IllustrationLIFTGATE ARM LATCH BROKE, DOOR WILL NOT STAY UP WHEN OPENED.*AK *YH
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
What owners actually said
177 reportsWHEN I RECEIVED MY "RECALL" NOTICE, ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CRACKS IN THE TANK, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BEV SMITH FORD. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY FUEL TANK, AND DISMISSED MY INQUIRY. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILL MY TANK WITH MORE THAN $6.00 WORTH OF GAS, OR IT LEAKS. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE…
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WHEN I RECEIVED MY "RECALL" NOTICE, ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CRACKS IN THE TANK, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BEV SMITH FORD. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY FUEL TANK, AND DISMISSED MY INQUIRY. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILL MY TANK WITH MORE THAN $6.00 WORTH OF GAS, OR IT LEAKS. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN BEV SMITH FORD, AND I'M MOVING TO JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT RE-INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER GAVE EVERYONE UNTIL MARCH 31, 2002 TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED, HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FACT THAT BEV SMITH FORD DID A LOUSY INSPECTION, AND I HAVE BEEN LEAKING FUEL EVER SINCE, I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP RESOLVING THIS MATTER ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE VAN IS NOW LEAKING WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE, AND I HAVE ALREADY COMPLAINED, THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RIGHTS I HAVE TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED, AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE, SINCE MY INITIAL COMPLAINT WAS IGNORED@! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE! BARBARA L. GOULD. *AK
2 FIRES AT ALTERNATOR LAST ONE TOTALLED VEHICLE FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, AND HAD BEEN BACKED INTO THE GARAGE, HEADING OUT. AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, PUTTING IT INTO GEAR, AND LIGHTLY TOUCHING THE THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE WAS SUDDENLY PULLED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE SCREAMED OUT OF THE GARAGE UNCONTROLLABLY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN THE…
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VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, AND HAD BEEN BACKED INTO THE GARAGE, HEADING OUT. AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, PUTTING IT INTO GEAR, AND LIGHTLY TOUCHING THE THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE WAS SUDDENLY PULLED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE SCREAMED OUT OF THE GARAGE UNCONTROLLABLY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY.*AK
UPPER PORTION OF FUEL TANK DEVELOPED SMALL CRACKS. THERE IS RECALL 98V190000 ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL; BUT, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*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
BODY RUST&BROKEN FRONT DRIVERS SEAT.GAS PEDAL STICKING.*AK
SEAT BELT CONECTOR ON DRIVERS SIDE . PUTTON RELEASE IS FROZEN . WILL NOT LOCK BELT ON .*AK
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION MODULE. *MJS
REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A 1988, FORD, ASTRO VAN. FIRESTONE, TRIUMPH RADIAL SR, P21570R14, DOT VDHYTHA035. RIGHT REAR TIRE DETACHED ALL IN ONE PIECE, ALL THE WAY AROUND, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP SEVERAL TIMES.*AK THE TIRE FAILURE CAUSED 1 DEATH AND 7 INJURIES. *SLC
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
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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