Total Complaints
4 filings
FORD AEROSTAR · model year
1998 FORD AEROSTAR
4 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FORDAEROSTAR carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 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 1998 AEROSTAR is electrical system:wiring:front underhood with 1 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (1) and air bags:side/window (1). 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 1998 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.
4
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020423FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 98-V-190-000; BUT RECALL DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK
20001030CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
A RECENT ACCIDENT IN LAS VEGAS CAUSED A DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WHICH EITHER STARTLED THE DRIVER OR RENDERED HIM DAAZED. HIS REACTION WAS TO PLANT HIS FEET FIRMLY, ONE OF WHICH WAS ON THE ACCELLERATOR. THE VAN (MAKE/MODEL UNK) ACCELERATED, GRAZING A VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSING LANE OF TRAFFIC, CAREENED OFF THAT VEHICLE, STRUCK A PICK UP TRUCK IN THE REAR, CAREENED OFF THAT PROCEEDED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND STRUCK AN IRON FENCE AND ALMOST MADE IT ONTO THE SIDEWALK AT THE LAS VEGAS CITY HALL. THE INCIDENT WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WAS A GLANCING BLOW TO THE VAN WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED ONLY VERY MINOR DAMAGE. IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT IF THE IGNITION OR FUEL SUPPLY WAS DISSABLED WHEN THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED, TWO VEHICLES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TOTALLED AND THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY INJURIES. ONE OF THE INJURED WAS A CITY FIRE INSPECTOR THAT I SUPERVISE AND IS A FRIEND.*AK
19990217CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN STRAIGHTENING THE VEHICLE UP IN A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND IT TOOK OFF, THE VEHICLE HIT A HOUSE. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
19980821FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DRIVING TRUCK AND STOPPED AT RED LIGHT LOST POWER. HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND BEGAN SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. DROVE VEHICLE HOME AND PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, AND SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE ALTERNATOR HAD BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK
Compare 1998FORDAEROSTAR to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 FORD AEROSTAR have?▼
The 1998 FORD AEROSTAR has 4 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD AEROSTAR?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD AEROSTAR is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL and AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW.
Is the 1998 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.