1989 Ford Aerostar Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 1989 Ford Aerostar, and owners have filed 260 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 1989 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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Tank assembly (fuel system)
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, mississippi, nevada…
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…
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Ignition (electrical system)
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
When the automatic transmission shift lever is placed in the park position, the park pawl does not always abut or engage the park gear.
Remedy: Repair the transmission with a new park pawl.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Seat belt anchorage bar for rear sofa failed to sustain loads required by FMVSS 210.
Remedy: Replace noncomplying sofa bar with bar that meets requirements.
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Recliner (seats)
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.
Remedy: Replace seat pawl assembly with a revised design assembly.
260 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1989 Ford Aerostar have filed 260 complaints with NHTSA; 24 describe a crash and 80 describe a fire. Reports cite 24 injuries and 4 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 174,062 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 74 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 frant”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 3, 2006 · Electrical system
“Brake line next to gas tank failed on highway, braking ability was greatly reduced. *jb”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 6, 2006 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1989 Ford Aerostar Wagon. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15 / 20–21 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Vans |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 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 1989 Ford Aerostar
How do I know if my 1989 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. 5 campaigns currently list the 1989 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 90V144000).
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.