1996 Ford Aerostar

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD AEROSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSFER CASE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V204000 (POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)) MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. AFTER THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN HOME AT 45MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AS IF THE GEARS WERE NOT CHANGING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE TIRE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE NOT BE USED UNTIL THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS WELDED AND THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS REPLACED.

I BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD AEROSTAR AWD VAN FROM A USED CAR DEALER ABOUT 10 MONTHS AGO. I HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN IMMEDIATELY BUT THE DEALER DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY. TODAY I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IN THE VAN NEEDS, MINIMALLY, REPAIR OR TOTAL REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED A BALL JOINT FOR $320, WHICH THE USED CAR DEALER SAID HE HAD CHECKED AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE ARE RETIREES WITHOUT A HUGE INCOME AND SO WE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER FORD WAS IN SOME WAY RESPONSIBLE. WE LEARNED THAT A RECALL FOR TRANSFER CASES WAS ISSUED IN 1998 SO MY WIFE CALLED FORD, WHERE SHE WAS, OF COURSE, TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAN LEARN IF THIS IS TRUE OR WHETHER I CAN MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MAJOR MALFUNCTION. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT IN ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE!!!! OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE OWNED MANY, MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BEFORE. BECAUSE OF THE TRANSFER CASE, MY FRONT TIRES ARE BALD AND I NEED TWO TIE ROD ENDS AFTER THE TRANSFER CASE REPAIR. MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW I WILL PAY FOR ALL OF THESE REPAIRS. I ALSO STILL HAVE TWO YEARS' CAR PAYMENTS LEFT!!!*AK

SIMILAR TO SAFETY RECALL # 97S83 FOR WHICH SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, BUT AFFECTING FRONT SHAFT AND TRANSFER CASE INSTEAD OF REAR. HAD SEAL LEAK ON FRONT TRANSFER CASE UNDER 30K MILES WARRANTY. TRANSFER CASE BEARING FAILURE ON FRONT DRIVE SHAFT IN TRANSFER CASE RUINED TRANSFER CASE AT A COST OF $1,985.00 TO REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TREATED VERY WELL, WITH NO HEAVY LOADS OR TOWING OF TRAILERS.