1986 Ford Aerostar Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 1986 Ford Aerostar, and owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
7 safety recalls for the 1986 Ford Aerostar
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)
Insufficient interference fit between fuel tank filler pipe and grommet could result in an inadequate seal which could allow fuel to seep from the joint.
Remedy: Install a revised design grommet.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
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.
Remedy: Install plastic pivot cover; replace belts as necessary.
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Seats
Wiring for the power lumbar seat system was routed directly beneath the seat cushion springs and may be abraded by the springs.
Remedy: Install a fuse within the power lumbar electrical circuit.
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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.
Remedy: Installation of a relay with wires of gauge adequate to protect the circuit.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Remedy: Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
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.
Remedy: Replace fuel tanks as necessary.
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Leaf spring assembly (suspension)
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…
Remedy: Reinforce suspect weld locations and modify to prevent weld failure.
53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1986 Ford Aerostar have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 22 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 300,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 23 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The grommet in the fuel tank is leaking. Fuel is escaping from the tank and may cause a fire. There is a constant escape of fuel moving or stationary. Therefore this system will not pass smog because”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 24, 2017 · Fuel/propulsion system
“Transmission was rebuilt 3 years ago at ford dealer, then, in oct 2000 while driving 55 MPH transmission went out again. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 21, 2001 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1986 Ford Aerostar Wagon. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 16–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–20 / 20–25 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Vans |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.3/2.8/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Aerostar model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Aerostar model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 Ford Aerostar | 7 | 53 |
| 1987 Ford Aerostar | 4 | 114 |
| 1988 Ford Aerostar | 4 | 177 |
| 1989 Ford Aerostar | 5 | 260 |
| 1990 Ford Aerostar | 6 | 195 |
| 1991 Ford Aerostar | 3 | 223 |
| 1992 Ford Aerostar | 3 | 317 |
| 1993 Ford Aerostar | 2 | 374 |
| 1994 Ford Aerostar | 3 | 257 |
| 1995 Ford Aerostar | 5 | 157 |
| 1996 Ford Aerostar | 4 | 104 |
| 1997 Ford Aerostar | 3 | 63 |
| 1998 Ford Aerostar | 0 | 4 |
| 1999 Ford Aerostar | 0 | 7 |
| 2000 Ford Aerostar | 0 | 6 |
Checking a specific 1986 Ford Aerostar
How do I know if my 1986 Ford Aerostar has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 1986 Ford Aerostar; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 86V006000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.