1986 Ford Aerostar
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Aerostar › 1986
These records cover every 1986 Ford Aerostar. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
9 recalls name the 1986 Ford Aerostar. Newest first.
Certain federal-mogul aftermarket fuel pumps sold under the brand names of carter, accuflow, napa, truflow, parts depo, and parts master, shipped between august 2006 and july 2007 for use on the vehicles listed above. the fuel pump diaphragm in certain production runs may have been improperly installed or inadequately tested which may cause the fuel pump…
Risk and remedy
Risk
A leaking fuel pump could create a vehicle fire hazard.
Remedy
Federal-mogul will notify owners and replace the defective fuel pumps free of charge. the recall began on october 15, 2007. owners can contact federal-mogul at 248-354-7700.
Equipment description: aftermarket brake rotors for use on certain ford and mazda trucks. cracked castings caused cracks to appear on the outer diameter of the rotor hat or around the stud hole.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Loss of braking can result.
Remedy
Aimco will reimburse consumers/installers for the cost of replacement rotors and installation. consumers are requested to return to the location where the rotors were originally purchased/installed for replacement.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
In the presence of an ignition source, fuel leakage could result in a fire.
Remedy
Install a revised design grommet.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Damage to belt webbing could weaken belts to point offailure increasing risk of injury in an accident or a sudden stop.
Remedy
Install plastic pivot cover; replace belts as necessary.
Wiring for the power lumbar seat system was routed directly beneath the seat cushion springs and may be abraded by the springs.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This could result in a short circuit which may createsufficient heat to start a fire in the seat cushion pad and/or trim cover.
Remedy
Install a fuse within the power lumbar electrical circuit.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Should a short circuit occur in the wiring within therelay or if water intrusion occurs the smaller gauge wire in the relay willfunction as a fuse link and overheat. the possibility exists for a fire if thewires are exposed to combustible materials.
Remedy
Installation of a relay with wires of gauge adequate to protect the circuit.
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Coupling could disengage due to fuel pressure,vibration, and engine movements; this would cause loss of fuel which, inpresence of an ignition source, creates a fire risk.
Remedy
Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
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…
Risk and remedy
Remedy
Reinforce suspect weld locations and modify to prevent weld failure.
Owner complaints
53 complaints2 involved a crash22 involved a fire1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system
The grommet in the fuel tank IS leaking. Fuel IS escaping from the tank and may cause a fire. There IS a constant escape of fuel moving or stationary. Therefore this system will not pass smog because when pressurized, it will not hold air. This IS a california requirement. It IS also most dangerous. Ford motor co. Will not correct this problem. The 9 recalls for this model IS on your system.
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmission was rebuilt 3 years ago at ford dealer, then, in oct 2000 while driving 55 mph transmission went out again. *Ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Tried to start van and fire started. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Possible wiring harness in the engine failure resulting in fire. nlm
- Power train › Automatic transmission
When applying gas there IS no power, as if vehicle IS in neutral. Dealer says the vehicle has the wrong transmission in it. *Ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle experienced engine fire, consumer believes this failure IS related to past recalls. nlm
- Seats
Driver's seat broke due to a faulty bolt in the hinges. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
This van has failed me over and over again and out of the 1.5 years of ownership I drove it for 2 months and not even 6000 miles .it was put in the shop 7 times, and finally burnt under the hood and dog housing. *ak
- Electrical system › Starter assembly
The front of starter cracked upon starting the vehicle. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Consumer experiencing engine stalling upon starting the vehicle. After engine warms up, the vehicle would run normally. Dealer was not notified. *ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Had filled vehicle with gasoline. Noticed that the tank had started to leak afterwards. Took vehicle to dealer & had it checked. The mechanic noticed the fuel was leaking from the top of the tank in & around the seam area.*ak
- Power train › Manual transmission
Transmision has failed on five occasions.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Ignition switch failed, causing fire.
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmission not working properly.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Smoke emmitted from ignition switch.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle fire.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle caught fire for no reason. this was the second fire that has occurred in engine compartment. Cause has not been determined. *ak
- Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/rack
The cable which holds the spare tire rusted, allowing tire to fall.
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Owner states while sitting in vehicle with engine idling noticed smoke coming from underneath hood of vehicle which then led to a fire. *ak
- Structure › Body › Door
The passenger's side plastic door handle IS broken from the outside, consumer cannot open the door from the outside. *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmission failed 4 times.
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
Wiring harness from the alternator burned out . Please describe .
- Vehicle speed control
Sudden acceleration, causing accident.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
While the vehicle was parked there was a fire in the right front engine compartment. Also noticed that when key IS in ignition the switch gets hot.*ak
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist system
Power steering gear seal fails continuously, resulting in (4) replacements of same part. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Park pawl bending
There is no summary currently available
- Liftgate failure
There is no summary currently available
- Liftgate failure
There is no summary currently available
- Throttle sticking
There is no summary currently available
- Safety belt fraying
Summary:complaints of cutting and fraying of seat belt on sharp metaledge on the front passenger seat.edge IS unprotected on 86'S coveredon later models.all complaints on 86'S and 87'S (1 complaint on 87model).upgrade on 1986 and 1987 models.===
- Windshield wiper motor
===
- Power steering locking
Summary:the complaints allege that power steering was stiff orsteering locked.ford has issued two service bulletins:one on leakingseals and one on complaints of stiff steering.===
- Seat belt cutting
There is no summary currently available
- Windshield wiper motor
There is no summary currently available
- Filler pipe seal
===
- Under seat fires
There is no summary currently available
- Fuel leakage
Briefing: i. What IS the defect? II. Source/origin of the defect?iii. Data analysis. IV. Ford's position.v. Design changes? Vi. Recommendations.===
- Door falls off
There is no summary currently available
- Rear brake lockup
There is no summary currently available
- Crnkshft pulley bolt failr
There is no summary currently available
- Rear brake lockup
Analysis:the six reports allege that while engaging in normal driving ondry pavement, brake pedal application resulted in the loss of directionalstability and control of the vehicle.four injury accidents have resulted,with three occurrences of vehicle roll-over.there have been no tsb's orrecalls issued with respect to this condition.proposed action:open a preliminary evaluation.===
- Engine compartment fires
Analysis:a review of ford motor company's responses to odi informationrequests issued under preliminary evaluations pe 87-012, pe 87-017, andpe 87-020, indicated that the failure and/or malfunction of the spring-lockfuel line couplings appeared to be the major source or cause of enginecompartment fires in the subject…
Analysis:a review of ford motor company's responses to odi informationrequests issued under preliminary evaluations pe 87-012, pe 87-017, andpe 87-020, indicated that the failure and/or malfunction of the spring-lockfuel line couplings appeared to be the major source or cause of enginecompartment fires in the subject vehicles.based upon this, an engineeringanalysis was initiated which incorporated all three of the above referencedpreliminary evaluations.additional reports were received which indicatedthat spring lock fuel-line coupling separation had been responsible forengine compartment fires in other ford vehicles.the ea was then expandedon august 18TH to include all ford vehicles which use or did use springlock couplings in the fuel delivery and/or the fuel return system.status:by letter dated september 1, 1987, ford agreed to recall 3,600,0001986 through 1988 passenger cars and light trucks equipped with electronicfuel-injection (efi) and central fuel-injection (cfi) engines that wereproduced with a specific typeof spring lock fuel-line coupling.if thespring lock fuel-line coupling were improperly engaged or damaged duringassembly or servicing, then fuel pressure, vibration, or engine movementcould result in fuel line separation and the subsequent risk of a vehiclefire.to prevent this potential separation, the recalled vehicles willhave retainer clips installed over the spring lock couplings.the recallnumber IS 87v-139.proposed action:based upon the nature and scope of the recall, ea 87-020should be closed and the recall's effectiveness monitored.===
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 6090051Service tip information on revised oil pan gasket replacement procedure.
- 6089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses.
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 623944Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *Slc
- 622665On 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.
- 613023This bulletin contains service tips when servicing any brake related roughness / pull concerns.
- 612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *Mjs
- 608431Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda.
- 604059Ford motor company has released a new electrical grease ( F8AZ - 19g208-aa ) to reduce the possibility of moisture corrosion at the terminals.
- 601312Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 601269Announcing the ford oem air conditioning retrofit kit availability.
- 601238Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart.
- 601012The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable.
- 600586Front and rear bumpers made of xenoy plastic have had the conductive primer removed from service parts.
- 51945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts.
- 51689Frame- rivet replacement with bolts- service tips.
- 51002Brakes - brake service - service tips.
- 50997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip.
- 50940Windshield and interior glass - fog/film.
- 50908Torque converter - leak test procedure - service tip.
- 50905Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements.
- 46478The 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.
- 45953Door-replacement sliding - service tip.
- 45947Sheet metal-roof panel and drip rail replacement- seam sealer application procedure.*sd
- 37761Front door glass tipping and binding during downward travel.
Every Ford Aerostar model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.