IllustrationRECALL # 96V071000 FORD/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION. ON DECEMBER 13, 1998, WHILE VAN WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DASH AND THE ENGINE AREA. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED UNDER RCALL OVER 1 YEAR AGO. OWNER NOT SURE IF FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
1990 Ford Aerostar
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 5 of 195 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 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports57 fire reports13 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
56 reportsWHEN DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND SMOKE CAME FROM HOOD OF ENGINE, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED POINT OF IMPACT WITH FIRE AND PARTIAL LOSS. PROBLEM REPEATED ONE YEAR LATER. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED A SMOKY SMELL IN VEHICLE, CHILD HAD NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM VENT, PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, LIFTED HOOD & NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM ALTERANTOR, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING NOTICED A SMELL. VEHICLE STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE AFTER IT DIED OUT. OWNER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE & LATER IT ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. INDICATED TO OWNER IT WAS ELECTRICAL. *AK
VAN JUST DIED OUT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VAN STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE AND FIRE AND BURSTED INTO FLAMES. FIRE BELIEVED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. VAN HAD OVER $5,000.00 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE VAN HAS BEEN TOTALLED. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICA…
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VAN JUST DIED OUT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VAN STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE AND FIRE AND BURSTED INTO FLAMES. FIRE BELIEVED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. VAN HAD OVER $5,000.00 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE VAN HAS BEEN TOTALLED. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *TT
REGARDING THE ALTERNATOR/REGULATOR FIRES, CONSUMER BELIEVES THE SOURCE OF IGNITION IS THE ALTERNATOR/WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION INTERFACE DUE TO A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION.
THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO ALTERNATOR SHORTED OUT, RESULTING IN A FIRE. CURRENTLY AT A DEALER. *AK *SLC
WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED, CAUSING A VEHICLE FIRE. *AK
HAD PARKED VEHICLE. HEARD HORN BLASTING. LOOKED OUT & CHECHED VEHICLE. SAW VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. INFORMED OWNER FIRE ORIGINATED IN STEERING COLUMN CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. RECALL (#96V071000), IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN VEHICLE. CONSUMER AND FAMILY WAS TRAPPED IN VEHICLE DUE TO RODS THAT CONNECT TO DOOR HANDLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK
Official recalls
698V190000 · 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.
91V189000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Nov 4, 1991
WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ABUT OR ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER MAY BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFELY ENGAGED IN PARKWHEN THE GEAR IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OFGEAR UNINTENTIONALLY, VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHEN PARKED ON A SLOPED SURFACE, ANDINADVERTENT MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW PARK PAWL.
91V164000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Sep 20, 1991
SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.
Remedy: REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.
90V144000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Aug 6, 1990
THE SECOND ROW RIGHT HAND SEAT ASSEMBLY HAS A TILT FORWARD FUNCTION. A LATCH RETAINS THE SEAT IN THE NORMAL RIDE POSTION, AND THIS LATCH MAY RELEASE UNDER SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT CONDITIONS, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO PIVOT FORWARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT COULD PIVOTFORWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: REPLACE SEAT PAWL ASSEMBLY WITH A REVISED DESIGN ASSEMBLY.
89V223000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Dec 11, 1989
INABILITY TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE IN THE SECONDARY SYSTEM OF THE MASTER CYLINDER (CONTROLS BRAKING OF REAR WHEELS) COULD INCREASE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND REDUCE BRAKE PERFORMANCE AT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 40 DEGREES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS WOULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS ANDINCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH OR COLLISION.
Remedy: INSTALL NEW DESIGN MASTER CYLINDER INCORPORATING A REDESIGNED SEAL.
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
5EA99002 · 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
EA96030 · 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
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