING SYSTEM. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE. OWNER WAITING FOR WIRING HARNESS TO CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
Official recalls
599V028000 · 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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA99002 · 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