Total Complaints
4 filings
FORD AEROSTAR · model year
1998 FORD AEROSTAR
4 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports. 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 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.
The most frequently selected component label in reports 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). 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 1998 AEROSTAR, 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.
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 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 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 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 1998 FORD AEROSTAR; 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.