1997 Ford Aerostar Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Aerostar years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Aerostar. That ranks 3rd out of 6 Aerostar model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (13 complaints, 21%), typically at around 160,000 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 63owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 13 | 21% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 9 | 14% | 108,747 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 14% | 56,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 7 | 11% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 6% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 5% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 5% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 3% | 132,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 2% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Ford Aerostar recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control:cables
Problem: Vehicle description: minivans equipped with 3.0l engines. An accelerator cable was kinked during installation, causing the core wires to eventually fray.
Risk: This could increase the friction in the cable, causing the throttle to be slow to return to idle. This condition could result in a stuck throttle.
Fix: Dealers will install a new accelerator cable.
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.
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.
I FOUND TWO INCOMPLETE RECALLS. I CALLED THE DEALER 9/28/2020 AT [XXX] AND SPOKE TO [XXX]. SHE PUT THE VIN IN HER SYSTEM, SAW THE TWO RECALLS AND SAID THE PARTS WOULD BE ORDERED. NO RESPONSE. I CALL [XXX] 10/5/2020 AT THE SAME NUMBER AND SHE SAID ABOUT THE SAME THING. THEN I CALLED 10/8/2020 AND…
I was given this van with a handicapped lift as a present from some people at our church. Ever since i got it the engine light has been on. I've had it checked several times but no one seems to know how to fix it. Another problem i've been having is that the left front tire wears out more quickly…
Note: i wish i had found this site years ago. I could not get past fords "brick wall" to speak to an engineer! 1. 1997 aerostar - accelerator pedal was pressed down quickly to pass (2 lane highway). 2. Now in the left lane, not far ahead of passed the car - i experrienced a complete loss of power…
Observed full crack on aluminum wheel rim spoke. This is standard aluminum wheel from manufacturer. Serious safety issue. This problem same as http://www.motorbeat.com/complaint/438440/. *tr this is the second rim that this problem has occurred. Another rim failed in the same manner one year ago…
Need to know were to start to get all the problems on my van taken care of all the recalls, of power train the electrical and whatever else was reported to me on my report of the recalls on this 1997 areostar van thank you maryjean. *tr
Other Ford Aerostar years
← 1996 Aerostar · 1998 Aerostar →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Aerostar | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 Aerostar | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 Aerostar | 4 | 0 |
| 1997 | 63 | 3 |
| 1996 Aerostar | 104 | 4 |
| 1995 Aerostar | 157 | 5 |
See all Ford Aerostar problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford Aerostar?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 13 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford Aerostar?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 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 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.