Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Ford Aerostar, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system20
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Power train7
- Seat belts5
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Steering3
- Vehicle speed control2
- Equipment2
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 1986 Ford Aerostar.
| 1990026 9 Feb 1990 | Fuel System THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN INADEQUATE SEAL BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE OPENING AND THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET. THIS COULD RESULT IN FUEL SEEPAGE FR… |
| 1989174 13 Dec 1989 | Seats And Restraints THE WEBBING OF THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT BELTS MAY BECOME ABRADED OR CUT DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE OUTBOARD SEAT BACK PIVOT HINGE. CORRECTION: A PLASTIC COVE… |
| 1988136 5 Oct 1988 | Electrical On certain vehicles, wiring for the power lumbar seat system was routed directly beneath the seat cushion springs on the side of the cushion. This could result … |
| 1988088 23 Jun 1988 | Electrical THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL TRAILER TOW PACKAGE. THE TAILLIGHT RELAY ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE WIRES THAT ARE OF A SMALLER GAUGE THAN THE FUSE … |
| 1987098 9 Sept 1987 | Fuel System ON VEHICLES WITH EFI OR CFI, THE SPRING-LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES TO THE EFI FUEL RAILS OR TO THE CFI THROTTLE BO… |
| 1986008 17 Jan 1986 | Not Entered REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS MAY BE INADEQUATELY WELDED AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE UNDERBODY DURING VEHICLE USE. THIS COULD CAUSE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THE AXLE D… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
INSUFFICIENT INTERFERENCE FIT BETWEEN FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND GROMMET COULD RESULT IN AN INADEQUATE SEAL WHICH COULD ALLOW FUEL TO SEEP FROM THE JOINT.
VANS WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT PLASTIC COVER DESIGNED TO COVER OUTBOARD SEAT BACK PIVOT HINGE ALLOWING WEBBING OF FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE SAFETY BELTS TO BECOME ABRADED OR CUT DUE TO CONTACT WITH EXPOSED HINGE.
WIRING FOR THE POWER LUMBAR SEAT SYSTEM WAS ROUTED DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SEAT CUSHION SPRINGS AND MAY BE ABRADED BY THE SPRINGS.
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRAILER TOW PACKAGE HAVE A TRAILER TAILLIGHT RELAY ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS WIRES OF SMALLER GAUGE THAN THE FUSE LINK WHICH PROTECTS THE CIRCUIT.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
FUEL TANKS MAY HAVE BEEN SCORED OR PENETRATED WHEN FLOOR PAN MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE PARTITIONS WERE DRILLED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE WOULD EXIST.
THERE MAY BE INADEQUATE WELDING IN SOME UNDERBODY STRUCTURAL AREAS, INCLUDING THOSE AT THE REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS, WHICH MAY CAUSE IT TO SEPARATE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS SHOULD SEPARATE FROM THE UNDERBODY DURING VEHICLE USE, THE AXLE COULD SHIFT DURING ACCELERATION OR BRAKING AND MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE STEERING CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1986 Ford Aerostar: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622665 | ON SOME VEHICLES, ENGINE OIL MAY CONTINUE TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET AREA AFTER AN ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED. *TT |
| 613023 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS SERVICE TIPS WHEN SERVICING ANY BRAKE RELATED ROUGHNESS / PULL CONCERNS. *TT |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 6090051 | SERVICE TIP INFORMATION ON REVISED OIL PAN GASKET REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 6089681 | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT |
| 608431 | INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT |
| 604059 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC |
| 601312 | INFORMATION ON A BUZZING OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT |
| 601290 | INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC |
| 601269 | ANNOUNCING THE FORD OEM AIR CONDITIONING RETROFIT KIT AVAILABILITY. *YC |
| 601238 | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 601012 | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC |
| 600586 | FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS MADE OF XENOY PLASTIC HAVE HAD THE CONDUCTIVE PRIMER REMOVED FROM SERVICE PARTS. *YC |
| 51945 | FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD |
| 51689 | FRAME- RIVET REPLACEMENT WITH BOLTS- SERVICE TIPS. *JD |
| 51002 | BRAKES - BRAKE SERVICE - SERVICE TIPS. *TW |
| 50997 | TRANSAXLE - TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES AND TORQUE CONVERTER/TRANSAXLE COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING PROCEDURES - SERVICE TIP. *TW |
| 50940 | WINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR GLASS - FOG/FILM. *TW |
| 50908 | TORQUE CONVERTER - LEAK TEST PROCEDURE - SERVICE TIP. *TW |
| 50905 | WIRING - ELECTRICAL DIODE IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICE REPLACEMENTS. *TW |
| 46478 | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT MAY BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE RUBBER MATERIAL USED IN THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM. IF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE IS USED TO LUBRICATE ANY PART OF THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM, IT COULD CAUSE RUBBER PARTS TO SWELL IF LUBRICANT CONTACTS THE RUBBER MATERIAL. |
| 45953 | DOOR-REPLACEMENT SLIDING - SERVICE TIP. *SD |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
PARK PAWL BENDING
LIFTGATE FAILURE
LIFTGATE FAILURE
THROTTLE STICKING
SAFETY BELT FRAYING
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR
POWER STEERING LOCKING
SEAT BELT CUTTING
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR
FILLER PIPE SEAL
UNDER SEAT FIRES
FUEL LEAKAGE
DOOR FALLS OFF
REAR BRAKE LOCKUP
CRNKSHFT PULLEY BOLT FAILR
REAR BRAKE LOCKUP
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation