Service Brakes, Air:disc:rotor
NHTSA campaign 98E010000 · 1998 · reported 04/08/1998
LOSS OF BRAKING CAN RESULT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1991 Ford Aerostar Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Electrical System:ignition:switch — runs 2.3× the fleet median for that category across the 2547 model-years tracked on this site.
223Complaints
4Recalls
23Crashes
69Fires
25Injured
1Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Electrical System:ignition:switch (14.3% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Electrical System:ignition:switch complaints here are 2.3× the median for that category across the 2547 model-years tracked on this site.
5 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 1 rests on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:ignition:switch | 32 · 14.3% | Recalled | Recall 96V071000 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 21 · 9.4% | Recalled | Recall 91V189000 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch | 18 · 8.1% | Recalled | Recall 91V189000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 · 8.1% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood | 12 · 5.4% | Recalled | Recall 96V071000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 12 · 5.4% | Recalled | Recall 98E010000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 223 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 4 campaigns
Seat Belts:front:anchorage
NHTSA campaign 91V164000 · 1991 · reported 09/20/1991
VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Electrical System:ignition
NHTSA campaign 96V071000 · 1996 · reported 04/25/1996
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission
NHTSA campaign 91V189000 · 1991 · reported 11/04/1991
DRIVER MAY BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFELY ENGAGED IN PARKWHEN THE GEAR IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OFGEAR UNINTENTIONALLY, VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHEN PARKED ON A SLOPED SURFACE, ANDINADVERTENT MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“A SHORTAGE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE.”NHTSA complaint 821383 — filed 05/12/1998 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
“VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD. LOOKED IN THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD…”NHTSA complaint 815408 — filed 08/18/1997 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
“ELECTRICAL, IGNITION SWITCH: VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY ,WOKE UP, SMELLED SMOKE, LOOKED OUTSIDE VEHICLE IN FLAMES. CAUSE OF FIRE ELECTRICAL. VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR…”NHTSA complaint 814948 — filed 08/04/1997 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Ford Aerostar?
Electrical system:ignition:switch issues are the most-reported category, cited in 32 of 223 NHTSA complaints (14.3%), followed by power train:automatic transmission (21), power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch (18), vehicle speed control (18). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1991 Ford Aerostar have?
223 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 23 involved a crash, 69 involved a fire, and 25 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Does the 1991 Ford Aerostar have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 98E010000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1991 Ford Aerostar's reported problems?
5 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
