Model year record

1986 Ford Aerostar

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 72 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 90V021000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
91,000
Reported to NHTSA
1990-02-08
Owners notified
1990-04-06

Defect description

INSUFFICIENT INTERFERENCE FIT BETWEEN FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND GROMMET COULD RESULT IN AN INADEQUATE SEAL WHICH COULD ALLOW FUEL TO SEEP FROM THE JOINT.

Safety risk

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL A REVISED DESIGN GROMMET.

Recall campaignNHTSA 89V226000

Seat belts: front: anchorage

Component
Seat belts: front: anchorage
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
118,787
Reported to NHTSA
1989-12-18
Owners notified
1990-01-26

Defect description

VANS WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT PLASTIC COVER DESIGNED TO COVER OUTBOARD SEAT BACK PIVOT HINGE ALLOWING WEBBING OF FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE SAFETY BELTS TO BECOME ABRADED OR CUT DUE TO CONTACT WITH EXPOSED HINGE.

Safety risk

DAMAGE TO BELT WEBBING COULD WEAKEN BELTS TO POINT OFFAILURE INCREASING RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT OR A SUDDEN STOP.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL PLASTIC PIVOT COVER; REPLACE BELTS AS NECESSARY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V145000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
90,000
Reported to NHTSA
1988-09-02
Owners notified
1988-10-13

Defect description

WIRING FOR THE POWER LUMBAR SEAT SYSTEM WAS ROUTED DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SEAT CUSHION SPRINGS AND MAY BE ABRADED BY THE SPRINGS.

Safety risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH MAY CREATESUFFICIENT HEAT TO START A FIRE IN THE SEAT CUSHION PAD AND/OR TRIM COVER.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL A FUSE WITHIN THE POWER LUMBAR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V091000

Electrical system: wiring

Component
Electrical system: wiring
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
60,000
Reported to NHTSA
1988-06-06
Owners notified
1988-07-01

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALLATION OF A RELAY WITH WIRES OF GAUGE ADEQUATE TO PROTECT THE CIRCUIT.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V139000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
3,600,000
Reported to NHTSA
1987-09-04
Owners notified
1987-10-12

Defect description

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Safety risk

COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 86V123000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
107
Reported to NHTSA
1986-09-02
Owners notified
1986-10-09

Defect description

FUEL TANKS MAY HAVE BEEN SCORED OR PENETRATED WHEN FLOOR PAN MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE PARTITIONS WERE DRILLED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE WOULD EXIST.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE FUEL TANKS AS NECESSARY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 86V006000

Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly

Component
Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
38,947
Reported to NHTSA
1986-01-22
Owners notified
1986-03-03

Defect description

THERE MAY BE INADEQUATE WELDING IN SOME UNDERBODY STRUCTURAL AREAS, INCLUDING THOSE AT THE REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS, WHICH MAY CAUSE IT TO SEPARATE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS SHOULD SEPARATE FROM THE UNDERBODY DURING VEHICLE USE, THE AXLE COULD SHIFT DURING ACCELERATION OR BRAKING AND MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE STEERING CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

REINFORCE SUSPECT WELD LOCATIONS AND MODIFY TO PREVENT WELD FAILURE.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline12
Electrical system: ignition: switch8
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood7
Power train: automatic transmission6
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash4
Engine and engine cooling: engine4
Seat belts: front: anchorage3
Electrical system: ignition2
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock2
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly2
Vehicle speed control2
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator1
Electrical system: starter assembly1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)1
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1
Equipment: electrical1
Equipment: mechanical: carrier/rack1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump1
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap1
Fuel/propulsion system1300,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission1
Seats1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Steering: hydraulic power assist system1
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections1
Structure: body: door1
Visibility: windshield1

The 1987 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.