RecallRepo

1989 Ford Aerostar Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1989 Ford Aerostar has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,851,142 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 328 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 98V190000 1998-08-11 140,000 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA (10 SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF LOS ANGELES, ORANGE, SAN BERNADINO, SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE, VENTURA, SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, IMPERIAL, AND KERN), FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA,…

Consequence

IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2002. THIS COVERAGE WILL ONLY BE FOR STRUCTURAL CRACKS AT THE TOP OF THE TANK AND WILL NOT INCLUDE OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT OR ROAD DEBRIS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 96V071000 1996-04-25 7,900,000 affected
Defect

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

POWER TRAIN 91V189000 1991-11-04 792,000 affected
Defect

WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ABUT OR ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.

Consequence

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. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW PARK PAWL.

SEAT BELTS 91V164000 1991-09-20 4,842 affected
Defect

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.

Consequence

VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.

Remedy

REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.

SEATS 90V144000 1990-08-06 14,300 affected
Defect

THE SECOND ROW RIGHT HAND SEAT ASSEMBLY HAS A TILT FORWARD FUNCTION. A LATCH RETAINS THE SEAT IN THE NORMAL RIDE POSTION, AND THIS LATCH MAY RELEASE UNDER SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT CONDITIONS, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO PIVOT FORWARD.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT COULD PIVOTFORWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy

REPLACE SEAT PAWL ASSEMBLY WITH A REVISED DESIGN ASSEMBLY.

Complaints by component

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
47
3fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
43
32fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
16
14fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
14
3crashes2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
12
5fires1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
12
10fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
11
6crashes3injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
11
6crashes3injuries3deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
9
9fires1injuries
Total complaints328

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“My ford aerostar caught fire last night for no apparent reason. My daughter had returned from school and parked it in the driveway. Approximately 2 hours later, a neighbor rang the door bell and frantically said "your van is on fire". We called 911 and the fire department was there within 3…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD · reported 2006-10-02

“Brake line next to gas tank failed on highway, braking ability was greatly reduced. *jb”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · reported 2006-08-05

“Dt: the contact received nhtsa recall 96v071000 concerning the ignition switch. When he contacted ford, they could not find the vin. This started a couple of months ago. The switch started to come apart, causing the vehicle not to start. He repaired it himself, and it is currently working.*ak…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH · reported 2005-08-30

“Nhtsa recall 98v190000 concerning fuel system storage tank assembly: consumer intermittently smelled a strong odor of gasoline on the outside of the vehicle. T consumer examined the gas tank and found that fuel was leaking from the top of the tank when it was full. Manufacturer claimed that this…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY · reported 2003-11-18

“We owe a 1989 ford aerostar mini-van the long edition. We have had it a little over year. We have been having a serious problem with this vechicle stalling when driving on the highway to and from work. It happens a lot more often when it is cold as opposed to when it is warmer. *jb”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 2003-03-01

“Consumer states that there is a crack in the fuel tank which is not allowing the consumer to fill up a full tank of gas. Contacted dealer and the dealer stated that the warrenty period for the recall has expired. Mr”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY · reported 2002-09-02

“Consumer noticed gas leak in tank.*ak”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY · reported 2002-07-10

“On july 2, 2002 the tread came off the tire while on the freeway. The tire had 49,000 miles on it and it was warrantied for 80,000. It caused $2,700 in damage. Bridgestone claims the tire was operated w/ low air pressure, this is not true! The front tires were replaced by pep boys 6 months prior…”

TIRES · reported 2002-07-02

Defect investigations

Investigation EA90042 Opened 1990-08-31 · closed 1991-12-31

THROTTLE STICKING

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA91015 Opened 1991-02-01 · closed 1991-09-20

LIFTGATE FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA94025 Opened 1994-07-19 · closed 1997-09-30

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA96030 Opened 1996-12-20 · closed 1998-08-13

CRACKED FUEL TANKS

CRACKED FUEL TANKS ARE LEAKING FUEL

Investigation PE89092 Opened 1989-02-23 · closed 1989-07-20

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.===

Investigation PE91005 Opened 1990-10-18 · closed 1991-02-01

LIFTGATE FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE91127 Opened 1991-09-16 · closed 1991-11-08

PARK PAWL BENDING

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE91127 Opened 1991-09-16 · closed 1991-11-08

PARK PAWL BENDING

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE94021 Opened 1994-03-04 · closed 1994-07-19

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE96050 Opened 1996-08-06 · closed 1996-12-20

CRACKED FUEL TANKS

CRACKED FUEL TANKS ARE LEAKING FUEL

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Ford Aerostar as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.