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1997 Ford Aerostar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 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

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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: 11 of 63 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

9 reports
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48,000 miles · Aug 19, 2010
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

NOTE: I WISH I HAD FOUND THIS SITE YEARS AGO. I COULD NOT GET PAST FORDS "BRICK WALL" TO SPEAK TO AN ENGINEER! 1. 1997 AEROSTAR - ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED DOWN QUICKLY TO PASS (2 LANE HIGHWAY). 2. NOW IN THE LEFT LANE, NOT FAR AHEAD OF PASSED THE CAR - I EXPERRIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER - HARD RIGHT OVER TO SOF…

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NOTE: I WISH I HAD FOUND THIS SITE YEARS AGO. I COULD NOT GET PAST FORDS "BRICK WALL" TO SPEAK TO AN ENGINEER! 1. 1997 AEROSTAR - ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED DOWN QUICKLY TO PASS (2 LANE HIGHWAY). 2. NOW IN THE LEFT LANE, NOT FAR AHEAD OF PASSED THE CAR - I EXPERRIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER - HARD RIGHT OVER TO SOFT SHOULDER - AVOIDED AN ONCOMING HEAD ON COLLISION - L JUST MISSED THE CAR BEING PASSED BY INCHES AND STOPPED. THE CRIMPED END OF CABLE TO THE CARBURATOR HAD RELEASED FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. 3. I CLAMPED THE CABLE BACK ONTO THE PEDAL WITH VICE GRIPS. (DROVE TO DEALER). FORD REPLACED THE CABLE. THAT PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. (I DO NOT PRESS DOWN HARD EITHER!) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350538

65,000 miles · Dec 2, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN ACCELERATING CONSUMER HAD TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE MOVED THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK, AND REVVED VERY HIGH. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE HAD A STICKING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10049874

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER HAVE RECALL 00V425000/ ACCELERATOR CABLE REPAIRED. DEALER TOLD HER THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL NOTICE AND REFUSED TO PERFORM WORK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #881534

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

MAINLY WHEN VAN WAS IN PARK ENGINE REVVED UP BY ITSELF. ALSO, VAN HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE IN SPEED WHILE DRIVING. VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #868378

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CONSUMER WAS TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY OFF OF A SMALL STREET, APPLIED BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN. RPMS WENT UP, AND THE REAR TIRES WERE SPINNING. VEHICLE HIT A GARAGE WALL AND DOOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #864248

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT UP TO 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND PLACED UNDER CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL TO SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 90MPH, AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO DISENGAGE THROTTLE OR CRUSISE CONTROL. VEHILCE SLOWED DOWN TO SAFE SPEED BY CONSTANT BRAKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES UNTIL "SAFE" AREA …

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VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT UP TO 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND PLACED UNDER CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL TO SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 90MPH, AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO DISENGAGE THROTTLE OR CRUSISE CONTROL. VEHILCE SLOWED DOWN TO SAFE SPEED BY CONSTANT BRAKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES UNTIL "SAFE" AREA TO EXIT WAS FOUND. ATTEMPTS TO BRING VEHICLE TO STOP BY BREAKING, DOWNSHIFTING, APPLYING EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED BY TURNING IGNITION SWITCH OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX 25 MPH. VEHICLE TOWED TO CHEROKEE FORD IN WOODSTOCK. PROBLEM REPORTED TO BE MALFUNCTION OF ACCELERATOR CABLE. DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE COMPONENTS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720686

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL SET AT APPROX 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 75 NORTH OF ATLANTA. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELARATED OUT OF CONTROL TO APPROXIMATELY 90 MPH AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO DEACTIVATE CONTROL BY BRAKE, OR CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL VEHICLE WHILE THE THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN AND BRAKES FIRMLY APPLI…

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CRUISE CONTROL SET AT APPROX 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 75 NORTH OF ATLANTA. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELARATED OUT OF CONTROL TO APPROXIMATELY 90 MPH AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO DEACTIVATE CONTROL BY BRAKE, OR CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL VEHICLE WHILE THE THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN AND BRAKES FIRMLY APPLIED FOR SEVERAL MILE TO FIND SAFE PLACE TO ATTEMPT STOPPING IT WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP BY COMBINATION OF BRAKING, DOWNSHIFTING, AND FINALLY TURNING OFF IGNITION SWITCH ON AN EXIT RAMP. ONCE STOPPED EXAMINATION OF ACCELATOR PEDAL SHOWED IN WAS STILL BEING HELD TO THE "FLOOR" BY CABLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CHEROKEE FORD DEALERSHIP IN WOODSTOCK GA AT APPROX 8:00 PM AND KEYS WERE LEFT IN DROP OFF BOX AT SERVICE AREA. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN FALL 1997 AND AM NOT SURE IF 36 MONTH WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXCEEDED. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS AND LIFE THREATENING COLLISION WAS AVOIDED BUT AT UNKNOWN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720605

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE CAUSING IT TO HIT A BULIDING.

NHTSA ODI #544461

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, PRESSED BRAKES, WENT TO REVERSE AND VEHICLE ACCELLERATED AT HIGH SPEED, RACING 100 FEET DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE ROAD, JUMPED A CURVE AND TORE DOWN APPPROX. 70 FT. OF CHAINLINK FENCE. THE PIPE FROM FENCE BROKE BACK WINDOW OF VEHICLE ,PERTRUDING THROUGH HITTING CONSUMER ON HEAD, THEN BROKEN WINDSHI…

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CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, PRESSED BRAKES, WENT TO REVERSE AND VEHICLE ACCELLERATED AT HIGH SPEED, RACING 100 FEET DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE ROAD, JUMPED A CURVE AND TORE DOWN APPPROX. 70 FT. OF CHAINLINK FENCE. THE PIPE FROM FENCE BROKE BACK WINDOW OF VEHICLE ,PERTRUDING THROUGH HITTING CONSUMER ON HEAD, THEN BROKEN WINDSHIELD EXTENDED ABOUT 40 FT. OUTSIDE OF WINDSHIELD. THROUGH ALL OF THIS, CONSUMER STILL HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTILL FENCE WAS CAUGHT UP UNDER VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUFFERS A SWOLLEN FOOT DUE TO PRESSURE APPLIED TO BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818956

Official recalls

3

00V425000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Dec 26, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. AN ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS KINKED DURING INSTALLATION, CAUSING THE CORE WIRES TO EVENTUALLY FRAY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE FRICTION IN THE CABLE, CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO BE SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ACCELERATOR CABLE.

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

2

EA99002 · 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