The 1987 Ford Aerostar has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,890,787 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 140 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
SOME LIFTGATE GAS CYLINDER-TO-BODY ATTACHMENT BALL STUDS MAY FRACTURE IN EITHER THE OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION.
IF A BALL STUD FRACTURES, THE LIFTGATE WILL NOT REMAIN INTHE OPEN POSITION. BODILY INJURY COULD RESULT IF THE LIFTGATE DROPS WHILESOMEONE IS UNDER IT.
REPLACE THE GAS CYLINDER-TO-BODY ATTACHMENT BALL STUDS.
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.
DAMAGE TO BELT WEBBING COULD WEAKEN BELTS TO POINT OFFAILURE INCREASING RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT OR A SUDDEN STOP.
INSTALL PLASTIC PIVOT COVER; REPLACE BELTS AS NECESSARY.
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.
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.
INSTALLATION OF A RELAY WITH WIRES OF GAUGE ADEQUATE TO PROTECT THE CIRCUIT.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
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.
INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Passenger's seat back failed, staying in the reclining position due to metal frame inside seatback breaking. Please describe details. *ak”
“While driving smelled something burning. Pulled over and lifted up hood. Noticed flames coming from steering wheel wiring. Before fire was extinguished, entire engine compartment was in flames. Front of vehicle/ inside and outside was totaled.*ak”
“Vehicle was parked with engine off when it caught on fire. Fire department determined fire started on left hand side of engine. Vehicle was totaled. *ak”
“Van caught fire and was a total loss. *ak”
“We have had the control module replaced a minimum of 5 time (receipts on hand), each time the van stalls out while driving. This has caused many near crashes and much fustration only the alertness that the van stalls prevented any bodily harm. Several ford dealerships deny any problem with the…”
“We have had the control module replaced a minimum of 5 time (receipts on hand), each time the van stalls out while driving. This has caused many near crashes and much fustration only the alertness that the van stalls prevented any bodily harm. Several ford dealerships deny any problem with the…”
“September 11, 2000. No safety defect mentione din summary. *ak”
“Vehicle experiencing problem with surges forward when starting. Intermittently, problem has occurred on several occasions. Dealer was notified and unable to locate/correct the problem. Please feel free to provide any further details. *ak”
There is no summary currently available
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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.===
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
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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…
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FORDDISCLOSED 8 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS OF 10 FIRES IN THE LEFT D-PILLAR AREAOF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.NO COLLISION ACCIDENTS WERE REPORTED, BUT EACHINCIDENT INVOLVED PROPERTY DAMAGE DUE TO FIRE.IN ADDITION, FORD'S RECORDSINCLUDE AT LEAST 62 WARRANTY…
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BRIEFING: I. WHAT IS THE DEFECT? II. SOURCE/ORIGIN OF THE DEFECT?III. DATA ANALYSIS. IV. FORD'S POSITION.V. DESIGN CHANGES? VI. RECOMMENDATIONS.===
There is no summary currently available
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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.===
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
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Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Ford Aerostar as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.