1988 FORD AEROSTAR Recalls, Complaints & Safety

GAS TANK WAS RECALLED 12/98 UNDER 98MO3. GAS TANK DID DEVELOP CRACKS AND WAS REPLACED BY FORD IN 8/01. REPLACEMENT GAS TANK DEVELOPED CRACKS IN 9/03. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED ORIGINAL WARRANTY WORK STATES THE REPLACEMENT GAS TANK HAS FAILED BECAUSE OF MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. BUT FORD REFUSES TO REPLACE GAS TANK AGAIN, EVEN KNOWING THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP STATES THIS IS A FORD PRODUCT DEFECT. BASICALLY, FORD REALIZED IT HAD A DEFECTIVE PART (GAS TANK), OFFERED A REMEDY TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE PART, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PART. FORD SAYS IT IS NO LONGER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK AND THAT I COULD GET IN IT AND DRIVE TO FLORIDA RIGHT NOW. WELL IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK AND SO FAR THE SHOCK MOUNT IS BUSTED (WAS BROKE BEFORE I EVEN BOUGHT THE TRUCK) VALVE COVER GASKETS ARE LEAKING, POWER STEERING BOX BLEW OUT AND THE FLOOR OF THE TRUCK IN THE CAB IS ALL ROTTTED AWAY. THERE IS A HUGE HOLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE TO WHERE I COULD PUT BOTH MY LEGS THROUGH AND HE WOULDN'T GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK FOR THE VEHICLE. I TOOK PHOTOS OF ALL THIS TO PROVE MY DEFECTS OF THE TRUCK.

THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE # 98V190000. THE RECALL WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK CRACKING. THE DEALER STATED THIS RECALL EXPIRED ON MARCH 31/02 AND WILL NOW COST $700.00 TO FIX IT. *NLM

THE VAN WAS UNABLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO A GAS LEAK FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THERE WAS A FUEL TANK CRACK RECALL, BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *JB *MR *NM

TRUCK EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. AS A RESULT THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN TWO HOURS AFTER BEING PARKED. THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD. ALL THE UNDER HOOD ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE MELTED. THE HEAT ALSO CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD.*AK

Fire

CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK LEAKING AFTER RECALL 98V190000 REPAIRS WERE DONE. CONSUMER SMELLS GAS FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE . *AK *NM

GAS TANK DEFECT STATED IN RECALL 98V190000 OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED.*AK

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *NLM

NHTSA#8767-98-V-190-000 FUEL TANK CRACKS: CONSUMER STATES CAN SMELL STRONG CHEMICAL FUMES THROUGHOUT OUT THE VEHICLE. MR HERRERA. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE THROUGH MARCH 31, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. ALSO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR HAD TO BE TOPPED UP CONSTANTLY DUE TO BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM A CRACK IN THE BRAKE HOSE. THE MECHANIC EXAMINED A SIMILAR FORD AEROSTAR 1990 AND STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME LIKE THE 1988 FORD AEROSTAR.( WRITTEN IN BY A PROFFESSIONAL MECHANIC)*YH

LIFTGATE ARM LATCH BROKE, DOOR WILL NOT STAY UP WHEN OPENED.*AK *YH

WHEN I RECEIVED MY "RECALL" NOTICE, ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CRACKS IN THE TANK, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BEV SMITH FORD. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY FUEL TANK, AND DISMISSED MY INQUIRY. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILL MY TANK WITH MORE THAN $6.00 WORTH OF GAS, OR IT LEAKS. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN BEV SMITH FORD, AND I'M MOVING TO JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT RE-INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER GAVE EVERYONE UNTIL MARCH 31, 2002 TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED, HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FACT THAT BEV SMITH FORD DID A LOUSY INSPECTION, AND I HAVE BEEN LEAKING FUEL EVER SINCE, I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP RESOLVING THIS MATTER ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE VAN IS NOW LEAKING WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE, AND I HAVE ALREADY COMPLAINED, THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RIGHTS I HAVE TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED, AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE, SINCE MY INITIAL COMPLAINT WAS IGNORED@! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE! BARBARA L. GOULD. *AK

2 FIRES AT ALTERNATOR LAST ONE TOTALLED VEHICLE FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED. *AK

Fire

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, AND HAD BEEN BACKED INTO THE GARAGE, HEADING OUT. AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, PUTTING IT INTO GEAR, AND LIGHTLY TOUCHING THE THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE WAS SUDDENLY PULLED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE SCREAMED OUT OF THE GARAGE UNCONTROLLABLY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY.*AK

Crash 1 injured

UPPER PORTION OF FUEL TANK DEVELOPED SMALL CRACKS. THERE IS RECALL 98V190000 ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL; BUT, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 6 HOURS AFTER BEING PARKED. STATE FIRE MARSHALL DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED FIRE. HOME AND VEHICLE WERE TOTALY LOST. 3 CHILDREN HAD TO JUMP THROUGH WINDOW TO ESCAPE THE FIRE, ONE SLICED TENDONS ON WRIST. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 96V071000 ON 30 SEP 1997. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY SHERRIE HANSEN, ATTORNEY.*AK

Fire 1 injured

BODY RUST&BROKEN FRONT DRIVERS SEAT.GAS PEDAL STICKING.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION MODULE. *MJS

SEAT BELT CONECTOR ON DRIVERS SIDE . PUTTON RELEASE IS FROZEN . WILL NOT LOCK BELT ON .*AK

REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A 1988, FORD, ASTRO VAN. FIRESTONE, TRIUMPH RADIAL SR, P21570R14, DOT VDHYTHA035. RIGHT REAR TIRE DETACHED ALL IN ONE PIECE, ALL THE WAY AROUND, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP SEVERAL TIMES.*AK THE TIRE FAILURE CAUSED 1 DEATH AND 7 INJURIES. *SLC

Crash 7 injured 1 deaths

NO SUMMARY

VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING, DEALER RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE MOTOR, AFTER MOTOR WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO SAID THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR WAS NO GOOD, THEY WOULD NOT PUT A BETTER MOTOR IN AND CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSED. *SLC

HAD THREE FAILURES OVER 6 MONTHS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED. ALL THREE OCCURRED ON THE REAR WHEELS SO CONTROL WAS NOT AFFECTED ADVERSELY. IN LITE OF THE SIMULAR FAILURES OF OTHER FIRESTONE MODELS I BECAME CONCERNED IF THE PROBLEM MIGHT NOT BE MORE WIDE SPREAD WITHIN FIRESTONE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TRIPS SO THE TIRES WERE CHANGED AND DISGUARDED. I WAS TOLD BY A TIRE COMPETITOR THAT THAT WAS A COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THOSE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215R14 )

CONTACTED FORD AT 800-392-3673 INITIALLY WAS TOLD NO RECALL, QUOTED RECALL NUMBER THEN TOLD VIN NOT A GOOD NUMBER, PUT ON HOLD THEN DISCONNECTED. CALLED BACK, DIFFERENT PERSON SAID THE VIN WASN'T COMPLETE, NO RECORD OF VEHICLE IN SYSTEM. TOLD TO CALL LOCAL DEALER. CALLED AND SET APPOINTMENT FOR NEXT MONDAY. HEY. I JUST BOUGHT THIS(PRIVATE PARTY) FILLED THE TANK FIRST TIME AND IT LEAKS LIKE CRAZY. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE FORD PEOPLE?? AM I GOING TO HAVE THIS SAME BULL AT THE DEALER? IS THIS A MANDATED RECALL FOR AN EXTREME SAFTY ISSUE AND IF SO WHY THE RUNAROUND???*AK

RECALL 98V190000/FUEL TANK CRACK: FUEL AND FUME LEAKAGES COMING FROM THE FILLER NECK WHEN REFUELING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING WHEN THE TANK IS MORE THAN HALF FULL. THIS PARTICULAR VIN# IS A PART OF MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 8767. BUT, DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE THE TANK BECAUSE TANK DOES NOT HAVE ANY CRACKS. *AK

FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED. NLM

ENGINE FAILED, REPLACED ENGINE AND FAILED AGAIN. *MJS

WHILE FILLING FUEL TANK AT A SERVICE STATION, TANK SPLIT AND CAUSED FUEL TO SPILL ON CONSUMER FROM THE WAIST DOWN. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED ON FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED , AT NIGHT, GOING UPHILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC 100 MILES FROM NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY. IT WAS NECESSARY TO ROLL VEHICLE BACKWARDS, DOWNHILL IN TRAFFIC TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE BEEN HIT AND INJURED FROM THE TRAFFIC. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THAT CAUSED FAILURE BUT RECENTLY I HEARD ABOUT THE LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD FOR KNOWING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND NOT RECALLING OR NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FAILURE DUE TO PLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DUE TO ENGINE HEAT. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THIS FAILURE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES YET FORD DID NOT FEEL IT NECESSARY TO WARN IT'S CUSTOMERS. I HAVE FOUR FORD VEHICLES AT THIS TIME. THREE OF THEM ARE LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD. I MAY NOT BUY ANY MORE FORD VEHICLES IF THIS IS THEIR ATTITUDE THAT THEY WON'T RECALL OR AT THE MINIMUM AT LEAST WARN OWNERS OF THESE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. FORD WILL LOSE A LOT MORE MONEY BY NOT SELLING MYSELF , MY WIFE AND MY FOUR ADULT CHILDREN ANY MORE FORD VEHICLES , MUCH MORE THAN THE $449.85 REPAIRS, TOWING AND HOTEL COSTS I LOST WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THE FUEL TANK FOR LEAKAGE. THE FUEL TANK HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED AND DEALER STATED THAT FORD LEFT IT UP TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE IF IT NEEDED REPLACING. THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE PARTS AROUND THE FUEL TANK AND THE CONSUMER STILL SMELLS FUMES IN AND AROUND VEHICLE WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED. NLM

REAR LIFTGATE LATCH BROKE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, CAUSING IT TO OPEN ACCIDENTLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CAN SMELL GAS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE.THERE IS A CRACK IN THE TANK WHICH IS CAUSING THE GAS TO LEAK OUT OF THE TANK. *AK

I HAVE REPORTED THIS DANAGER TO THE NHTSA IN THE PASS HELP!

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON ROUGH PAVEMENTS AND GOING UP ON AN INCLINE FUEL LEAKS FROM THE TANK. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED UNDER A RECALL, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS PARTS: 1.) HEATER CORE FAILED TO PUT OUT PROPER HEAT IN REAR OF VEHICLE, AND AIR CAUSED THE REAR WINDOW TO FOG UP. 2.) ENGINE HAS AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM WITHIN SECONDS WHILE RUNNING BEFORE IT PICKS UP SPEED, AND 3.) WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE GAS TANK. GAS IS LEAKING FROM THE CRACKS. *AK

RECALL 98V190000 FORD/FUEL TANK CRACKS; FUEL LEAKS FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE LAST MONTH. THE DEALER /MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VAN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL BECAUSE OF THE STATE. VAN WAS ORIGINALLY REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. *AK

DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED FIRE.

THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER BELTS IN THE REAR SEATS. I HAVE A THREE-YEAR-OLD SON THAT IS QUICKLY OUTGROWING HIS SAFETY SEAT. (A CENTURY MODEL THAT FITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 2ND SEAT POSITION AND IS RESTRAINED BY A LAP BELT). I HAVE PURCHASED A HIGH BACK BOOSTER SEAT (AGAIN A CENTURY) THAT LIKE ALL OF THE HIGH BACKED BOOSTER SEATS I HAVE SEEN, REQUIRE THE USE OF A LAP AND SHOULDER BELT. I HAVE TRIED TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT INSTALLING AFTERMARKET SHOULDER STRAPS FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. FIRST I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY LOCAL DEALER (BIG VALLEY FORD, STOCKTON CA). THE PERSON I SPOKE TO IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT WAS CLUELESS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND PROVIDED NO SUGGESTIONS. NEXT I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY THROUGH ITS OWNER CONNECTION @ HTTP://WWW.OWNERCONNECTION.COM/FORMSLOGIN.ASP?/HOME/HOME.ASP?. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO SPEAK TO MY LOCAL DEALER. I RESPONDED THAT I HAD TRIED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN OF NO HELP. THEY AGAIN REFERRED ME TO MY LOCAL DEALER. NEXT I VISITED THE LOCAL DEALER. I SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER REP IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT "IF IT IS NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, WE DO NOT TOUCH IT." I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB FOR HELP BUT CAN NOT FIND ANY. I FOUND A SITE (HTTP://WWW.CHILDSAFETY.ORG/FORD/01.20.98.HTML) THAT LISTS REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELT ACCESSORY KITS BY FORD, BUT THEY DO NOT INCLUDE THE AEROSTAR. CAN YOU HELP ME? IS IT POSSIBLE TO SAFELY INSTALL A SHOULDER STRAP IN THE 2ND SEAT OF THIS VAN? IF SO, WHERE CAN I OBTAIN THE CORRECT BELT AND HARDWARE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON INSTALLATION? I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL UNIVERSAL BELTS ON THE WEB, BUT NONE THAT COME WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. THAT MAKES ME WEARY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. THANK YOU

THE BRAKES ON OUR 1988 FORD AEROSTAR COULD BE DEADLY. THE ASSEMBELY FAILS ABOUT EVERY 12K-15K MILES, AND HAS RESULTED IN ONE ACCIDENT, AND MANY SKIDS. IN ADITION, THE HYDROLIC CYLINDER THAT HOLDS THE REAR HATCHGATE "UP" FAILED AFTER BEING LOWERED. TO USE THE HATCHGATE, A PIECE OF WOOD MUST BE UTILIZED.

Crash

THE BRAKES ON OUR 1988 FORD AEROSTAR COULD BE DEADLY. THE ASSEMBELY FAILS ABOUT EVERY 12K-15K MILES, AND HAS RESULTED IN ONE ACCIDENT, AND MANY SKIDS. IN ADITION, THE HYDROLIC CYLINDER THAT HOLDS THE REAR HATCHGATE "UP" FAILED AFTER BEING LOWERED. TO USE THE HATCHGATE, A PIECE OF WOOD MUST BE UTILIZED.

Crash

FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHEN VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD & ASH TRAY. CHECKED UNDER HOOD & VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. PUT FLAMES OUT. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. FIRE HAD ORIGINATED AROUND THE ALTERNATOR. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. THE SECOND TIME WAS 3/21/99. *AK

Fire

WHILE VAN WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. THE FIRE BURNED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE FRONT INTERIOR. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VAN WAS TOTALLED. *AK

Fire

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE AND THE SEATBELT SYSTEM DOES NOT RETRACT WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH, SPRING BROKEN IN FEMALE PART, IF YOU DO MANAGE TO GET IT HOOKED IT WILL RELEASE WITH THE SLIGHTEST TENSION. PRIOR TO THIS SEATBELT ALSO HAD SLACK WOULD HAVE TO ADJUST IT WHILE DRIVING. *MJS