1987 Ford Aerostar Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1987 Ford Aerostar, and owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1987 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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Support device/strut (structure)
Some liftgate gas cylinder-to-body attachment ball studs may fracture in either the open or closed position.
Remedy: Replace the gas cylinder-to-body attachment ball studs.
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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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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.
114 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1987 Ford Aerostar have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 45 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 31 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Transmission problems. The transmission continued to fail. The consumer has replaced three transmission. *nlm”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 3, 2003 · Power train
“Passenger's seat back failed, staying in the reclining position due to metal frame inside seatback breaking. Please describe details. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 20, 2002 · Seats
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1987 Ford Aerostar Wagon. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–19 / 20–24 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Vans |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.3/3 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 1987 Ford Aerostar
How do I know if my 1987 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 1987 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 87V139000).
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.