IllustrationNO INTERLOCK SYSTEM, ALLOWING KEY TO RELEASE.
1991 Ford Aerostar
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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: 2 of 223 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 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports68 fire reports14 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
67 reportsWHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A MILE THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY ANYONE AS OF YET. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, CAUSED BY SHORT IN ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS, VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD. LOOKED IN THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD. DOES NOT REMEMBER IF RECALL NOTICE WASRECEIVED. BUT THERE WAS A RECALL LISTED ON VEICHLE 96V- 071 000.
CONSUMER WAS PARKED AND VEHICLE'S ENGINE RUNNING FOR APPROX. 5 MINUTES BEFORE NOTICED SMOKE IN THE HOOD AREA OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER THAN CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK
WHILE PARKED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD . CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPED NEITHER WITH REMOTE START NOR WITH ALARM. *YH
ELECTRICAL, IGNITION SWITCH: VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY ,WOKE UP, SMELLED SMOKE, LOOKED OUTSIDE VEHICLE IN FLAMES. CAUSE OF FIRE ELECTRICAL. VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR IGNITOION SWITCH, BUT DRIVER NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. *AK
OWNER INVOLVED WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. BUT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FORD REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE CAR, AND SAID IT WAS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE POSITION, NOT CHECKED BY DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL ROLL, UNLESS PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED POWER STEERING AND BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.*JB
VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION FOR 15 TO 20 MIN WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS CORRECTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE AS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.*AK CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF REMOVED THE KEY WHICH MEANT THE GEAR SHIFTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN LO…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION FOR 15 TO 20 MIN WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS CORRECTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE AS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.*AK CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF REMOVED THE KEY WHICH MEANT THE GEAR SHIFTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN PARK. THE CONSUMER SON MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND IT ROLLED INTO OTHER VEHICLE.
Official recalls
396V071000 · 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.
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
RQ97015 · Parking Pawl
Opened Oct 29, 1997 · Closed Apr 1, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission
WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARKING PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OF GEAR UNINTENTIONALLY AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING INADVERTENTLY