Ford Aerostar Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Ford Aerostar model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1998 drew the fewest (4) and the 1993 the most (374).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Among the fewest complaints |
4 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2000 Among the fewest complaints |
6 | 0 | Power train | — | — |
| 1999 Among the fewest complaints |
7 | 0 | Power train | — | — |
| 1986 | 53 | 7 | Electrical system | — | 16–22 |
| 1997 | 63 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 15–17 |
| 1996 | 104 | 4 | Wheels | — | 15–17 |
| 1987 | 114 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 17–21 |
| 1995 | 157 | 5 | Electrical system | — | 15–18 |
| 1988 | 177 | 4 | Fuel system | — | 17 |
| 1990 | 195 | 6 | Electrical system | — | 16–17 |
| 1991 | 223 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 16–18 |
| 1994 | 257 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 15–17 |
| 1989 Among the most complaints |
260 | 5 | Electrical system | — | 17 |
| 1992 Among the most complaints |
317 | 3 | Power train | — | 15–18 |
| 1993 Among the most complaints |
374 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 16–17 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Ford Aerostar years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1993 Ford Aerostar: 374 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 99 (26%); Power train 68 (18%); Service brakes 58 (16%).
Reports mention 37 crashes, 38 fires, 35 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 146,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
1992 Ford Aerostar: 317 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 75 (24%); Electrical system 64 (20%); Service brakes 53 (17%).
Reports mention 29 crashes, 30 fires, 52 injuries, 4 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 150,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1989 Ford Aerostar: 260 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 91 (35%); Fuel system 54 (21%); Power train 31 (12%).
Reports mention 24 crashes, 80 fires, 24 injuries, 4 deaths. 5 recall campaigns listed.
The Ford Aerostar years with the fewest complaints
1998 Ford Aerostar: 4 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (25%); Electrical system 1 (25%); Fuel system 1 (25%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2000 Ford Aerostar: 6 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 2 (33%); Wheels 2 (33%); Air bags 1 (17%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 1 injury. 0 recall campaigns listed.
1999 Ford Aerostar: 7 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 3 (43%); Engine and engine cooling 2 (29%); Equipment 2 (29%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 1 injury, 1 death. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Ford Aerostar owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1998 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 63 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 99,000 |
| 1996 | 104 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 124,000 |
| 1995 | 157 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 148,000 |
| 1994 | 257 | 22 | 28 | 33 | 4 | 109,089 |
| 1993 | 374 | 37 | 38 | 35 | 0 | 146,000 |
| 1992 | 317 | 29 | 30 | 52 | 4 | 150,000 |
| 1991 | 223 | 23 | 70 | 25 | 1 | — |
| 1990 | 195 | 25 | 58 | 20 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 260 | 24 | 80 | 24 | 4 | — |
| 1988 | 177 | 7 | 42 | 11 | 1 | — |
| 1987 | 114 | 6 | 46 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 53 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Ford Aerostar recalls
- FORD/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION (1988–1991 model years; 7,900,000 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 1996; 96V071000)
- FUEL:FUEL LINES:METALLIC (1986–1987 model years; 3,600,000 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 1987; 87V139000)
- POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC (1989–1991 model years; 792,000 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 1991; 91V189000)
- FORD/IGNITION SWITCH ELECTRICAL SHORT (1992–1997 model years; 762,201 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 1999; 99V029000)
- FORD/FUEL TANK CRACKS (1988–1990 model years; 140,000 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 1998; 98V190000)
All 23 Ford Aerostar recall campaigns · Ford Aerostar problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Ford Aerostar years FAQ
Which Ford Aerostar year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1998 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (4). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Ford Aerostar years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1993, 1992 and 1989 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Ford Aerostar problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (611 of 2,311 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Ford Aerostar have?
NHTSA lists 23 recall campaigns covering the Ford Aerostar. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Ford Aerostar recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.