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#BS-1986-FORAER-50181986 Ford Aerostar
Based on reports from 72 owners and 9 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Think Twice
Based on 72 complaints, 3 crashes, 26 fires, and 9 recalls.
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
12 owners reported engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline issues — failures commonly reported around 300K miles.
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline (12 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
1986 Ford Aerostar: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Issues
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 1986 Ford Aerostar, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 300,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 300K-mile mark.
Electrical System:ignition:switch Issues
Electrical System:ignition:switch complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 1986 Ford Aerostar, with 8 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system:ignition:switch-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood Issues
Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 1986 Ford Aerostar, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system:wiring:front underhood-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1986 Ford Aerostar, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1986 Ford Aerostar. Recent trend: stable.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (9 recalls)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
THERE MAY BE INADEQUATE WELDING IN SOME UNDERBODY STRUCTURAL AREAS, INCLUDING THOSE AT THE REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS, WHICH MAY CAUSE IT TO SEPARATE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS SHOULD SEPARATE FROM THE UNDERBODY DURING VEHICLE USE, THE AXLE COULD SHIFT DURING ACCELERATION OR BRAKING AND MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE STEERING CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANKS MAY HAVE BEEN SCORED OR PENETRATED WHEN FLOOR PAN MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE PARTITIONS WERE DRILLED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE WOULD EXIST.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
+ 4 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Ford Aerostar is the 1996 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 72 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 9 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Ford Aerostar Model Years
View all Ford Aerostar years →1986 Ford Aerostar: Frequently Asked Questions
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Get the Full 1986 Ford Aerostar Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 72 owner reports. Know before you buy.