FORD AEROSTAR · model year

1996 FORD AEROSTAR

124 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996FORDAEROSTAR carries 124 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 4 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 AEROSTAR is wheels with 15 filings, followed by wheels:rim (8) and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1996 AEROSTAR, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

124
Complaints
13
Crashes
4
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

124 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
WHEELS15
WHEELS:RIM8
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC4
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT3
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM3
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER3

Recent Complaints

20200311STRUCTURE:BODY

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 NOT RESOLVED AND REFUSES THOUGH GOODYEAR SAID TO REPLACE BEFORE THE MAIN ISSUE OF THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER TIRE EXPLODING AT 70 MPH, . LITIGATION IS NEXT STEP IF AMICABLE RESOLUTION CAN NOT BE HAD. CONTACT HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE WITH GOODYEAR TO NO RESULTS.

20200311WHEELS

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 NOT RESOLVED AND REFUSES THOUGH GOODYEAR SAID TO REPLACE BEFORE THE MAIN ISSUE OF THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER TIRE EXPLODING AT 70 MPH, . LITIGATION IS NEXT STEP IF AMICABLE RESOLUTION CAN NOT BE HAD. CONTACT HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE WITH GOODYEAR TO NO RESULTS.

20170823FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 ME WHEN I ASKED WHY IS MY VEHICLE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, WHEN IT IS IN THE GROUP OF VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED AND THAT ARE CATCHING ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. OVER 887,000 WERE RECALLED FOR FIRE RELATED PROBLEMS, BUT THEY REFUSE TO EVEN LOOK AT MINE. SO, CAN I KEEP DRIVING IT? I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A ONE TIME THING, OR WHAT.....

Mileage: 107,000

20141206SEAT BELTS

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 NO LONGER ACCEPT AND HOLD THE SEAT BELT IN PLACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH OF MY VEHICLES, THE 1993 OCCURRED AT APPX. 190,000 MILES AND WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT TO REMAIN CLASPED, THEY SIMPLY SAID, IT IS AN OLDER VEHICLE AND YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FOR OVER $500.00...[XXX]. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE...AND FORD NEEDS TO REPLACE THE HOLD DOWN CLASP WHICH IS BOLTED THROUGH THE FLOOR BOARD FREE OF CHARGE. LABOR AND PART FREE. IF I HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THAT BELT LET LOOSE, I MIGHT BE DEAD. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. MY 1976 FORD TORINO NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM, NOR THE

Mileage: 158,000

20110913POWER TRAIN

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 NUMBER: 97V204000 (POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)) MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20071113WHEELS

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 THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE WHEELS WERE THE ORIGINAL WHEELS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

Mileage: 58,000

20061212ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN 30 MPH, ALL POWER FAILED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE STALLING HAS ALSO OCCURRED AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILE. A FUSE CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY CABLES BLEW. WHEN THE FUSE WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 99V029000, FOR THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH DUE THE VIN EVEN THOUGHT VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

Mileage: 115,000

20060508POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. AFTER THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN HOME AT 45MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AS IF THE GEARS WERE NOT CHANGING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE TIRE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE NOT BE USED UNTIL THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS WELDED AND THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS REPLACED.

Mileage: 214,000

20060508POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. AFTER THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN HOME AT 45MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AS IF THE GEARS WERE NOT CHANGING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE TIRE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE NOT BE USED UNTIL THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS WELDED AND THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS REPLACED.

Mileage: 214,000

20060418WHEELS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE CRACKED. THIS WAS NOTICED FROM A VISUAL INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND STATED THE WHEELS CRACKED UNDER STRESS FROM THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 124,000

20050426WHEELS:RIM

WHILE DOING PERIODIC INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE NOTICED 2 CRACKED SPOKES ON REAR RIGHT 14X6 ALLOY RIM. THE CRACK IS ALL THE WAY THROUGH . LOCAL FORD DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. THIS TIRE HAS NOT IMPACTED ANYTHING AS THE FORD DEALER ELUDED TO, AND I FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE CRACKS MAY BE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. FORD SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM AND QUIT BLAMING THE CONSUMER.*AK

20050131FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

20041116WHEELS:RIM

A FEW YEARS AGO WE NOTICED THAT 2 OF THE ALUMINUM WHEELS ON OUR 1996 AEROSTAR WERE CRACKED . WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD MOTOR CO.SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE WERE LIVING AT THE TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED THE REGIONAL MANAGER, WHO AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPLACEMENT COSTS. SINCE THAT TIME, 2 ADDITIONAL ALUMINUM WHEELS HAVE CRACKED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THESE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT THE CRACKS ARE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, WHICH FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE AND CORRECT. WHEELS ARE NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM.*AK

20040919CrashAIR BAGS

IN A MULTIPLE CAR PILE-UP, WITH SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 50 MPH THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG IN OUR VAN (VEHICLE NUMBER #3 OF 4 INVOLVED) DID NOT DEPLOY. OUR VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ACROSS THE ENTIRE FRONT AND THE ENTIRE BACK BUMPERS (GRILL, HATCH...). MY DAUGHTER WAS EXAMINED BY A PHYSICIAN AND MISSED SOME WORK. IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED SHE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED SOME PROTECTION.*AK

Mileage: 140,000

20040603TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO CHANGE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. SIZE#21570R14 DOT#HYHY4FA229. *NM

Mileage: 99,500

20040422POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

I BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD AEROSTAR AWD VAN FROM A USED CAR DEALER ABOUT 10 MONTHS AGO. I HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN IMMEDIATELY BUT THE DEALER DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY. TODAY I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IN THE VAN NEEDS, MINIMALLY, REPAIR OR TOTAL REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED A BALL JOINT FOR $320, WHICH THE USED CAR DEALER SAID HE HAD CHECKED AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE ARE RETIREES WITHOUT A HUGE INCOME AND SO WE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER FORD WAS IN SOME WAY RESPONSIBLE. WE LEARNED THAT A RECALL FOR TRANSFER CASES WAS ISSUED IN 1998 SO MY WIFE CALLED FORD, WHERE SHE WAS, OF COURSE, TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAN LEARN IF THIS IS TRUE OR WHETHER I CAN MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MAJOR MALFUNCTION. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT IN ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE!!!! OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE OWNED MANY, MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BEFORE. BECAUSE OF THE TRANSFER CASE, MY FRONT TIRES ARE BALD AND

Mileage: 81,000

20031023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE ON 03/99. ON 10/21/03 CONSUMER STOPPED, PARKED VEHICLE, TOOK KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND IGNITION CYLINDER CAME OUT. *AK

Mileage: 81,300

20030917WHEELS:RIM

ONE OF SEVEN SPOKES ON LEFT FRONT ALLOY WHEEL/RIM IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. RIGHT REAR WHEEL/RIM IS STARTING TO CRACK (SHOWING ON TOP SURFACE). LOCAL FORD DEALER SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS ITEM. ONE LOCAL USED AUTO PARTS DISTRIBUTER SAID HE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SELL THIS TYPE OF RIM BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL LIABILITY SUITS. ANOTHER USED PARTS DISTRIBUTER SAID HE GETS SEVERAL REQUEST A MONTH FOR THE SAME RIM. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, FORD SHOULD RECALL THE RIMS BEFORE FAILURES/FATALITIES. *JB

20030917WHEELS:RIM

MY 1996 FORD AEROSTAR HAS 14X6 ALUMINUM ALLOW WHEEL RIMS. THE RIMS HAVE 7 TRIANGULAR SLOTS AND 7 WIDE/FLAT "SPOKES". ONE OF THESE RIMS IS CRACKING. THE CRACK IS PROGRESSING FROM ONE SPOKE TO ANOTHER. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALL TOGETHER. AFTER ALMOST A MONTH OF SEARCHING FOR A USED REPLACEMENT RIM I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I SUSPECTED THAT THIS MAY BE THE CASE WHEN I COULD NOT FIND ANY ON-LINE COMPANY THAT HAD THESE IN STOCK (USED OR NEW). TODAY I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN AT ACKERWHEELS.COM AND LEARNED THAT THIS RIM CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. SHE WARNED ME THAT IF I ORDERED ONE FROM THE DEALER TO LOOK IT OVER CAREFULLY FOR CRACKS. I ASKED HER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHE SAID IT WAS AND THAT I SHOULD NOT EXPECT FORD TO RECALL IT. I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF MY OTHER THREE RIMS ARE NOW SUSPECT. WHAT CAN YOU DO? *JB

20030820TIRES:TREAD/BELT

I NOTICED A "PINHOLE" ON MY VIPER GT TIRES, CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THEM, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT ON A RECALL LIST BUT WOULD REPLACE THEM FOR A "DIFFERENCE" COST. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT 1-2 YEARS EARLIER COOPER (THE MANUFACTURER) GAD A RECALL ON A SIMILAR ISSUE. THE DOT NUMBER OF THE TIRES THAT HAD ON MY VAN WERE AS FOLLOWS: 30 HY UDN2802 - THIS TIRE HAD NO NOTICABLE PINHIOLE 30 HY UDN2401 - PINHOLE WITH VISIBLE WIRE THREADS VISIBLE 30 HY UDN2402 - PINHOLE WITH VISIBLE WIRE THREADS VISIBLE 30 HY UDN3001 - PINHOLE BUT NO VISIBLE WIRES SHOWING YET. *AK

Mileage: 247,502

Compare 1996FORDAEROSTAR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 FORD AEROSTAR have?
The 1996 FORD AEROSTAR has 124 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 4 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 FORD AEROSTAR?
The most-complained component for the 1996 FORD AEROSTAR is WHEELS with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS:RIM and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH.
Is the 1996 FORD AEROSTAR 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 as of 2025. 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.