1996 Ford Aerostar: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 124 complaints
124
Total Complaints
124,000mi
Median Mileage
WHEELS
Top Issue
13
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

90,704 25th Percentile
124,000 Median Mileage
159,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

WHEELS
15
WHEELS:RIM
8
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
4
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
3

Severity Assessment

13
Crashes
4
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"IGNITION SWITCH MELTED, NOTICED BECAUSE OF STARTING PROBLEM, PART IS AVAILABLE. *AK"
"THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN SENT TO THEM SINCE MAY.*AK"
"WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, KEPT SMELLING BURNING ODOR, STOPPED, CHECKED UNDERHOOD, CONTINUED ON, ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT, SMOKE COMING FROM FIREWALL AREA, SUBSEQUENTLY, UNDERHOOD ENGULFED IN FLAMES.*AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28