IllustrationVEHICLE DENIED RECALL WORK DUE TO LACK OF PARTS (99V-029) IGNITION SWITCH. MJS
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
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: 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
What owners actually said
63 reportsWHEN TURNING OR APPLYING BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE LOUD NOISES FROM THE REAR WHEELS. BEEN TO DEALER & INFORMED CONSUMER THAT'S HOW ITS SUPPOSE TO BE. DID NOT REPAIR BRAKES. *AK
CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER 4 TIMES REGARDING RECALL 99V029000, IGNITION SWITCH SHORT. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH RECALL REPAIR POLICY, WHEN REPAIR WAS MADE. (99S02)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE CAUSING IT TO HIT A BULIDING.
TIRES FAILED. MICHELIN / FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRES (P215/75 R14). *YC
POWER STEERING PUMP AND HOSE FAILED. MJS
FEELS LIKE AND SOUNDS LIKE TRANSMISSION TRYING TO LOCK IN TWO GEARS, ALMOST STALLS VEHICLE.HAS A MISS/BUCK/BALK/JERK/JUMP OR WHATEVER,SEVERITY VARIES FROM VERY SEVERE TO BARELY PERCEPTIBLE. OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN CITY. *AK
ELECTRICAL HARNESS BURNED.
SMOKE OCCASIONALLY APPEARS COMING OUT FROM AROUND THE DASH PANEL BY THE HEATING AND A/C CONTROLS. SMELLS LIKE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS BURNING OR BURNING WIRE INSULATION. SMOKE GOES AWAY AFTER 5-10 MINUTES. DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER IF HEAT, A/C OR JUST THE FAN IS ON. IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER STATES THEY COULD NOT FIND …
Read full complaint
SMOKE OCCASIONALLY APPEARS COMING OUT FROM AROUND THE DASH PANEL BY THE HEATING AND A/C CONTROLS. SMELLS LIKE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS BURNING OR BURNING WIRE INSULATION. SMOKE GOES AWAY AFTER 5-10 MINUTES. DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER IF HEAT, A/C OR JUST THE FAN IS ON. IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER STATES THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM OR DUPLICATE GRIPE.
Official recalls
300V425000 · 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
2EA99002 · 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