1997 Ford Aerostar: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 83 complaints
83
Total Complaints
99,500mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Top Issue
6
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

67,250 25th Percentile
99,500 Median Mileage
132,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
WHEELS:RIM
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
3
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
3
WHEELS
3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
2

Severity Assessment

6
Crashes
8
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, PRESSED BRAKES, WENT TO REVERSE AND VEHICLE ACCELLERATED AT HIGH SPEED, RACING 100 FEET DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE ROAD, JUMPED A CURVE AND TORE DOWN APPPROX. 70 FT. OF CHAINLINK FENCE. THE PIPE FROM FENCE BROKE BACK WINDOW OF VEHICLE ,PERTRUDING THROUGH HITTING CONSUME..."
"CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, PRESSED BRAKES, WENT TO REVERSE AND VEHICLE ACCELLERATED AT HIGH SPEED, RACING 100 FEET DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE ROAD, JUMPED A CURVE AND TORE DOWN APPPROX. 70 FT. OF CHAINLINK FENCE. THE PIPE FROM FENCE BROKE BACK WINDOW OF VEHICLE ,PERTRUDING THROUGH HITTING CONSUME..."
"AUTOMATIC FUEL CUTOFF FAILED WHEN VEHICL WAS STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLE AND ROLLED OVER, LANDING ON ITS ROOF."

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