IllustrationTRUCK EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. AS A RESULT THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN TWO HOURS AFTER BEING PARKED. THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD. ALL THE UNDER HOOD ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE MELTED. THE HEAT ALSO CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD.*AK
1988 Ford Aerostar
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 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: 8 of 177 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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports41 fire reports5 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
46 reportsTHE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *NLM
2 FIRES AT ALTERNATOR LAST ONE TOTALLED VEHICLE FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 6 HOURS AFTER BEING PARKED. STATE FIRE MARSHALL DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED FIRE. HOME AND VEHICLE WERE TOTALY LOST. 3 CHILDREN HAD TO JUMP THROUGH WINDOW TO ESCAPE THE FIRE, ONE SLICED TENDONS ON WRIST. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 96V071000 ON 30 SEP 1997. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY …
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VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 6 HOURS AFTER BEING PARKED. STATE FIRE MARSHALL DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED FIRE. HOME AND VEHICLE WERE TOTALY LOST. 3 CHILDREN HAD TO JUMP THROUGH WINDOW TO ESCAPE THE FIRE, ONE SLICED TENDONS ON WRIST. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 96V071000 ON 30 SEP 1997. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY SHERRIE HANSEN, ATTORNEY.*AK
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION MODULE. *MJS
NO SUMMARY
DISTRIBUTOR FAILED ON FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED , AT NIGHT, GOING UPHILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC 100 MILES FROM NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY. IT WAS NECESSARY TO ROLL VEHICLE BACKWARDS, DOWNHILL IN TRAFFIC TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE BEEN HIT AND INJURED FROM THE TRAFFIC. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND…
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DISTRIBUTOR FAILED ON FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED , AT NIGHT, GOING UPHILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC 100 MILES FROM NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY. IT WAS NECESSARY TO ROLL VEHICLE BACKWARDS, DOWNHILL IN TRAFFIC TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE BEEN HIT AND INJURED FROM THE TRAFFIC. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THAT CAUSED FAILURE BUT RECENTLY I HEARD ABOUT THE LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD FOR KNOWING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND NOT RECALLING OR NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FAILURE DUE TO PLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DUE TO ENGINE HEAT. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THIS FAILURE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES YET FORD DID NOT FEEL IT NECESSARY TO WARN IT'S CUSTOMERS. I HAVE FOUR FORD VEHICLES AT THIS TIME. THREE OF THEM ARE LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD. I MAY NOT BUY ANY MORE FORD VEHICLES IF THIS IS THEIR ATTITUDE THAT THEY WON'T RECALL OR AT THE MINIMUM AT LEAST WARN OWNERS OF THESE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. FORD WILL LOSE A LOT MORE MONEY BY NOT SELLING MYSELF , MY WIFE AND MY FOUR ADULT CHILDREN ANY MORE FORD VEHICLES , MUCH MORE THAN THE $449.85 REPAIRS, TOWING AND HOTEL COSTS I LOST WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. *AK
FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHEN VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD & ASH TRAY. CHECKED UNDER HOOD & VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. PUT FLAMES OUT. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. FIRE HAD ORIGINATED AROUND THE ALTERNATOR. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. THE SECOND TIME WAS 3/21/99. *AK
WIRING HARNESS WIRES SHORTED BECAUSE WIRING INSULATION SHRUNK RESULTING IN IT BURNING OUT THE FUEL PUMP IN THE FUEL TANK.
I WOULD BE DRIVING THE VAN DOWN THE ROAD AT A SPEED OF 30-40MPH AND THE ENGINE WOULD GO DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER RAN THE COMPUTER CODES AND FOUND NOTHING, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. AFTER THREE FUEL PUMPS, ....ECT, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS NOT REPLACED WAS THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. I GOT A SECOND HAND COMPUTER FOR THE …
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I WOULD BE DRIVING THE VAN DOWN THE ROAD AT A SPEED OF 30-40MPH AND THE ENGINE WOULD GO DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER RAN THE COMPUTER CODES AND FOUND NOTHING, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. AFTER THREE FUEL PUMPS, ....ECT, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS NOT REPLACED WAS THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. I GOT A SECOND HAND COMPUTER FOR THE VAN AND WENT TO INSTALL IT. WHEN I UNPLUGGED THE OLD COMPUTER I FOUND THE PROBLEM, THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND AGE CAUSE D THE PLASTIC COATING ON THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHRINK. WHEN THE VAN HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE COMPUTER WOULD SHORT OUT, LEAVING NO CODES AND A DEAD ENGINE. I EMAILED FORD, THEY LEFT NO COMMETON THIS. THANK YOU. *AK
Official recalls
498V190000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Aug 11, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA (10 SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF LOS ANGELES, ORANGE, SAN BERNADINO, SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE, VENTURA, SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, IMPERIAL, AND KERN), FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA (CLARK COUNTY), OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TEXAS, AND IN THE U.S. TERRITORIES COVERED BY THE FEDERAL STATUTES. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK CAN DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO VERY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. FUEL VAPOR OR LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR AT THESE CRACKS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2002. THIS COVERAGE WILL ONLY BE FOR STRUCTURAL CRACKS AT THE TOP OF THE TANK AND WILL NOT INCLUDE OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT OR ROAD DEBRIS.
96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
91V136000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
Aug 19, 1991
SOME LIFTGATE GAS CYLINDER-TO-BODY ATTACHMENT BALL STUDS MAY FRACTURE IN EITHER THE OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A BALL STUD FRACTURES, THE LIFTGATE WILL NOT REMAIN INTHE OPEN POSITION. BODILY INJURY COULD RESULT IF THE LIFTGATE DROPS WHILESOMEONE IS UNDER IT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE GAS CYLINDER-TO-BODY ATTACHMENT BALL STUDS.
88V091000 · Electrical System:wiring
Jun 6, 1988
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRAILER TOW PACKAGE HAVE A TRAILER TAILLIGHT RELAY ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS WIRES OF SMALLER GAUGE THAN THE FUSE LINK WHICH PROTECTS THE CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD A SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THE WIRING WITHIN THERELAY OR IF WATER INTRUSION OCCURS THE SMALLER GAUGE WIRE IN THE RELAY WILLFUNCTION AS A FUSE LINK AND OVERHEAT. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR A FIRE IF THEWIRES ARE EXPOSED TO COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.
Remedy: INSTALLATION OF A RELAY WITH WIRES OF GAUGE ADEQUATE TO PROTECT THE CIRCUIT.
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
12EA96030 · Cracked Fuel Tanks
Opened Dec 20, 1996 · Closed Aug 13, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
CRACKED FUEL TANKS ARE LEAKING FUEL
PE96050 · Cracked Fuel Tanks
Opened Aug 6, 1996 · Closed Dec 20, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
CRACKED FUEL TANKS ARE LEAKING FUEL
EA94025 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Jul 19, 1994 · Closed Sep 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE94021 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Mar 4, 1994 · Closed Jul 19, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE91127 · Park Pawl Bending
Opened Sep 16, 1991 · Closed Nov 8, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
There is no summary currently available
Power Train:automatic Transmission
There is no summary currently available
EA91015 · Liftgate Failure
Opened Feb 1, 1991 · Closed Sep 20, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE91005 · Liftgate Failure
Opened Oct 18, 1990 · Closed Feb 1, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA90042 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Aug 31, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA89021 · Windshield Wiper Motor
Opened Mar 23, 1989 · Closed May 4, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
===
PE89092 · Power Steering Locking
Opened Feb 23, 1989 · Closed Jul 20, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT POWER STEERING WAS STIFF ORSTEERING LOCKED.FORD HAS ISSUED TWO SERVICE BULLETINS:ONE ON LEAKINGSEALS AND ONE ON COMPLAINTS OF STIFF STEERING.===
PE89021 · Seat Belt Cutting
Opened Dec 9, 1988 · Closed Aug 3, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE89010 · Windshield Wiper Motor
Opened Nov 1, 1988 · Closed Mar 23, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
There is no summary currently available