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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

26 reports
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142,143 miles · Oct 25, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

1990 FORD AEROSTAR HAD CRACK IN FUEL TANK CAUSING CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE TANK. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN DEC 1998 REGARDING THE GAS TANK, HOWEVER AT THE TIME HE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK. THE CONSUMER IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE GAS TANK THAT HE H…

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1990 FORD AEROSTAR HAD CRACK IN FUEL TANK CAUSING CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE TANK. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN DEC 1998 REGARDING THE GAS TANK, HOWEVER AT THE TIME HE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK. THE CONSUMER IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE GAS TANK THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10142129

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY 1990 FORD AEROSTAR WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. THE FUMES WOULD OVERCOME YOU WHILE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VAN SAT FOR A SHORT TIME GAS WOULD BE ALL OVER THE GROUND FROM THE LEAK. I PAID A FORD DEALER TO REPLACE THE TANK NOT KNOWING THERE WAS A RECALL. THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT I PAID THIS MONEY OUT…

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MY 1990 FORD AEROSTAR WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. THE FUMES WOULD OVERCOME YOU WHILE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VAN SAT FOR A SHORT TIME GAS WOULD BE ALL OVER THE GROUND FROM THE LEAK. I PAID A FORD DEALER TO REPLACE THE TANK NOT KNOWING THERE WAS A RECALL. THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT I PAID THIS MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET. NOW FORD IS TELLING ME THAT MY VIN DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. SO I AM NOT EVEN ELIGIBLE FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU CARING FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL DRIVERS. *NM THE ASSIGNED IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V-190000 FORD RECALL NO. 98M03. *TT THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CRACKED GAS TANK. FORD WILL NOT REFUND THE MONEY AND WILL NOT HELP. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10130883

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

NHTSARECALL 98-V-190-000 CONCERNING UPPER PORTION OF FUEL TANK THAT CAN DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO VERY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. FUEL VAPOR OR LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR AT THESE CRACKS. CONSUMER HADTHE RECALL LETTER, BUT MANUFACTURER DIDN'T HONOR IT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.TS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10004422

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V190000 FUEL TANK; THE VAN WAS TAKEN IN AS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN BY FORD FOR THE FUEL TANK BACK IN 1999. AFTER INSPECTING THE FUEL TANK, THE DEALER TOLD HER THE TANK WAS FINE AND DIDN'T REPLACE IT. NOW IN 2002, THE FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL CRACKS WHICH THE FORD DEALERSHIP WILL NO LONGER HONOR THE S…

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NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V190000 FUEL TANK; THE VAN WAS TAKEN IN AS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN BY FORD FOR THE FUEL TANK BACK IN 1999. AFTER INSPECTING THE FUEL TANK, THE DEALER TOLD HER THE TANK WAS FINE AND DIDN'T REPLACE IT. NOW IN 2002, THE FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL CRACKS WHICH THE FORD DEALERSHIP WILL NO LONGER HONOR THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN DUE TO AN "EXPIRATION DATE". PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS

NHTSA ODI #8022736

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FILLER NECK WHEN REFUELING. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL RUNS OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8017705

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

I PURCHASED MY VAN FROM MONARCH FORD IN EXETER MARCH OF 1996, BEFORE BUYING THE VAN I ASKED THEM TO PLEASE GIVE ME THE FORMER OWNERS PHONE NUMBER SO THAT I COULD CONTACT THEM INREGARDS TO ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS THEY HAD BEFORE SELLING IT BACK TO FORD. MONARCH FORD REFUSED AND I GUESS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARNING TO ME, I ALSO AS…

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I PURCHASED MY VAN FROM MONARCH FORD IN EXETER MARCH OF 1996, BEFORE BUYING THE VAN I ASKED THEM TO PLEASE GIVE ME THE FORMER OWNERS PHONE NUMBER SO THAT I COULD CONTACT THEM INREGARDS TO ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS THEY HAD BEFORE SELLING IT BACK TO FORD. MONARCH FORD REFUSED AND I GUESS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARNING TO ME, I ALSO ASKED IF THEY HAD REPAINTED THE VAN BECAUSE THE FORD AND AEROSTAR EMBLEMS WERE NOT ON THE BACK OF THE VAN. THEY SAID ABSOTULY NOT THAT IT WAS EVERYTHING THE SAME. IT WAS ONLY 10 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY VAN THAT I NOTICED A GAS SMELL AND HAD IT CHECK WITH MONARCH IN EXETER. THEY ASSURED ME THEY COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK BUT THAT THEY COULD SMELL THE GAS. I HAVE SINCE HAD IT TO MANY OTHER STATIONS TO HAVE IT CHECK AND I GET THEY SAME ANSWER. I HAVE DONE SOME INVESTIGATING MYSELF AND FOUND THAT FORD HAS A EXSISTING PROBLEM WITH THEIR FUEL TANKS AND LEAKS. I FEEL THIS IS WHAT HAS HAPPEN IN MY CASE. I FEEL I HAVE A LEAK IN MY GAS TANK AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THIS IS THE MANUFACTORS REPONSEABLITY AND THAT IT WHY I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP. THE GAS LEAK IS GETTING WORSE AND THE SMELL IS REALLY BAD. I NEED THIS VAN FIXED IT IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE. EVERYWHERE I TAKE IT THEY TELL ME THEY CAN SMELL IT AND THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT BUT THAT THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD IT IS A FACTORY PROBLEM? CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO AND HOW I CAN GET THIS RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I KNOW FORD HAS THIS PROBLEM I JUST DO NOT KNOW HOW IS THE BEST WAY TO GET IT FIXED. I WOULD APPREICATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME SO THAT I CAN GET MY VAN SAFE FOR DRIVING AGAIN. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ME. SINCERELY [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #760015

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS AS STATED IN RECALL 98V190000. UPPER PORTION OF FUEL TANK DEVELOPED CRACKS. DEALER HAS ADVISED OF DEFECT, BUT SAID THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #885000

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

O-RING FAILURES WERE REPORTED ON ONE OF YOUR OWN BULLETINS ITEM # SB014781. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725775

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS, CAUSING A FUEL TO LEAK .DLR HAS REPLACED FUEL TANK PRIOR TO RECALL 98V190000 BEING ISSUED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER STATED THAT VEHICLE VIN# IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857883

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING GAS TO LEAK FROM FUEL TANK. (98V-190) MJS.

NHTSA ODI #545187

Official recalls

6

98V190000 · 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

5

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

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