Total Complaints
3 filings
FORD AEROMAX · model year
1997 FORD AEROMAX
3 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997FORDAEROMAX carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1997 AEROMAX is steering with 1 filings, followed by power train:driveline:universal joint (1) and seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 1997 AEROMAX, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060918SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SEAT TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. AFTER DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, SLIGHTLY ALTERED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WAS OBSERVED RESULTING IN MINOR BACK PAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN .
Mileage: 53,717
20000911POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE LOWER SHAFT FELL OUT OF U -JOINT FROM BOLT FAILURE. *ET
19980419STEERING
VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO HAVE FRONT STEERING AXLEWEIGH THAN 11000 LBS, EVEN WHEN EMPTY. THIS PLACES UNDUE STRESS ON STEERING AXLE AND TIRES. WHEN LOADED/1 HOUSEHOLD GOODS, STEERING AXLE WEIGHS BETWEEN 11500 TO OVER 12000 LBS. LEGAL WEIGHT LIMIT IS 12000 LBS.
Compare 1997FORDAEROMAX to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 6 Open
EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP26004Defect PetitionOpen
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionClosed
Underbody shields detachment
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 FORD AEROMAX have?▼
The 1997 FORD AEROMAX has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 FORD AEROMAX?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 FORD AEROMAX is STEERING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT and SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1997 FORD AEROMAX safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1997 FORD AEROMAX; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.