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 reports

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2003

Latches/locks/linkages

SLIDING DOOR WILL EITHER NOT LATCH AT ALL OR IT WILL STAY CLOSED AND WE ARE UNABLE TO OPEN IT .

NHTSA ODI #10020635

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2003

Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER PUT OUT THE FLAMES, BUT THE PANEL KEPT SMOKING. THE GROUND WIRE TO THE POWER WINDOWS HAD TO BE CUT TO STOP THE PANEL FROM SMOKING. *JB THE BURNED SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED ON THE LEFT SIDE DOOR. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #10017827

103,000 miles · Jan 21, 2003

Tires

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BLOW OUT AND TREAD SEPERATION ON A BF GOODRICH RADIAL T/A (P215/70SR14 96S M+S) AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. APPROX 34,000 MILES ON THE TIRE. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH SOUTH ON THE SAWGRASS EXPRESSWAY (SUNRISE, FL) BETWEEN MILE MARKER 4 AND 5, MY RIGHT REAR TIRE MADE A POPING SOUND AND WENT FLAT ALMOST IMMEDIATLY (3 TO 4 SECONDS). I WAS ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE SHOWED ABOUT A 4 TO 6 INCH TREAD SEPERATION. AFTER AAA REMOVED THE TIRE, THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SHOWED ALMOST COMPLETE TREAD SEPERATION (IT LOOKED LIKE THE TIRE HAD EXPLODED). THE SIDEWALLS APPEAR TO HAVE FAILED AS WELL. I HAD HAD THE TIRES CHECKED ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR AFTER HAVING A NAIL REMOVED AND PATCHED ON THE LEFT FRONT. INFLATION WAS NORMAL. THE TEMERATURE WAS ABOUT 68 DEGREES AND I HAD BEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 34,000 MILES OF WEAR ON THEM. THEY WERE REGULARLY ROTATED AND INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1995 FORD AREOSTAR XLT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE TIRE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE 13 DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE FRONT, BACK AND TREAD OF THE TIRE. I WILL MAKE THEM AVAILABLE AT YOUR REQUEST (CD-ROM OR ELECTRONICALY).

NHTSA ODI #10003140

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2002

Air BagsCrashInjury

OUR VAN WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE HIT IN A FOUR CAR PILE UP. OUR VAN AND TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT WHEN STRUCK. OUR VAN SUSTAINED SUBSTANCIAL ENOUGH DAMAGE BOTH IN FRONT AND BEHIND TO TOTAL IT. THE DRIVERS AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED SO I'M HAVING TO RECEIVE SOME PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR NECK INJURIES. I WONDER IF M…

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NHTSA ODI #769792

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2002

Visibility

SEVERE SHIMMY OF FRONT END. REPLACE BUSHINGS AND SHOCKS STILL THERE. DEALERS AND SERVICE SHOPS UNABLE TO CONFIRM COMPLAINT. FRIENDS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA ODI #769280

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2002

Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A LIGHT POLE AT 27 MPH AND THE FRONTAL DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOYED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8019228

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2002

Fuel System, Gasoline

PLASTIC FUEL TANK IS CRACKING AT THE TOP WHICH IS CAUSING A MASSIVE FUEL LEAK, AND POSSIBLE HAZARD. FUEL TANK MUST BE KEPT AT HALF LEVEL, BUT IT DOES NOT STOP FUMES FROM ENTERING COMPARTMENT. *AK *YH

NHTSA ODI #8016902

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 · Jun 18, 2002

Unknown Or Other

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF HIS VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO FLAKE OFF IN DIFFERENT AREAS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO LOCAL BODY SHOPS. THE TECHNICIANS AT BOTH SHOPS TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY SAW THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER FORD VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THE REFUSED TO PROVID…

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NHTSA ODI #566128

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2002

Seats

A BOLT WHICH HOLDS BACK REST HAS SHEARED OFF AND CAUSED SEAT TO COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOIRMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8010137

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 ↗