1996 Ford Aerostar Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Aerostar years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 104 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Aerostar. That ranks 2nd out of 6 Aerostar model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is wheels (23 complaints, 22%), typically at around 124,000 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 4 fires, 7 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 104owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Ford Aerostar problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 23 | 22% | 124,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 12% | 107,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 12 | 12% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 9 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 6% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 5% | 99,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | 158,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Ford Aerostar recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: Vehicle description: mini vans. These vehicles were produced with a higher than specified electrical load through the accessory power feed circuit. The potential for contact between the b2 (battery), a2 (accessory), and p1 (proof) circuits can occur, creating a short circuit, allowing current to flow through the ground wire.
Risk: This can cause over heating and the potential for a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a jumper harness with a relay which will re-route and activate all a2 accessories through the relay.
Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Problem: Vehicle description: all wheel drive passenger minivans. These vehicles can develop powertrain bending resonance or transfer case output shaft bushing displacement. The powertrain bending resonance or the output shaft bushing displacement can result in structural failure of the transmission and/or transfer case. Fluid explusion, driveshaft separation or loss of vehicle drive can result.
Risk: This condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, and, if the expelled fluid contacts the exhaust system, a vehicle fire could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a new transfer case rear output shaft bushing and an aluminum driveshaft will be installed.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with fmvss no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Risk: Incorrect inflation pressures could cause premature wear of the rear tires. .
Fix: Owners will be provided with correct certification labels and instructions for installing these labels. Dealers can install this label if the owner so desires.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: When in the secondary latched position, the driver door latches may open when subjected to transverse loads less than that specified in fmvss no. 206, "door locks and door retention components."
Risk: The driver's door, when closed only to the secondary latched position, may not sustain a 1,000 pound transverse load.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver door latch.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Transfer cases and rear drive shaft (EA99002) — opened Jan 7, 1999, closed Nov 14, 2000, led to recall 99V094000.
- Transfer cases and rear driveshaft (RQ98012) — opened Jul 31, 1998, closed Jan 7, 1999, led to recall 97V204000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Condensed version: @ 70mph posted speed limit goodyear allegra touring tire exploded like a 1/4 stick of dynamite and almost cost me my life if my reactionary time had been any slower. 3 other tires same leaking through sidewall goodyear decorative gills on same this has not resolved. Seller has…
I had smoke and acrid smell coming from under my dash (while driving), where the steering column fits to it. I have contacted a major ford dealer (brandon ford), and they are refusing to help me. I called ford customer service and he said my vin is not listed for a recall, but yet had no answer for…
12/6/2014 @ 18:20 c.s.t. To whom it may concern, (hopefully a supervisor or director) the drivers side seat belt floor clasp fails. I releases the seat belt while driving. After two or three times of re-hooking the seat-belt to the hold down clasp bolted through floor board of the vehicle, it will…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford aerostar. While driving approximately 50 mph the front drivers side tire began to vibrate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician stated the transfer case would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Nhtsa recall campaign id…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford aerostar. While driving 50 mph, the contact heard a loud roaring sound. She stopped the vehicle and noticed that the rear passenger wheel spokes failed. The wheel was replaced with a spare tire. There was no damage to the tire or vehicle. The wheel was inspected by…
Other Ford Aerostar years
← 1995 Aerostar · 1997 Aerostar →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Aerostar | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 Aerostar | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 Aerostar | 4 | 0 |
| 1997 Aerostar | 63 | 3 |
| 1996 | 104 | 4 |
| 1995 Aerostar | 157 | 5 |
See all Ford Aerostar problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
Embed this 1996 Ford Aerostar badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Ford Aerostar?
Owners most often report wheels, service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system problems. The top one, wheels, accounts for 23 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Ford Aerostar?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Ford Aerostar a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Aerostar model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.